Randall, Robert William 1825-1913

RANDALL, OVERLEY, ZIMMERMAN, HAWORTH, CARPENTER, OLIVER, BRIGGS, GREGG, LEWIS

Posted By: S Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 12/1/2016 at 11:47:25

In the death of Robert William Randall, Monona loses another of its pioneer citizens. He was our oldest citizen in continuous residence in the corporation.

The deceased was born at Morgantown, West Virginia, March 4th, 1825, and died Feb. 14th, 1913, lacking 18 days of 88 years of age.

With his parents he emigrated from West Virginia to Goshen, Ind., with oxen. In 1833 when 8 years of age, his father took him to Chicago to a Presidential rally, when Andrew Jackson was elected. Chicago at that time consisted of about a dozen log houses and one store. He received his schooling and grew to manhood in Goshen, Ind.

He was married to Elizabeth Overley, in October, 1847. To this union four children were born, one dying in infancy. In 1851 he started with ox teams for the gold-fields of California, but after two years of hardships returned home. In 1854 he came to Monona, Iowa, and two years later moved his family here, where he has lived ever since. For 32 years he served as constable and was proprietor of the meat market for many years.

In August, 1875, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Zimmerman. His two wives* have preceeded him to the grave.

He joined Northern Light Lodge No. 156 I.O.O.F. Nov. 6, 1869, as one of the charter members. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, 1st Iowa Cavalry, and at the time of his death was a member of Monona G.A.R. Post. For the last 19 years of his life he was a grower and dealer in small fruit.

Since the death of his wife he has made his home for the past five years with his daughter, Mrs. F.J. Haworth. He leaves to mourn his departure three daughters, Mrs. F.J. Haworth, of Monona, Iowa; Mrs. Alice Carpenter, of Tomah, Wis., and Mrs. Minnie Oliver, of North McGregor, Iowa; an adopted daughter, Mrs. Mattie Briggs, of Rockford, Ill.; thirteen grand-children and one great great grand-child.

The funeral services were held in the Methodist church on Monday morning. The members of the G.A.R. Post and the members of the I.O.O.F. lodge acted as pall bearers and accompanied the remains to the grave.

~The Argus, February 27, 1913 (Monona News from the Monona Leader)

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*Note: The obit is confusing re: his wives, it's possible that he and Elizabeth were married to each other twice, with each of them re-marrying in between:

1) Indiana Marriages: Robert Randall & Elizabeth Overly 8/28/1847 at Elkhart co. IN

2) R.W. Randall & Mary Zimmerman married 7/18/1875 in Clayton county, IA (Ancestry database: Iowa Marriages). Mary nee Gregg was the widow of John W. Zimmerman (they were married 4/12/1848 (Clayton co. Marriages Vol 1, pg 20). On the 1870 census, she was a widow w/4 children in her household, and living only 1 household away from R.W. & Elizabeth Randall. The 1885 Iowa State census, Monona enumerates R.W. Randall, age 60, & his wife Mary, age 57, b. Canada

3) R.W. Randall married Elizabeth (Overley) Lewis, age 67, at Monona on 7/23/1900. The record states this was his 3rd marriage.