History of Randolph County, Missouri

Preface

History is a record of human events, the personal element ever being present. Men perform their allotted work upon this earth and then depart. Others follow to take up the work left unfinished by those who have preceded them. It was ordained by an omnipotent and omniscient Providence that it should be the task of His creatures here below to go forth into, subdue, and people the waste places of the earth, the forests, and the plains; to change the wide spaces of land into fertile areas so as to provide sustenance for mankind. The vanguard were the pioneers, men and women, accustomed to simple methods of living, inured to hardships, bred to a life which required that they wrest a livelihood from the soil, and imbued with the spirit of generations of pioneers. They accomplished their self-imposed task and subdued the lands of what is now known as Randolph county. They paved the pathway for others who followed to resume the task of making a happy and prosperous community. Their work was well and faithfully done and this volume of Randglph county history might fittingly be dedicated to the memory of those brave men and women.

Lest we forget, lest the children of today and of the tomorrows know not the deeds of their progenitors, this history has been written and published— affording an authentic and readable record for all time to come, the story of the settlement and upbuilding of Randolph county.

History has been and is now being made. The great task of founding and creating an important sub-division of the great commonwealth pf Missouri has been accomplished. The future will bring forth still greater development. That this is possible is due to the bravery and hardihood of that noble race who have preceded the present generation and who lie sleeping peacefully beneath the sod they loved so well.

The following pages present a history of Randolph co'unty, based upon personal narratives, research, compilation, and official records. Inasmuch as history in the aggregate is a record of the composite achievements of all the people in a community during a course of many years, it is necessary to present much personal history in a work of this kind.

True history is based upon personal achievement. True history, then, in its wider sense is but biography. The biographical department of this history of Randolph county, therefore, is important, as presenting a record of the leading families of Randolph county and recording the personal achievements of the men and women who have made Randolph county what it is today. In the publishing of this important department which is destined for the enlightenment of the present and future generations as to the best information available, concerning their forbears, and no effort has been spared to insure accuracy without exaggeration.

In the preparation of this work it has been the aim of the writer to present the salient facts and the important events bearing upon the story of the settlement and early development of the county. Many events, of a seemingly remote character, had an influence in shaping the destiny and moulding the future of Randolph county, and it is hoped that the present and future generations may derive some benefit from the effort that has been put forth here in the way of a modest contribution to the annals of this splendid county.

ALEXANDER H. WALLER.

Moberly, Mo., August 1, 192(?.