It would be a satisfaction to me if I could add something definite in regard to my ancestry. Not because I think that I, myself, my children or their children after them would be any better or worse on account of it. It is true worth in the individual that counts for good and it always will be so. On the other hand a pedigree however long or honorable cannot be made responsible for, nor does it excuse the misdeeds of a scoundrel. Still people are generally proud to be able to trace their record back to the distant past. In my own case it is gratifying to me to be able to say that, while I have learned but little about my forefathers, I have learned nothing very bad.

The Randall family of Vermont, quite numerous in membership, I am told occupy a position of prominence and respectability. My grandfather, Greenfield Randall, who died in the year 1822, was the father of four sons and three daughters. His business was that of a hatter by trade. At the time of his death my father was seven years of age, one brother (uncle James) was three years younger. The five other children, by a different mother, were older, and had been well educated. Many of their descendents are in Vermont, a few in the state of New York and others are scattered through the west. I suppose it is true that the Randall ancestors emigrated to this country from England long anterior to the American Revolution but of this I have no record.

I have been taught that my mother's father was a nephew of General Israel Putnam, who gained such brilliant distinction in the War For Independence. I am strongly inclined to think that this is true, though I regret to say that I am unable to verify it. I have forgotten the given name of grandfather Putnam, who died about the time that I was born.

The family of my wife, especially her mother's branch of it, has a written history that extends back to the Leland family which emigrated from England to this country long before the Revolutionary War. My wife has a copy of this record which is brought down to include the names of herself and her sister, Eleanor. The parents of my wife were Martin Pollard, who came from New Hampshire to Wisconsin in the year of 1837 and Rachel Powers, who came from Vermont at the same time. In fact both arrived at Milwaukee on the same day, though at the time neither had any knowledge of the other. They were married in the year ---- and settled upon a farm in East Troy, Walworth County, Wisconsin, which was their home until the Spring of 1895, when at the age of 82 and 85 years respectfully, they both died and were buried at the same time and in the same grave at Mukwonago, Wis.

This aged couple had spent fifty-eight years of their lives in Wisconsin, eleven years while it was yet a territory. Their two children had been born before Wisconsin became a state. Their many years of industry, economy and honesty had brought to them their reward, not only in a pecuniary sense, but also in the consciousness of having won the respect and confidence of a large circle of acquaintances. Great changes had occurred in those fifty-eight years. The rear guard of the aborigines had disappeared over the hill to the westward and the country had been changed from a wilderness into prosperous and happy homes. Towns had grown up here and there and small Indian trading posts had become thriving villages. Milwaukee had changed from a moderate sized town into one of the large cities of the country. The first railroad had been built within the limits of Wisconsin ant it's branches had reached out to nearly every hamlet. But these many changes had come about slowly and those pioneer settlers were obliged to endure years of privations and hardships before the good times came and it was only those who tenaciously held out that were able to reap the reward.

I take it for granted that my children will feel an interest in whatever refers to their grandparents, hence I am led to relate a few incidents of their pioneer life. When Mr. Pollard went west he took money enough with him to buy 80 acres of Government land for which he paid $1.25 per acre. When he married this became his home. Before Miss Powers went west she had worked several years in a cotton mill at Nashua, N.H., and by close economy had saved enough money to buy a home in Vermont for the use of her parents. Her father it seems, was a man of but little energy and was inclined to take the world very easy. He was the father of three sons and seven daughters but he had never done much for their benefit after they were born. His wife however was very different. She was energetic, industrious and economical and performed her duty to her family to the best of their ability. She lived to be over ninety years of age. Of her ten children, Rachel, it seems, was the only one who rendered assistance to her parents.

In 1837, Rachel with her sister Cynthia, went to Wisconsin to visit her brother. It was her intention to return to Vermont and she took money with her for that purpose, but during her stay in Wisconsin she was induced to loan her money for a short time and failed to get it according to promise. She finally concluded to remain in the west and when she obtained her money she bought forty acres of Government land. After she and Mr. Pollard were married this land was traded for a forty that joined the eighty of Mr. Pollard. Later her farm in Vermont was sold and with the proceeds eighty acres more land was bought adjoining their Wisconsin home. The title of it all was vested in Mr. Pollard though, as can be seen 120 of the 200 acre farm, came to him by way of his wife. I suppose he wished to remove the worry incident to ownership from his wife. But this farm continued to be their home during life. It was not sold and was never mortgaged. Though they commenced their married life with their land paid for and out of debt, yet they had but scant means otherwise to help themselves with. It took time and lots of hard work to subdue the land and make it productive nor was there scarcely a market for what could be raised, none at all except at Milwaukee and that was only a small town, showing at that time but little promise of becoming one of the great markets of the country. As an indication that the place was not at that time of great importance my wife had frequently heard her mother say that when she first arrived at Milwaukee she could in half a day make a call at every house in town.

