Randall, John A. "Jack" (1844-1915)

Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1915 Dec 11 p. 1

J. A. RANDALL DIED THIS MORNING

Friends of J. A. Randall, familiarly known in Newton as Jack Randall, were shocked this morning to hear of his sudden death which occurred at the ranch of Mr. Randall which is about ten miles north of Burrton. He went to the ranch about three days ago intending to stay several days as is his custom on making trips there. Nothing definite has been heard as to the particulars of his death, but it is possible that it is heart failure, as it was known that he had been subjected to heart attacks recently.

Mr. Randall is an extensive land owner and also owns much property among which is the Randall building at the corner of Main and Fifth streets. He is survived by his brother, Captain George Randall who manages the Randall ranch near Burrton and a brother and sister whose homes are in Ohio.

C. F. Claassen and P. Lander motored to the ranch this afternoon to assist in making funeral arrangements.

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Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1915 Dec 13 p. 8

PLANS ARE MADE FOR THE FUNERAL

J. A. Randall To Be Buried From Presbyterian Church Thursday

The body of John A. Randall whose death occurred at his ranch near Burrton Saturday morning, was brought to Newton Saturday evening and friends may see him at the Sprinker Chapel at any time Wednesday. The funeral is to be held at the Presbyterian church Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock.

D. V. Randall, a brother arrived this morning from Westerville, Ohio, and other relatives are expected here for the funeral.

Mr. Randall's death must have occurred after a very brief attach of heart trouble to which he had been subjected the past few weeks. He went to the ranch early in the week to oversee some repairs and was superintending some new approaches to be made to a bridge about 100 yards distance from the ranch home, Saturday morning. He evidently felt the illness coming on him for while he was instructing a workman just what to do with the approaches, he remarked that he could leave the job go until Monday and he would tell him how to go about it. He turned from the man whom he was talking and went to the residence, walked through a room in which his brother Capt. George Randall was sitting and into his own room. It was but a few minutes his brother says until he heard the sound of a chair moving and looking into the room saw his brother lying on the floor and he gasped a few times and then expired.

Mr. Randall was one of the early day settlers of Newton, having been a resident of the city for the past forty-two years. He was born at Nashport, Muskingum county, Ohio, April 14, 1844 and spent his early boyhood days at the parental farm near that town. He came to Newton from Nashport in 1873 and was associated with the Santa Fe Land Office here. This office was later incorporated by Muse & Spivey Lumber company which Mr. Randall continued to be associated until the company was succeeded by The Chicago Lumber Co.

He invested in farms in the vicinity of Newton, and in real estate and has superintended his lands and carried on a real estate business since that time. His former office for many ywas on the south side, but for several years he has occupied an office at the rear of the Kansas State Bank.

He had been a heavy stockholder and a director in several Newton banks in the early days, including the Harvey County bank, the German National and the Newton National banks. When the Kansas State bank was organized in 1902, Mr. Randall was elected a director and continued to be thus associated with the bank until his death.

After purchasing his ranch near Burrton, Mr. Randall spent much time looking after many details of the farm and it was one of his pleasures to continue to make frequent trips to the ranch. He acquired his lands and property from time to time during his residence here and is now well known as one of the wealthiest men in the county. He always had the interest of a public spirited man of the community, in every worth while enterprise, and when the building he owned at the corner of Fifth and Main street was destroyed by fire several years ago, he replaced it after making trips to various cities to determine what would be the best material to use in every way, making the building, now known as the Randall building one of the very best in Newton.

Though a public spirited man, Mr. Randall never sought public office and was not even a member of any lodge or organization, but his prudent judgement of things of a public nature was sought by the citizens of Newton, and in all the projects that he considered worth while he gave liberally. While not a member of any church, he donated to new church edifices or to remodeling of churches whenever he received requests.

Being of a reticent, unassuming manner, little has ever been heard of the many good things, accomplished by Mr. Randell and it is only his closest business associates or those who have known him all the years he has been here, who can tell of his good works, and many incidents have been related by his acquaintances and friends which give evidence of the gentle heart of this man.

