Person:John Randolph (37)

History for John Randolph, Uncle/Cousin to Chester Randolph

John Randolph and his family accompanied William M. Dean and Florence Dean, Chester Randolph and his family, and James Halbert and his family to Washington Territory in 1882. John Randolph was married to Jessie Fremont Kincaid of Butler County IA about 1878. John was born in May 1850 in MA, and Jessie Kincaid was born in December 1859 in WI, according to the 1900 census

Rootsweb.com in the Belchertown Genealogy states that John Randolph was born 14 May 1850 in Belchertown, Hampshire County MA to Edwin and Emeline Bishop Randolph. Edwin and Emeline were married 10 August 1842 in Ludlow, Hampden County Hampshire. Edwin was born in 1821 in Amherst, Hampshire County MA and died 5 March 1850 in Belchertown, Hampshire County MA. Edwin’s children lists three children Edson/Edison born 1844 in MA, Julia born 1847 in MA, and John born 14 May 1850 in Belchertown. Since Chester Randolph was born in March 1835, Chester and John are probably uncle and nephew or cousins.

The 1880 census for Ripley township, Butler County IA lists John , age 30, born MA, farming, and Jessie, age 20, born WI, and their two children Emma, age 1, and John age 1 month. The family is living next door to Chester and Angeline Dean Randolph and widower William M. Dean. The 1900 census for Everett City, Snohomish County WA lists John, born May 1850, married 22 years and Jessie F. born Dec 1859, the mother of 10 children, 8 of whom are living. The eight children listed are Emma age 21 born IA, John age 18 born IA, Katie age 15 born WA, James age 13 born IA, Stella age 11 born WA, Clara age 6 born WA, Cyrus age 5 born WA, George E. age 2 born WA. James is listed as having been born in Iowa, indicating a brief stay back in Iowa. An eleventh girl child, no name given in the WA state records, was born in Everett on 18 June 1901. (The 1920 census indicates this eleventh child was Esther). Their son Edison Lee Randolph, who was born in 1880 had died before 1900.

John Randolph was listed as a farmer in Arlington, Snohomish County WA in 1894. The family is listed in Everett City, Snohomish County WA in 1900. There may have been a divorce or separation about 1902 - 1909, for in the 1910 census, John Randolph’s wife Jessie Fremont Randolph is re-married to or is living with William H. Riley in the Crescent Precinct in Whatcom County WA, along with her children Clara 17, Cyrus 15, George 12, and Esther 8. In the 1920 census, William and Jessie Fremont Randolph Riley are shown as living in Baker township, Whatcom County WA. John Randolph’s brother Edison is living next door and is listed as E. A. and Lena Randolph.

John W. (i.e., Wyman) Randolph died on 28 May 1933 in Bellingham, Whatcom County and is buried in the Van Zandt Cemetery in or near the city of Van Zandt, Whatcom County WA. Jessie Freemont Randolph (Riley?) died on 8 March 1841 and also is buried in the Van Zandt Cemetery. The Washington State Death Records list her as Jessie Fremont Randolph and her spouse as John Randolph, which makes one wonder if she was really married to William Riley. However, the 1930 census lists Jessie as a widow dairy farmer living in Baker township, Whatcom County WA. Note that William Riley had died in 1825, but John Randolph was still alive.

There may have been other contributing factors that entered into the separation or divorce between John W. and Jessie Fremont Randolph, for the Washington Birth Records show an Elsie Lilian Randolph was born 6 May 1911 in Snohomish County to John W. Randolph and Emma Kiene, and the 1920 census shows an Emma Randolph living in Florence Precinct, Snohomish County, age 48, born MN, listed as head of the household, but married with no husband shown, and her daughter Elsie, age 8. Was this a relationship between Emma Kiene, born 1872, and John Wayman Randolph born 1850, or between Emma and his son John Randolph Jr. born 1881? However a John Randolph died in Seattle on 13 October 1909 and if this was John Randolph Jr. he could not have been the father. Emma Kiene Randolph died 29 April 1945 in Snohomish. A search for Emma Kiene in WA in 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1910 showed nothing. An Emma Kiene was born to an E. A. Kiene in MN in 1872 according to the 1875 MN State census.

Also located in the Van Zandt cemetery plot are Jessie Fremont Randolph’s second ?husband? William H. Riley 1858 - 1925, and Lena Randolph 1848 - 1921. Lena was the wife of Edison A. Randolph, born 1843/42 in MA. Edison/Edson was born 1844/43 in Belchertown, Hampshire County, MA per the 1860 census, or was born 1844 per the Belchertown Genealogy, and is the brother of John Randolph. Edison and Lena Randolph are found in the 1910 census for Lewis County WA. In the 1920 census E.A. and Lena Randolph are living next door to William and Jessie Riley in Baker township, Whatcom County WA. Edison died 27 March 1924 at age 82 in Anacortes, Skagit County WA, and his father was listed as Edison Randolph, according to the Washington Digital Archives. The Washington Digital Archives show that Lena Randolph died 4 March 1921 at age 72 in Baker township, Whatcom County WA, and the spouse is listed as Edwin (sic) Randolph.

