RANDOLPH-Henry - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Henry Randolph occupies an honorable position in the estimation of his fellow citizens and is residing on his fine farm of 200 acres in Section 34, Fulton Twp, Fountain County, Indiana. He is not yet bowed down with the weight of years, nor has his honorable position any tinge of venerability, for he was born on Silver Island in the year 1838, being a son of Aaron and Charlotte Lunger Randolph, the former of whom was a son of John Randolph, who was of Scottish origin. The mother was born in Ohio and was a daughter of Isaac Lunger. Aaron Randolph became a resident of Fountain County in 1826, and at once entered 120 acres of Government land. His days were devoted to extending and improving his possessions and at the time of his death he was owner of 640 acres of valuable and well tilled land, the result of his own endeavors. He was first united in marriage Miss Margaret Carnan, by whom he became the father of two sons and two daughters: Phineas, who was born in Fountain County, Ind in 1824 was married to Miss Harriet Mead, by whom eh has 3 children, and is now following the occupation of farming; Julia was born in Fountain County in 1826, was married to Philip Park, with whom she removed to Iowa and there remained until her death, which occurred in 1870, leaving besides her husband 3 children to mourn her loss; Jane who was born in Fountain County in 1828 was married to David Park, a farmer of this county but in 1868 left him a widower with 3 children; and Francis, who was born in this county 1830, was married to Miss Debby Lindsey and is now following the occupation of farming near Danville, Ill. The brothers and sisters of Henry Randolph are: Harrison born 1836, married to Jane Wright is the father of 3 children, and is following the calling of an agriculturist on a fine farm of 170 acres (he is a stanch Republican and was elected to the office of County Commissioner of Fountain County in 1888, and owing to his indefatigable labors is gradually paying off the debt of the county; Mary, a sister was born in 1840 and was married to Walter Donell and they are now residing at Waynetown, Montgomery County, with their 7 children; Margaret who was born in 1841, was married to William Wann, who was following the occupation of farming at the time of her death in 1864, leaving her husband with one child to care for; Willie was born in 1843, married Mary Hobert, by whom he has six children and is following the calling of a carpenter at Waterman; a sister that was born in 1846 died 1849. Henry Randolph, subject of this sketch, was married to Miss Clara Cook of Walton, Ind but a native of NY, where she first saw the light of day in 1841. She was a daughter of Barney and Hannah Osborne Cook, and their union was consummated in 1860. They are residing on Silver Island and are the parents of the following children: Harry, who was born in 1864, is married to Emma Cates, by whom he has one child; Fred was born in 1865 and was married to Ora Burnsides, by whom he has one child; Charles was born in 1866 was educated at Covington and is now residing at home; John was born in 1869, was educated in the Deaf & Dumb Institute and is making his home with his parents; Carl was born in 1877; Maggie in 1879 and Carrie in 1882. Mr. Randolph started out to fight the battle of life for himself as the owner of about 55 acres of land that his father generously gave him and being exceptionally industrious and pushing, he was not content with remaining the possessor of that small farm, but from time to time increased it until he now owns a fine tract of 200 acres in the home farm, which is exceptionally well conducted and looked [after] by Mr. Randolph, who is acknowledged to be a shrewd, practical and thrifty agriculturist. Besides this, he is the owner of 120 acres of good land in Parke Co and 80 in Illinois, all of which is valuable farming land and under cultivation. He devotes his land principally to the culture of corn and wheat, but raises all agricultural products, and underneath this valuable land is a vein of coal of 5 1/2' thickness. He built for himself a pretty modern house of 8 rooms in 1879, and here he and his wife dispense a refined and generous hospitality.