Notes for: Silas F. Randolph
Obituary, "The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 79, No 25, Dec 20 1915, p. 799:
Silas Fitz Randolph, the son of William F. Randolph and Mary Davis Randolph, was born July 3, 1833, on Greenbrier Run, W. Va., and died December 1, 1915, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. E. Persels, of Farina, Ill., at the age of 82 years, 4 months, and 28 days.
Mr. Randolph was the sixth in a family of twelve children, only two of whom are still living: Judson and Preston, both of Salem, W. Va. His early education consisted of several terms in a private school taught by members of his family and a term or two at West Union Academy. He was converted and baptized under the labors of Elder Azor Estee, who persuaded him to accompany him to his home at Petersburg, N.Y., to learn the northern style of farming. While here he lived in Elder Estee’s home and joined the Petersburg Seventh Day Baptist Church.
In the spring of 1855, Mr. Randolph took one of his sisters and his two brothers who survive him to Alfred, where he entered school. These were the first students to go from West Virginia to Alfred. While here he met Miss Emily Lusk, to whom he was married on December 2, 1862, at her home in Danville, N.Y. In January 1864, Mr. Randolph enlisted as a volunteer in the Civil War, serving in Company I, 5th N.Y. Heavy Artillery, until the close of the war.
Mr. and Mrs. Randolph moved to Farina on February 14, 1866, after a few months spent in West Virginia. Mr. Randolph was one of the constituent members of the Farina Seventh Day Baptist Church, with which he has since held his membership, except for a few years while in California. In the fall of 1887, he took up a soldier’s claim in southern California near Valley Center and lived there for a number of years. He also lived at Colony Heights, Riverside, and Los Angeles. In the spring of 1906, he and his wife returned to Farina, where she passed away February 21, 1913. Since then Mr. Randolph has made his home with some of his children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Randolph were born five children: Ernest F., Virtue, who died in infancy, Lura, the wife of C. E. Persels, Ines, the wife of O. C. Wells, and Mabel, now Mrs. Wm. H. Allen, all of whom live at Farina and were present at the funeral, which was conducted by the pastor at the home of Mrs. Persels, Friday afternoon, December 3.
For some time Mr. Randolph has been failing in health. He was a Christian man and an ardent student of the Bible, especially in his later years. For a number of years both his eyesight and hearing gradually left him, yet he kept well informed on matters of denominational interest. He has written a number of articles for the Sabbath Recorder. Before the end came he expressed a readiness to go to his eternal home where there will be no more affliction or sorrow, and waited patiently for the summons. L. O. G.