Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 328-329; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Isaac F. Randolph. What presents a pleasanter picture than old
age gracefully reached after a well-spent and prosperous life? There is
something very pleasant in looking back upon the years that intervene
between childhood and age, and living in memory all the triumphs and
joys of years spent in an effort to benefit self and neighbors at the
same time. And such is the case with Mr. and Mrs. Randolph, who at the
age of seventy-nine and seventy-six respectively, are both strong and
active, and comfortably fixed in a financial way. True, they have
experienced the usual amount of "ups and downs" that come almost
invariably in a busy career, but on the whole they have known much of
success and happiness. This is in a great measure due to the fact that
they have passed their days in peace, free from the dissipations and
vexations of the gay world.
Mr. Randolph has made his home in this State for more than fifty
years, devoting his attention mostly to agricultural pursuits. His
birth occurred near Rahway, N. J., being the son of Benjamin and Phoebe
(Tucker) Randolph, natives of that State. His grandfather, Jeremiah
Randolph, was also born in New Jersey, and his father came from
Scotland before the Revolutionary War. The latter was a carpenter by
trade, and an extensive landowner, and at an early age trained his son
to habits of strict temperance and industry.
Our subject remained at home up to the date of his marriage,
which took place in 1831. The lady of his choice was Miss Julia Holton,
native of Newmarket, N. J., and daughter of Martin and Eunice (Bartow)
Holton. The Holtons were of English blood, while the Bartows were of
German extraction. Mrs. Randolph's father was a blacksmith by trade,
and died in the year 1854, at the age of eighty-one, while on a visit
in Illinois. Her mother died when seventy-seven years of age, and to
her marriage were born eleven children, seven of whom reached maturity,
viz: Elizabeth, Ephraim, Sarah, Precilla, Julia, Eunice, and Joseph.
The subject of our sketch was born March 29, 1811, being one of
the five children born to his parents who grew to mature years, the
others being: Sarah, Charlotte, Louisa, and Phoebe. After their
marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Randolph made their home on farms in Elizabeth
and New Market, N. J., until 1839, at which time they removed to
Illinois, making the journey in a wagon. This trip, though long and
tiresome, was quite enjoyable owing to the fact that three other wagons
filled with relatives of Mr. Randolph came with them. They started from
New Jersey in November, and did not reach Farmington until January 3,
1840. Mr. Randolph bought land in Trivoli Township, Peoria County, the
estate embracing thirty acres, and built a nice house. However, he
traded property several times, and finally became the owner of one
hundred and sixty acres, and naturally had the trouble common to
pioneers who must break up and cultivate the soil on new land.
To Mr. and Mrs. Randolph have been born three children, viz:
Mary A., Louisa C., and Margaret E. Mary A. married Jacob Berdine, a
farmer of Hancock County, Ill., and has four children: Randolph, Anna
L., Flora, and Charles. Of these Anna L. married Millord McFarland, a
blacksmith at Powelton, and has one child, Robert; Flora, who is now
Mrs. John Thornbur, resides in Hancock County, and has three children
Grace, Harry, and one unnamed; Charles is married and lives in
Nebraska, and has one child. Louisa married Thomas Dunlap, resides in
Wyoming, and has four children Anna, Julia R., William, and James.
Maggie married George W. Smith, and makes her home in Farmington.
Mr. Randolph is in sympathy with the Republican party, and a
strong supporter of his party principles. He was at one time a
Democrat, but changed from that party because he could not agree with
them on the slavery question. He lived at Canton twelve or fourteen
years, and has been popular and highly respected in all communities
where he has resided. Both Mr. and Mrs. Randolph are members of the
Baptist Church, and contributed liberally to building this church at
Farmington.
