John H. Randall

John H. Randall

JOHN H. RANDALL, farmer, section 11, Barton Township, was born March 13, 1854, in Ottawa Co., Mich., and is a son of Earl Douglass and Charlotte (Strong) Randall. His father was born in New York and followed the pursuit of a carpenter most of the years of his life. He located with his family near Grand Rapids, Mich., and was a resident there a number of years. In 1857 he came to Newaygo County and entered a homestead claim of land in Barton Township, when it was in a wild condition and no residents north of the point Mr. Randall selected his farm. After locating his claim he went to Ravenna, Muskegon County, and engaged as a builder there until 1859, when he returned to his farm. He became a soldier of the war of the Southern Rebellion, enlisting in Co. A., 13th Mich. Vol. Inf., and was under Sherman while that general, with his dauntless soldiers, was marching through to Georgia. At Savannah he was seized with the dreadful camp diarrhea and died Dec. 21, 1864. His wife is a native of Pennsylvania and now resides at Paris, Mecosta County.

Mr. Randall of this sketch obtained a good elementary education in the common schools of Ottawa County, and afterward went to the union school at Lamont. He was engaged one term in teaching and then spent a year in study at the Agricultural College at Lansing. He again engaged in teaching, in which employment he spent seven terms in the aggregate. In 1874 himself and a brother returned to the farm and entered upon the work of clearing and improving.

Mr. Randall was married April 15, 1877, to Mary Louisa, daughter of Grantson and Nancy (Barber) Hall. Their children were born as follows: Charles A., Jan. 12, 1878; Elmer, Oct. 20, 1880; Edith Alma, Jan. 31, 1883. Mr. Randall has adopted the platform and issues of the National Greenback party, and is prominent in his generation in political action. He has held the post of Township Clerk three years.

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