He is survived by his two brothers D. V. Randall of Websterfield, O., and George, who is manager of the ranch, and by several nephews and nieces. A sister whose home was in Ohio passed away a few years ago and his brother, Charles, who was once a resident of Newton has preceded him to their eternal home.

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Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1915 Dec 15 p. 1

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PROCLIMATION [sic]

Whereas an all-wise Divine Creator has removed from amongst our fellow townsmen, J. A. Randall, who from the earliest days of our city has been identified with our community interests, and whose figure has been familiar to the greater portion of our people for more than a generation, and

Whereas Mr. Randall was a man of wide business relation, and liberality and fair-minded generosity has had much to do with our community development, and the acquisition of many of our public institutions; and his loyal support has always helped in sustaining the burden of our civic welfare, therefore,

Pursuing the suggestion of numerous of his friends as well as my own desires, and by the authority vested in my office as Mayor of Newton,

I hereby proclaim that so far as practicable all places of business in the city of Newton be closed on Thursday, December 16, during the hour of 2:00 to 3:00 o'clock p. m., at which period the funeral of our departed townsman will be conducted.

It is fitting that his associates and fellow business men be afforded this opportunity to pay their respect to his memory, and to show their appreciation and devotion to so loyal and lovable a character.

Given under my hand, this the 15th day of December, 1915.

A. J. DUFF, Mayor.

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Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1915 Dec 17 p. 5

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HONOR MEMORY OF J. A. RANDALL

Words, Flowers and Saddened Faces Tributes To J. A. Randall

The memory of John A. Randall, whose death occurred on Saturday morning, was respected and revered in Newton Thursday by a suspension of business from the hour of 2 to 3 o'clock and by a large attendance of business men at his funeral, held at the Presbyterian church at 2:30 o'clock.

His body, reposing in a state bronze casket, was taken to the church at 10:00 o'clock in the morning. The very simple plate on the casket bearing the words "John A. Randall 1844-1915," and the simplicity of the substantial casket were reminders of the substantial citizen and the unassuming life he had lived. No flowers were placed on his casket, but great bunches of American Beauty roses, a floral tribute from the Kansas State bank, were in vases at the head and foot, and other floral offerings were arranged in racks and were borne from the church by J. W. Murphy, E. E. Conrad and A. B. Gilbert. These men, as well as the pall bearers, were men most closely associated with the departed one. The honorary pall bearers were Peter Claassen, John Linn, Geo. Wright, John Reese, B. F. Evans, Philip Lander, Don Kiney and J. B. Dickey. The men who bore him to his resting place in the steel and concrete vaults in Greenwood cemetery were John Olinger, C. B. Warkentin, S. Greenebaum, C. F. Claassen, John Regier, Glenn Miller, Cornelius Claassen and Will Regier. Quite a large delegation of men of Burrton, near which town to Randall ranch is located, were present at the funeral.

Rev. A. H. Morrison conducted the service with prayer, scripture reading and a brief sermon. He read a short sketch of the life of Mr. Randall written by J. B. Dickey, who had been associated with him since the early days of Newton, and an editorial showing an appreciation of the worth of the deceased as a man and a citizen of Newton, written by J. L. Napier, editorial writer of the Kansan. In his sermon Mr. Morrison dwelt on the traits of character of the man who had lived his quiet unostentation [sic] life in Newton for twenty-two years—traits that have been most remarked by the acquaintances and close associates of Mr. Randall—his justness, his mercy and his humble attitude, in life in the midst of his wealth, making his theme not so much an eulogy for the departed one, as a lesson for the living, pointing out the attributes of manhood to be admired in Mr. Randall that might be emulated, and indicating how the justice of the man was tempered by mercy, and how his life of integrity and uprightness had been such that will make his memory always revered.

By special request B. H. Turner was invited to speak in appreciation of Mr. Randall. Having been his tenant for thirty years and having had business relations as an attorney during that time, Mr. Turner was well able not only toe emphasize the good words spoken by the clergyman, but to add others of a personal character. In speaking of Mr. Randall as being a man with a tender heart, he mentioned that never during his business career of acquiring his wealth had Mr. Randall ever foreclosed a mortgage or deprived any one of his property, and he had never instituted a suit in court as an individual against any one, nor had suit every been instituted against him. He spoke words of praise of his dignity as a man, as an individual and a citizen, having lived a life of such integrity and justness as to be a worthy example, whose memory should ever live in the community in which he had lived.

