Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 594.
 
HENRY D. RANDALL

     who resides at Olex, has one of the best places in Gilliam county.  His
residence is an imposing structure of modern architectural design, is
beautifully surrounded by handsome shade trees, while his estate, consisting of
eight hundred acres, is well laid out and improved.  About five hundred acres
are under cultivation and the balance is used for pasture.
     Henry D. Randall was born in Ohio, on December 26, 1848. His father,
Abraham Randall, was born in New York city, in 1814 and died in Cove, Oregon, in
1899. He had settled there in 1863. He married Miss Lucinda Oliphant, a native
of Ohio, who died in Iowa, in 1860. Our subject left Ohio with his parents when
a year old and journeyed to Benton county, Indiana, and thence in a short time
to Marshall county.  Seven years later he moved to Iowa and in 1863, the father
and children came across the plains, the mother having died. Upon arriving at
Boise, our subject engaged in government work while the balance of the family
came on to the Grande Ronde valley and located. After being in the government
employ for a couple of months, Henry D. engaged with C. Jacobs and Company,
general merchants, in Boise. In 1864, he went to Corvallis and there attended
school until he was fitted for school teaching. The next two years were spent in
the educators work; then he went to California and was in the employ of G. W.
Crook on a stock ranch until 1870. Returning then to Corvallis, he taught school
for a year longer and then went to King's valley and in 1872, he went to Whitman
county and took up a homestead. In 1874 he came to his present location and
purchased eight hundred acres of land. This was used as headquarters for a fine
stock ranch until the winter of 1879-80 swept away ten thousand dollars worth of
cattle and sheep. Then Mr. Randall turned his attention to farming, principally,
and in this he has been occupied since. He is one of the progressive and
enterprising men of the section, has labored with wisdom and has shown himself a
genuine good man. When Mr. Randall landed in Boise he had neither money nor
education. To earn the money to secure an education in a frontier country is
fully understood by him but he accomplished it splendidly and in a short time
was doing the fine work of the educator as well. Everything that he now owns has
been cleared by hard labor and good management and he has reason to take pride
in his achievements. During these years his example has stimulated many others
to meritorious effort.
     On February 22, 1872, Mr. Randall married Miss Ordelia Chambers, who was
born in Benton county. Oregon, on June 3, 1855. She was educated in her native
country. Her father, Roland Chambers, was born in Ohio and crossed the plains to
Benton county, Oregon, in 1845.  Mr. Randall has two brothers, John and William,
farming in Union county, this state and three sisters, Mrs. Margaret Vernon,
Mrs. Sarah Fulson and Mrs. Mary Thompson. The former lives near Sprague,
Washington and the latter two are deceased. To our subject and his wife eleven
children have been born, named as follows, Mrs. Effie Martin, John, Claude,
Edgar, Mabel, Hattie, Nott, Delia, Frank, Mildred and Grace.
     Mr. Randall affiliates with the A. F. & A. M. and always has been a strong
Republican. He takes an active interest in educational matters and the affairs
of the community in general and is one of the leading and influential men of the
county.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.