"It is not an easy task to describe
adequately a man who has led an eminently active and busy life and who has
attained to a position of relative distinction in the community, with which his
interests are allied. But biography finds its most perfect justification,
nevertheless, in the tracing and recording of such a life history. It is then,
with a full appreciation of all that is demanded and of the painstaking scrutiny
that must be accorded each statement, and yet with a feeling of satisfaction,
that the writer essays the task of touching briefly upon the details of such a
record as has been that of the honored subject, Andrew F. RANDALL,
one of the honored and influential business men of Fayette county.
Mr.
Randall is a native son of the old Empire state, having first seen the light of
day in Madison County, New York, on March 16, 1837. He is the son of Asahel and
Julia (DYKINS) Randall, who were numbered
among the early settlers of Madison county, where the father successfully
followed agricultural pursuits for a number of years, he and his wife spending
their last days at Oneida, that county. They became the parents of six
children, of which number two are living, B. F., of Cedar Rapids, this state,
and the subject of this review. Politically, the father was originally an
old-line Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party he allied himself
with it. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. They are
both now deceased.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Oneida, New
York, the paternal farmstead being near that city, and in the public schools of
that community he received a good practical education. In 1856 he came to
Lyons, Clinton County, Iowa, and was employed in driving a team on railroad
construction work. After a short time he returned to his old home in New York,
but soon afterward again came to Clinton county and took a position as engineer
with his brother, P. D. RANDALL, who had charge of twenty
miles of construction of the Northwestern railroad west of Cedar Rapids, and in
this capacity he assisted in laying out the town of Clinton. After completing
this work, Mr. Randall again returned to Oneida county, New York, and was
married. In 1860 he came to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he remained a year and
was then appointed railroad station agent at Lisbon, this state, retaining the
position two years. At the end of that period he went to Carroll, Iowa, and
during the following summer he ran a boarding house. During the following three
years he was employed as station agent at Mount Vernon. Receiving then the
appointment as superintendent of the Lynn County poor farm, Mr. Randall
efficiently discharged the duties of that position for three years. In 1873 he
came to Center township, Fayette County, and he and his brother, P. F., of Cedar
Rapids, platted the village of Randalia, which they named. During the following
six years Mr. Randall served as station agent at the new railroad point, but
during the following years he chiefly applied himself to mercantile pursuits,
having opened up a general store at that point. He was appointed the first
postmaster at Randalia and held the office for twelve years, to the entire
satisfaction of the patrons of the office. He has been in business here
continuously since the inception of the business life of the village and has
been one of the principal figures in the business life of the community, the
commercial prosperity of the place being largely due to his influence and
personal efforts. He has taken the keenest interest in the welfare of the town
and was one of the organizers and stockholders of the Randalia Savings Bank, of
which he was chosen a member of the board of directors, this being one of the
solid and influential banks of Fayette county. In various ways has Mr. Randall
shown at all times his unvarying faith in the community in which he lives and
the unselfish interest that he has exhibited in its welfare has earned for him
the sincere respect of all who have been associated with him. Sound business
principles and stanch integrity have characterized his commercial life and a
sense of fairness has actuated him in his dealings with others.
Politically,
Mr. Randall is an adherent of the Republican party, in the success of which he
has ever been deeply interested, having been chairman of the township central
committee for a number of years, in which capacity he rendered appreciated
service to this party. He served satisfactorily as justice of the peace for
several years, but has never been an aspirant for public office. Fraternally he
was a charter member of Randalia Lodge, No. 177, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and is also a member of the Rosebud Lodge No. 232, Daughters of
Rebekah, to which his wife also belongs. Mr. Randall also belongs to West Union
Encampment of Patriarchs Militant, in which he has received special recognition
officially, having been elected colonel of the Third Regiment, Second Brigade.
Mr. Randall was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, as was his wife,
but they now give their support to the Methodist Episcopal church.
On
April 29, 1858, Mr. Randall was united in marriage with Addie FOLAND,
who was born at Oneida, New York, on November 22, 1838, the daughter of Jonas
and Elizabeth (MOWERS) FOLAND, both of whom were natives of
New York state, the former born at Schenectady and the latter at Hudson. In the
Foland family were nine children, of whom may be noted the remarkable fact that
six of them lived wedded lives of more than fifty years. Mrs. Randall's parents
both died in New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Randall have had no children of their
own, but had an adopted daughter, Belle. The latter received
a good education in the public schools and Fayette College, and was also highly
accomplished in music. She became the wife of Daniel DUNCAN
of this county, who is now teacher in a Presbyterian school in New York City.
Mrs. Duncan died in New York City on December 5, 1894.
In all that goes
to make up strong and potential manhood, Mr. Randall has been well equipped and
in all the affairs of a busy life he has "stood four square to every wind
that blows," his present high standing in the community where he has lived
so many years attesting the opinion held of him by those who know him best.
Every movement looking to the advancement of the community, morally,
educationally, socially or materially, has received his earnest endorsement and
support and he has justly earned the right to be numbered among the
representative men of his community."