My Genealogy Hound

In early colonial days there came from England two brothers by the name of Randolph, who settled in Roanoke County, Va. Three sons of each moved to North Carolina and settled along the Great Peedee River. To this source many of the best families of our country can be traced. The old English Randolph, by corruption has become Randol, Randal and Randle, while others retain the original Randolph, and many of this stock have become eminent as ministers, physicians, military men and educators; but few as lawyers. Our subject, Prof. Edwin H. Randle, traces his lineage to this source. On his father’s side (one of the brothers), Maj. John, Wilson and George; on his mother’s side (the other brother), William, Peyton and Susan Randle, our subject’s parents being George and Susan Randle. They were brought from North Carolina to Stewart County, Tenn., when small. After marriage they moved to West Tennessee, and spent the remainder of their days. They had six sons and three daughters, our subject being the only one living. He was born December 18, 1830, in Henry County, and was educated at Andrew College, at Trenton, Tenn., graduating there in 1856, and has since been engaged in educational work. In 1860 he married Letitia Alexander, by whom he had one son- Samuel T. Mrs. Randle died three years after their marriage. During the latter part of the war he served in Buford’s division of Forrest’s cavalry, and was assistant sergeant in the quartermaster’s department. In 1869 Prof. Randle married Sarah A. McPherson, by whom he had three children: Mary W., Malcolm M. and Edwin I. Prof. Randle has been a close student and a useful man in the field of education. In 1856 he established Caledonia College, at Caledonia, Henry Co., Tenn., and was at the head of it until it was burned during the war. He afterward established, in the same county, the Paris Female College, and with Henry C. Irby founded McKenzie (now McTyeire) Institute, and held a joint principalship for six years; then taught four years in Paducah, Ky., and In 1881 moved to Ripley and has since had charge of the school. Prof. Handle has written some able articles for the leading periodicals. Among the number are “Tyranny of the Cassics” and the “Bacteria of Disease,” and he has in manuscript a valuable scientific work in two volumes: Vol. I, “Scientific Interpretation of Genesis;” Vol. II, “The Plurality of the Races in the light of the Bible, of Science and of History—Anti-Darwinism.” Prof. Handle is justly considered a learned man and a fine educator.