Randolph, Harold E., 1903-1939

RANDOLPH, ROLPH, FERGUSON

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

From the Alton Democrat, May 14, 1939:

Randolph, Little Rock Editor, Dies

Harold Randolph, editor of the Little Rock [Iowa] Free Lance the past 10 years, died suddenly of a heart attack there Monday night while on his way to attend a meeting of the board of education of which he was president. Only 33 years of age, Mr. Randolph was editor of the Hospers Tribune for a time before going to Little Rock, and the family is well known in that community. He was a progressive newspaper man and citizen and published a newsy paper at Little Rock.

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From the Boyden Reporter, May 18, 1939:

HAROLD RANDOLPH

Mr. and Mrs. Willis Vanderburg, Senator Chas. B. Hoeven of Alton, and Paul C. Woods of Sheldon attended the funeral services Friday of Harold E. Randolph, publisher of the Little Rock Free Lance at Little Rock. Willis Vanderburg, Paul C. Woods, and four brother publishers served as pall bearers.

[Followed by reprints of laudatory comments from the Sibley Gazette-Tribune and the Sheldon Mail.]

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From the Sioux Falls (South Dakota) Argus-Leader, May 13, 1939:

HAROLD E. RANDOLPH

Ellsworth, Minn.—The funeral of Harold E. Randolph, for the past 10 years publisher of the Little Rock, Iowa, Free Lance took place in Little Rock—12 miles southeast of Ellsworth Friday. He was 36 years old and leaves a widow and one son, 10 years old, besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Randolph, publisher of the Edgerton, Minn. Enterprise, and several brothers and sisters. His brother Jack who had helped out with the paper for the past year is expected to carry on the Little Rock Free Lance.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate has Harold E. Randolph, born March 12, 1903 in Brewster, Minn.; parents John S. Randolph, born in New York, and Jessie Rolph, born in Minnesota; wife Mae Randolph; occupation printer; informant John S. Randolph, Edgerton, Minn.; died at 8:10 p.m. May 8, 1939; cause, angina pectoris; contributory causes, “has been over weight & had high blood pressure at least for 8 years.” Buried at Little Rock, Iowa.

There does not appear to be a FindaGrave page for him.

Ancestry.com has a South Dakota marriage record for H. E. Randolph, age 22, and May Ferguson, age 21, both residents of Egan, S.D., married in Sioux Falls February 27, 1926.

The 1930 U.S. census shows H. E. (27) and May (26) and son Robert (3-3/12, born in Wisconsin) living in Elgin, Lyon County, where he owns a print shop.

The Hospers reference may be to his father. From the Alton Democrat, April 2, 1926: News from Edgerton, Minn., states that Harold Randolph, eldest son of a former editor of the Hospers Tribune has acquired a printery in a Wisconsin town. Harold has been married recently and had edited a newspaper at Egan, S.D.