RANDEL, Catherine Leatherman - Putnam

This estimable lady, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Leatherman, was born August 20, 1841, on the 'old family homestead, six miles west of Greencastle in Madison township, which her father, John Leatherman, purchased in pioneer times and developed from a wild and impenetrable wilderness. The Leatherman family moved to this state from Kentucky and were among the early settlers and substantial residents of the part of Putnam county in which they located. Frederick Leatherman, the grandfather of Mrs. Randel, was a Kentuckian by birth, came to Indiana about- the year 1823 and settled in 'Putnam county, where his death subsequently occurred. The family of this sturdy pioneer consisted of four sons, John, Abraham, Daniel and Blan, all of whom married and all but the oldest moved from Indiana to other states, Abraham to Illinois, Daniel to Iowa, and Blan to Wisconsin. Frederick Leatherman originally located on what is now the Farrow farm, Madison township, and was among the first to make permanent improvements in that locality. He died suddenly many years ago while returning home from Lawrenceburg, whither he had gone to trade, being in the sixty-sixth year of his age at the time of his decease. He.was a soldier during the early Indian wars of Kentucky, Virginia and elsewhere, took part in a number of battles and had many narrow escapes during his thrilling experiences on the frontier. His first wife dying shortly after moving to Indiana, he subsequently was twice remarried, his third companion surviving him for some years. John Leatherman, oldest son of the above mentioned Frederick, was born in Kentucky, April 1, 1799, and accompanied his parents to Putnam county, locating near the home place in Madison township, where he remained about two years, removing at the expiration of that time to a tract of land on Walnut creek which he purchased and improved. His first dwelling was a small cabin of the usual pioneer pattern, which answered the purposes for which intended until 1832, when it was replaced by a much larger and more comfortable brick edifice, the latter at the time of completion being one of the finest country residences in the county. Mr. Leatherman made the brick of which the building was constructed and occupied it until his death, in March, 1879. It stood on a beautiful and sightly eminence and until destruction by a storm some years ago was one of the well known landmarks of Madison township. John Leatherman married, in 1819, Mary Penny, who was born about the year 1794, and who bore him children as follows : Perminda, wife of Benjamin King; Sarah, who became the wife of Henry Wright ; Rachel married Dolphus Wood ; Eliza, wife of Samuel Wright, who still lives in Nebraska ; Washington moved to Nebraska and died in 1894 of old age ; Benjamin died in Nebraska in April, 1909; Theresa married John Irwin and lives in Kansas ; Frederick lived and died in Putnam county, Indiana, and was a prominent farmer and representative citizen ; Jane married Isaac Irwin and moved to Nebraska, where her death occurred, and Daniel was accidentally killed in 1881 by the falling of a tree, since which time the family homestead has been in the possession of strangers. John Leatherman was not only an enterprising and successful farmer, but also became widely known as a minister of the Primitive Baptist church, in the faith of which he was reared and of the doctrines of which he afterwards was recognised as an able expounder. He was ordained in early manhood and for some years preached only at irregular intervals, but later gave the great part of his time to his holy office. During his active ministry he served four congregations, viz : Bethel church, on Little Walnut near his home ; New Hope, near the town of Morton ; Rocky Fork and Otter Creek in Parke county. He was a stalwart Christian, fearless in the presentation of the truth, and exerted a wide and beneficial influence on the religious thought of his own and other communities. He departed this life on the 6th day of March, 1879, and was laid to rest in the Baptist cemetery in Clinton township, where also repose the ashes of many other old settlers of the county.. Mrs. Leatherman preceded her husband to the grave on September 6, 1875, each being seventy-nine years of age when called to the other world. Catherine Leatherman spent her childhood and youth at the family home and was early instructed in those domestic duties which, while she was still young, made her almost indispensable to the household. She grew to womanhood with a proper conception of life and never knew by experience what it was to eat the bread of idleness. In such schools as the country afforded she received a fair knowledge of the branches then taught and until her twenty-fifth year remained at home, of which from a much earlier age she proved a guiding and controlling spirit. In the year 1866 she became the wife of Nelson Wood, who, in 1870, moved to the farm, which she still owns and with whom she lived in mutually happy wedlock until his lamented death in 1881, a period of fifteen years. Three children were born to this union, Ella, the oldest of whom, married William Thomas and lives on the home farm which her husband operates. Their offspring, five in number, are, Ida, a teacher in the public schools of Madison township, Fay, May, Ona, and Serena, the second and third being twins. Seba, the second of the family, married John Latham and died young, leaving one child, Jane Pearl, now the wife of Otto Vermillion in Madison township. Lee, who married Terre King, and lives in Clinton township, being the youngest of the family, had two children, Lucille and Charles Nelson. In 1882 Mrs. Woods became the wife of John Howard, with whom she spent the four years ensuing in the city of Greencastle, removing at the expiration of that time to Madison township where her husband's death occurred in 1895. Later she entered the marriage relation with John Randel, who on November 12, 1907, left her a widow again, since which time she has lived on her farm in Madison township, where, surrounded by many friends, loyal and true, she is spending her life in quiet and content, proving an excellent neighbor, a valued counsellor and a helper in time of need. Mrs. Randel is the only living representative of the Leatherman family in Putnam county and as -such, exemplifies the many estimable qualities of mind and heart for which her ancestors were distinguished and by a life void of offense she is maintaining in all its luster the brightness of the family escutcheon. She is a woman of excellent character and high social standing, respected by all with whom she mingles and her daily life and influence have been a blessing to the community in which she resides.