A male quartet, Le Roy Plumb, Roy Harrison, Dr. Kittell and John Getz, sang the hymns, "Jesus Savior Pilot Me" and "Abide With Me," with organ accompaniment by Mrs. F. B. Hunt.

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Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1915 Dec 24 p. 8

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J. A. RANDALL WILL NOW PROBATED

Generous Bequests To Several Institutions of Newton

In accordance with the will of the late John A. Randall which was drawn up October 20, 1913, and probated before Judge H. H. McAdams December 21, 1915, four Newton institutions Bethel college, Bethel hospital, the Newton Free Library and the Y. M. C. A. have had the liberal bequests each of $5,000 and the balance of the estate is bequeathed to relatives.

The amount of $10,000 has been set aside to be invested by the executors for George Randall, brother of the deceased who reside at Westerville, who is to receive the interest or income during his life time and at his death the amount will be divided share for share between Bethel hospital and Bethel college.

D. V. Randall, the brother of the deceased who resides Westerville, Ohio, will receive a direct legacy of $3,000. A. R. Little, of Dresden, O., a nephew, $2,500 and $1,000 is bequeathed to each niece and nephew as follows: M. K. Little, of Dresden, O., Anna L. Fulmer, formerly Anna L. Little, of Oakdale, Pa., E. G. Little, of Dresden, George C. Randall, of Pueblo, and Alice B. Shafer, of Granville, O.

The will states that after legacies, debts and expenses of the probating are paid that the balance of residue and the remainder of the estates is bequeathed as follows: One eighth portion of such remainder to each. E. G. Little, M. K. Little, Anna Fulmer, George Randall, Alice Shafer, and three eighths to the brother, D. V. Randall.

Special provisions have been made in some of the bequests. In leaving one-eighth of the residue to his nephew, George Randall, the provision is made that if he die first his wife shall receive income from that amount, and at the death of both it will revert to the children and grandchildren should there be any, and a like condition is stipulated in regard to the bequest made to the niece, Alice Shafer, and if she should die without issue then her share will be divided share and share alike among her brothers and sisters, M. K. Little, Anna Fulmer, and E. G. Little. The provision also states that should Alice Shafer stand in need of a greater amount than the income or interest of said residue, that the executors take from principal of said one-eighth portion a sufficient amount as they deem just and proper to supply her needs and continue to make such payments during her life.

The executors named, Philip Lander and B. H. Turner, or any one executor named afterward, are given instructions to convert the entire estate into cash and invest the proceeds after paying the bequests, in good first class interest bearing securities and from the proceeds therefrom, pay installments to the persons above mentioned, making payments semi-annually as long as payments be made.

The probate judge is instructed in the will to pay a reasonable amount to the executors for their service and in case either of the executors die or is disqualified, John G. Regier is named to be executor. A provision is also made whereby the amount of $200 is to be paid to D. V. Randall for the upkeep and repairs of the old cemetery at Nashville, O., where the parents of Mr. Randall are buried.

The witnesses to the will were C. W. Claassen and W. W. Regier.

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Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1920 Mar 24 p. 7

Text of obituary:

(First published in the Evening Kansan-Republican, March 24, 1920.)

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

State of Kansas,

Harvey County.

In the probate court in and for said county.

In the matter of the estate of John A. Randall, deceased.

All creditors and all other persons interested in the said estate of John A. Randall, deceased are hereby notified that on the 23 day of April, A. D., 1920, at 10 o'clock a. m., and on the 19 day of the April term of the Probate Court in and for said County, we will apply to said court for an order of final settlement of said estate, and ask that said estate be declared fully settled and closed and ourselves and bondsmen exonerated from any further liability, and at such time application will be made for an order of court finding and adjudging who are the legal heirs of said John A. Randall, deceased.

Philip Lander and B. H. Turner.

Executors of the Estate of John A. Randall, deceased.

Newton, Kansas, March 19, A. D., 1920.