RANDALL, Frederika died 1880

RANDALL

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 5/6/2026 at 15:40:49

About four o'clock yesterday afternoon, the house of John Randall, who resides in Lafayette Tp., was destroyed by fire, and his daughter, Frederika, aged 21, burned to death.

Mrs. Randall was engaged in household duties, down stairs, and the girl, who, from infancy has been of weak mind, was lying in a bed on the upper floor. Engaged in using her sewing machine, Mrs. Randall's attention was first directed to the danger by noticing an unusual smoke, and, hastening upstairs, she found the premises in flames, and, though she made ever possible effort, it was impossible to rescue the girl, whose weak mind would not permit her to be of and to herself in escaping.

Twice Mrs. Randall sought to force a passage through the flames, burning her face, hair, and hands in the attempt, and, in order to save the lives of her remaining children, she was compelled to abandon the unfortunate being upstairs to her dreadful fate.

The house and nearly everything the family possessed was utterly destroyed, and they are left homeless and dependant, escaping with only the clothing on their persons. Not a vestige of the body of the girl could be found.

We appeal to the charitable in aid of this stricken family. Their store of provisions, their clothing, home and furniture is lost, and the case is one that should enlist the sympathy of the community. Mr. E.A. Blum kindly consents to receive at his store aid in their behalf, whether in money, clothing or provisions, and we hope this announcement will be all that is necessary to secure a generous response.

~Lansing Mirror, Friday, February 20, 1880; pg 3

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Last Thursday afternoon, between four and five o'clock, the house of John Randall near Village Creek, was burned to the ground, and with it, horrible to relate, his imbecile daughter, aged about 22 years. The fire originated from the stove pipe in the upper story, where the girl generally remained, and no one being at home at the time but the mother and several smaller children, she was unable to rescue the poor, weak-minded creature ere she perished, although making several heroic attempts, barely having time to get the children out of the lower apartment.

The contents of the building were totally destroyed and the loss falls heavily on the poor people, who even previously were in needy circumstances, but thanks to our charitably disposed people, a subscription has been raised, which, together with contributions of clothing, furniture, &c., will place them even better off than before. A granary on the premises has already been converted into a dwelling by a number of their kind neighbors, and they are probably by this time occupying it.

The remains, or rather all that could be recovered, were buried in a box about sixteen inches square.

~Lansing Journal, Wednesday, February 25, 1880; pg 8

Note: Frederika Randall is buried in Oak Hill cemetery