My Genealogy Hound

Edward M. Randolph, a resident of Edina, Mo., was born in Marion County, Mo., December 5, 1838, and is a son of Thomas and Ann E.(Anderson) Randolph, natives, respectively, of Louisiana and Maryland. The father immigrated to Missouri in 1835, and staked off 1,000 acres of land just below “Bee Ridge” in this county, before it came into market, and unfortunately some parties entered the same at Palmyra when it came into market, before Mr. Randolph got a chance. A year or so later he removed to Marion County, and entered land near the Shelby County line, where he resided until 1876, meeting with fair success as a farmer and stock raiser. He was quite a hunter in the early days when deer and wild game abounded in this locality. Since 1876 he has resided in Edina, and with his wife lives a retired life. He was born in 1812, and she in 1818, and they have raised the following children to maturity, all of whom are still living: Ella (widow of Col. McCullough), Edward M., Samuel T., Thomas J., John M., Charles H. and William H., all residents of Knox County. Our subject spent his youth in his native county on a farm, and secured a good English education, which he completed at the public schools of Hannibal. In 1856 he came to Knox County, and clerked in a merchandise store for three years at Newark, and then embarked in business for himself, which he continued successfully until January, 1873. He then ran the overland stage route from Edina to Quincy for four years before the railroad was built here. In 1873 he was appointed circuit clerk of Knox County by Gov. Woodson, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of R. R. Smith. He served out the unexpired term, and was then re-elected in 1874 for a term of four years, which office he filled in a highly satisfactory and efficient manner. In 1879 he engaged in a real estate and loan agency with Senator L. F. Cottey, and continued thus engaged until March, 1876, since which time he has conducted a similar business alone in a successful manner. He is one of a syndicate of local capitalists which has purchased some 3,000 acres of land in Linn County, Mo., on the Sante Fe Railroad, the intention being to lay off a new town in that desirable country. December 10, 1861, he married Miss Anna, daughter of Mason Hamilton, of this city. In politics Mr. Randolph is a Democrat, and as such was elected to his county office. He has been active in local matters, both educational and religious, and was a member of the board of directors who built the present large school building in Edina. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and has been president of the Knox County State Sunday-school Association for eight years. He is an Odd Fellow of honorable and long standing, also a K. of H., and belongs to the A. O. U. W. He is an ardent advocate in the temperance cause, and his standing as a business man and upright citizen is above reproach.