Those early settlers in Wisconsin speak of the Winter of 1840 and 41 as the hard winter. An intensely cold, long winter with an unusual depth of snow. It came upon them before their new farm had been made to produce much at best and after a season of partial crop failure. It was said that actual suffering from hunger became the common lot of all. Indeed families were compelled to subsist most of the winter upon turnips and salt alone. Stock was kept alive by cutting down trees upon which they could browse. As was generally the case in the west these early settlers suffered from sickness such as ague, typhoid and bilious fever, etc. but as the country became more settled the health improved. Perhaps a better mode of living had a tendency to promote healthfulness. The experience of those early settlers in Wisconsin was about the same as that of pioneers in other sections of the country and of course not all of them held out long enough to make a success of it. As an instance, the parents of my wife fought it out in Wisconsin and was amply rewarded, while my own parents, with greater advantages, failed in Minnesota after the battle had been nearly won.

As will appear from this sketch, I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth, nor was I given an opportunity to secure an education. In looking back to my childhood days, it seems as though but little encouragement was held out to me, either by example or precept. Whatever I may have though about this in the past, I am not now disposed to complain that such was the case because quite likely that which seemed a misfortune was really a blessing in disguise that helped to develop in me a desire to better my condition. I have learned that it is not a misfortune to be born poor, but rather an advantage. Is it not true that the poor boys born from thirty to fifty years ago are largely doing the business of the country today? The positions of trust, as well as the learned professions are very largely filled by men of this class who, as a rule, are proud of the fact that they commenced at the bottom rung of the ladder. The inheritance to be highly prized is a robust constitution. To be born healthy and strong is a fortune of itself. This inheritance should be carefully preserved, for with it other things may be acquired. In this I was most fortunate myself and I am thankful that the blessing extends also to my children. It is better than money. Whatever measure of success I may have attained in life has not been because of education or special ability, but as a result of honest, persistent effort. I firmly believe that honesty is not only the best policy, but the only policy that will lead to permanent success because it is right. It has been my desire to live honorably and to deal justly with all. How far I have fallen short in this, probably my children are as competent as any persons to judge.

In the year 1870 I joined the order of "Ancient Free and Accepted Masons" and have since remained a member of Callas Lodge no. 38 of which I have had the honor to serve two terms as Master. Later I joined the Order of "Grand Army of the Republic", which organization is composed of Union veterans of the Civil War. For a number of years I have not been a regular attendant at the meetings of either of these orders but I regard both as beneficial and well worthy of the support of good men.

In 1883 my wife, daughter Lena and I united with the Christian Church at Concord near our home and our membership still remains at that place. Our sons, Linden and Clinton joined the Christian Church at Kirksville while attending school at that place.

Before closing this sketch I desire to express my gratefulness to my children for the uniform kindness and respect they have ever shown to their mother and myself. They have been truthful, industrious and obedient and have grown into honorable men and women. To Lena and Linden who all along the years of their childhood days so faithfully assisted me in my work of feeding stock and other chores, - often when on account of stormy, wintry weather I was unable to obtain other help - I feel especially thankful. Their services were valuable to me and I appreciated it. They can feel the proud consciousness that they performed those kind acts bravely. They now hold positions of honor and are comfortably situated and I trust they may always be blessed. Clinton and Myrtle, younger in years, may have not contributed so much in manual labor perhaps but they cheerfully performed what was required of them. Myrtle's devoted attention to her mothers needs during those years of suffering with her lame arm proved her nobleness of heart and merited for her our highest praise. It is a pleasure to remember such unselfish acts of kindness. She and Clinton have worked faithfully to secure an education and I hope that their lives, too, may be prosperous and happy.

The years 1901 is upon us and the celebration of my sixtieth birthday very forcibly reminds me that I am no longer young. My wife will soon be fifty-nine years of age and she, too, has passed the noon-day of life. It is nearly thirty-eight years since we commenced life's journey together and as the years have had their seasons of clouds and of sunshine, so the years have brought to us periods of success and of failure, of joy and of sorrow. But we are thankful to the giver of all good that our failures were not more disastrous and that we have had more of sunshine than of clouds. Through it all my wife has been to me truly a helpmate. Her council has been wise and helpful. During all of those years no wife or mother could manifest greater devotion to the welfare of her family. I am glad to make this statement of facts and I sincerely trust that my children may never forget the debt of gratitude they owe their mother.

END

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