The WW1 draft registration records for Washington State for John Randolph’s sons shows the following. The fact that John Randolph Jr., born 1881, does not appear implies that he had died before 1917 or 1918. No John Randolph Jr. was found in the 1910, 1920, or 1930 WA censuses. A John H. Randolph died in Seattle on 13 October 1909 according to the Washington Digital Archives..

The WW1 draft registration record entry dated 5 June 1917 shows that James Blaine Randolph was born 6 August 1866 near Cedar Falls IA. He is listed as a master mariner and living in Seattle City with a wife and one child. According to “The Boys of Whatcom County” about service in WW1, James Blaine Randolph died of influenza in Seattle on 7 January 1919. He had served at the U.S. Naval Training Station in Seattle and was the son of John W. Randolph and Jessie F. Riley. It is interesting to note that of the 20 deaths of WW1 servicemen listed on the page, 8 had died of influenza or pneumonia. The Washington Digital Records show that James B. Randolph married Gertrude Granger on 15 April 1909 in Snohomish County. James is listed in the WA Death Records as having died in Seattle on 5 January 1919.

The WW1 draft registration record entry dated 2 June 1917 shows that Cyrus William Randolph was born on 17 April 1895 in Chehalis, Lewis County WA. He was single and living in South Bellingham and working as a machinist in a can factory. According to “The Boys of Whatcom County” about service in WW1, he was born in Washington, the son of John W. and Jessie Randolph. He entered the service on 9 July 1917 and served on the U.S. Subchaser No. 308. He was discharged 24 March 1919. Cyrus is listed in the 1930 census as a boarder in Bellingham City. Cyrus William Randolph died on 2 May 1959 and is buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno CA, just south of San Francisco.

The WW1 draft registration record entry dated 12 September 1918 shows that George Everett Randolph was born on 25 December 1898, location not given. He is single and living in Van Zandt, Whatcom County WA. Next of kin is Jessie Fremont Riley. According to “The Boys of Whatcom County” about service in WW1, he served as a Steward on the U.S.S. Iroquois Merchant Marine. He was the son of John Randolph and Jessie F. Riley. He entered the service from Camp Lewis, WA on 21 September 1918 and died at Bellingham WA on 19 December 1918.

RILEY, William H. (d. 1925)

Following is an obituary as it appears in the Whatcom County obituaries from “The Deming Prospector”, March 13, 1925

Judge W. H. Riley passed away at his home at Van Zandt at 8:55 p. m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, after an illness of three years and nine months. The skill of the best of physicians and nursing were of no avail. He came west when a young man and ran a store and confectionery for years in South Bellingham. He owned a fine farm near Van Zandt where he spent his last days, cared for his loved and faithful wife who cared for him carefully through all the trying time of his last illness. His last thoughts and words were of her, calling her to his bedside he said: "God bless you mother, I could not live without you; do not mourn for me, you have done all you can to relieve my suffering; now just hold my hand and all close to me mother, and I will take my long last sleep." It was the end. He had lived a useful, unselfish life, loved and respected by all who knew him. He leaves a host of friends, and a loving wife to mourn his loss. No children blessed their union but he gave three loved step-sons to the World War 1 and they raised five orphans. At the time of his death they were caring for two motherless children. His remains were laid to rest in the Van Zandt cemetery. He was 57 years old December last.

1. ↑ Cemetery records of Whatcom County, Washington, additions and corrections to series II (CD). (Bellingham, Washington: Whatcom Genealogical Society, c2019 version 1.5).
2. ↑ Massachusetts, United States. Vital Records 1841-1915. (From Massachusetts state archives)
   43:6.

   male Randolph, s/o Edwin Randolph

3.   Belchertown, in United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432).

   BISHOP, Arnold, 51, b. MA
   ---, Sarah, 51, b. MA
   RANDOLPH, Emeline, 24, b. MA
   ---, Edson, 6
   ---, Juliet, 3
   ---, John 6/12
   ---, Clara, 21
   ---, Sarah, 16
   ---, Charles, 13
   ---, George, 11

4.   Belchertown, in Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States. 1855 Massachusetts State Census.

   CHAMBERLAIN, Lyman, 20-30
   ---, Emeline, 30-40
   ---, Mary C., under 5
   RANDOLPH, Edson E., 10-15
   ---, Juliett, 5-10
   ---, John, 5-10