Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1920 — OLDEST PIONEER PASSES AWAY [ARTICLE]

OLDEST PIONEER PASSES AWAY

JAMES T. RANDLE. PIONEER OF PIONEERS, PASSED AWAY SUNDAY MORNING. James T. Randle, Jasper county’s oldest resident, passed away at the home of his son, Edward 3. Randle on N. Cullen street at four o’clock Sunday morning, Ins death resulting from a complication of diseases and coming after an illness of several months. Mr. Randle’s death thus removes one of the very first residents of Jasper county, he having been brought to this county by his parents during his infancy. Throughout the years his name has been linked with the history of the progress of Jasper county, and the influence for good and progress which he leaves is his most noble legacy.

He was born in Hampshire county, West Virginia, October 10, 1831, and was therefore eight-eight years of age at the time his death occurred. In the following year the senior 'Randle left Virginia for Indiana by (the overland route and was one of the first two families to settle within the boundaries of our county, the family of George Culp being .the other. James T. Randle s home has been within the- limits of Jasper county since that time, and no other resident had the fund of recollections dating back to an earlier time than he. The years of hi* developing youth were spent in assisting with the planting and harvesting, and during bis lifetime he used every type of fanning tool that had been in vogue during the changing epochs of the farming industry. He was fully grown when tiie first railroad made its way to Rensselaer and was past middle age when the wonderful inventions of electricity were introduced to civilization. Such education as he obtained was acquired in the Pleasant Grove School in a building ibuitt of logs. ~

In June, 1854, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Overton, and shortly after bds marriage settled on a place of bis own adjoining the old homestead. He there and on the old home place, which he acquired by purchase, until 1888, when he moved to Rensselaer, which has ever since been his boms. Through his own exertions he became one of the most prosperous land owners, and at one tune owned over 800 acree of land, most of which was subsequently divided among his children. Mr. Randle was a member of thf Knights of Pythias and of the Methodist church and was greatly devoted to both. He is survived by his four children, namely: Thomas and Robert, of Kansas, and Mrs. D. S. Makeevsr and Edward J. Randle of this city. One brother, Nelson, of this city, also survives him. The funeral will be conducted by the Rev. E. W. Strecker at the Methodist church at 2:30 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, and burial will be made in Weston cemetery.