Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Seneca Randall
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
SENECA R. RANDALL owns and occupies
one of the best farms in this part of the
Mississippi Valley, 160 acres, situated in � what is now Athelstane Township, Clay
County, having been located under the Homestead
Act in 1871. It is fertilized by the waters of
Chapman's Creek, which stream flows through the
estate, and from the first year of its cultivation Mr.
Randall has never had a total failure of crops,
although other farmers, whose estates were on higher
land, have sometimes failed wholly. Mr. Randall has
added 160 acres by purchase to his homestead, and
carries on farming on an extensive scale, besides
raising stock of all kinds, his horses, cattle and
hogs being well graded.
The subject of this sketch was born in Steuben
County, N. Y., March 30, 1833, and was reared on
a farm, receiving no education except what was to
be obtained in the common schools, in 1853 his
parents removed to Illinois, and he remained with
them for six years after their removal, he and
his brothers carrying on the home farm. He had
taught a few terms of school, but his time had
mainly been spent in the pursuit of agriculture.
In 1859 he left the parental fireside, and entering
the marriage state began life for himself.
The tidal wave of enthusiastic patriotism which
swept over the North when Ft. Sumter was fired
upon, was felt by Mr. Randall, and finding that the
first troops who enrolled were not sufficient to quell
the Rebellion, he enlisted in August, 1862, as a
member of Company I, 100th Illinois Infantry.
His regiment was attached to the Army of the
Cumberland, and was first under the command of
Gen. Buell, and later under Rosecrans. Mr. Randall
participated in many battles, some of them
being the most noted conflicts of the war, and
passed through them all, together with the routine
work of a soldier's life, without being wounded or
captured. He was mustered out of service at Nashville,
Tenn., in July, 1865, and was sent to Chicago,
where he received his final pay and discharge papers.
Before leaving Chicago the regiment was
invited to Joliet, the county seat of Will County, in
which the command had been raised. A grand reception
was given, in which the patriotic citizens,
both ladies and gentlemen, took part, and the returned
soldiers were feasted and toasted to their
entire satisfaction.
Upon his return to his home Mr. Randall went
to work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed
until 1871, with the exception of about one year,
which he spent in clerking. He came to Kansas in
1870, and locating at Wakefield, was there engaged
at his trade for a year, and then located and began
to improve the homestead, where he has since re.
sided. Very little improving was done when he
began his work, although most of the land had been
taken as claims. He was one of the first to begin
reclaiming the wild prairie, and his was one of the
first frame houses built in this part of Kansas on
the farm lands. The first year after filing his claim
he got five acres of breaking done, and at once began
operations in tilling the soil. Although some
years his crops have been light, he has always
raised some corn, if not much else. He is not only
industrious and enterprising in the cultivation and
improvement of his fine estate, but displays excellent
business tact in the management of his affairs.
The loving and capable helpmate of Mr. Randall
was in her maidenhood Miss Katura Butler, a
daughter of Harry Butler, a farmer in the Empire
State. To Mr. and Mrs. Randall two children have
been born, but both were lost to them in their early
years. They afterward adopted a son, who bear
the name of Willie Randall, and is now grown to
man's estate.
The gentleman of whom we write is the fourth
in a family of five children born to his parents,
David and Orpha (Robinson) Randall. His father
was a native of the Empire State, and having removed
to Illinois in 1853, departed this life in the
latter State in 1875. He was a natural mechanic,
and during his early life followed any kind of mechanical
work which was in demand. After moving
to Illinois he did but little work, his sons
carrying on the farm which was his home. Mrs.
David Randall was a daughter of Seneca Robinson,
an agriculturist in the State of Massachusetts.
Mr. Randall has served as Town Trustee and
Treasurer, having held the latter office at the time
of the division of the townships. He is now County
Commissioner. He is a stanch Republican, and is
opposed to the present prohibition system, believing
that it is not effectual and should be changed.
He is considered one of the shrewdest business men
of the county, while modest in his own estimate of
ins abilities and in pushing himself forward in public
life. His fellow-citizens have a high regard
not only for his business qualities, but for his excellent
character.