"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 85, p 695, Dec. 2, 1918. The Rev. Lester Charles Randolph, son of Howell W., and Hannah (Bowen) Randolph, was born at Walworth, Wis., August 16, 1864, and died in Milton, Wis., November 21, 1918, in the 55th year of his age. His childhood and youth were spent in or near Walworth. In early life he gave his heart to Christ, was baptized and united with the Seventh Day Baptist church at Walworth. He attended the Walworth district school and what was known as "Big Foot Academy," and in 1884 he entered Milton College, from which he was graduated in 1888. The year following his graduation he spent in advanced studies in Cornell University, in the department of philosophy under President (then Professor) Schurman. Then he entered the Baptist Union Theological Seminary at Morgan Park, Ill. In this seminary were other young men with whom he was closely associated. They engaged in evangelistic work as quartets, and their labors together laid the foundation of Doctor Randolph's later successful work as an evangelist and worker in the field of temperance and other reforms. During his seminary course he was made pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist church in Chicago, and this relationship continued until 1899. He then served the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society as evangelist for one year. In 1900, he became pastor of the church at Alfred, N. Y. During this pastorate he engaged in active work in temperance and his labors were attended with distinct success. In 1904, by the kindness of the people of his congregation he went on the World's Sunday School Cruise" to Palestine, being chairman on shipboard, of the delegation from the State of New York. After taking that trip he engaged to a considerable extent in lecture work in which he continued more or less throughout his life. In 1910, he resigned his charge at Alfred and became pastor of the church in Milton, where he lived in active work as minister till his untimely death. In Milton he associated himself closely with the college from which he was graduated. He was always a close friend and advisor of the students and all young people. He was for many years a trustee of the college and more recently served as vice president of the board. He labored earnestly for the advancement of the college in every respect, particularly the increase of its endowment funds. During the last few years he won distinction as a popular lecturer and as a speaker in the temperance work. His most popular lectures have been: "That Delightful Fellow: The American Boy," "The Bright Side of Life on Four Continents," and "The Reign of the School Ma'am." In addition to the degree of Bachelor of Arts he received the degree of Master of Arts from Milton College, that of Bachelor of Divinity from the theological department of the University of Chicago, and the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Alfred University. He was always influential in the consuls of Seventh Day Baptist churches, and in 1915 was President of the General Conference, held that year in Milton. He was married in Chicago, December 25, 1890, to Susan Caroline Strong, of Hebron, Conn., later of Owego, N. Y. To Doctor and Mrs. Randolph were born six children, three of whom are now living, Hannah B., the oldest child, died at four years of age; Victor S., the second, is now in the S. A. T. C. at the University of California, Berkeley, Cal.; Kenneth B., the third, died on October 9, 1918, of the influenza, at Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.; Paul P., the fourth, was lost at sea on the ill fated "Herman Frasch," October 4, 1918; Howell S., the fifth, is in the S. A. T. C. at Milton College, and Doris, the youngest, is a high school student at Milton. The sudden loss of the two sons, Kenneth and Paul, and overwork in carrying on his personal labors and outside activities which have endeared him to people in many parts of this State, particularly in the vicinity of Milton, and at Whitewater, where he recently preached for the Congregational church, temporarily without a pastor, so wore upon his physical frame, robust as it has always been, that he succumbed to the influence of an infection which resulted in his death after less than a week of illness. On Sunday evening, November 17, he returned home from Whitewater, was taken ill in the night, became delirious, and after a few days of semi-consciousness passed away Thursday morning, November 21. He was a noble and generous-hearted man, a devoted husband and father, a patriotic citizen, a faithful pastor, and an eloquent preacher. His happy, genial disposition made him a welcome guest in every home which he entered. Multitudes joined his afflicted family in mourning his sudden death. W. C. D. "The Milton Junction Telephone", Milton Junction, Wisconsin, Thursday, Oct. 29, 1931, p 1. Susan Caroline Randolph, daughter of Levi H. and Susan Amelia Backus Strong, was born April 25, 1867, at Hebron, Conn. She died at Milton, Wis., October 24, 1931. Her younger days were spent at Hebron and at Owego, New York. She was graduated from Cornell university, Ithaca, N. Y. in 1889. Her chief academic interest was in the field of biology. While at Cornell she was active in the religious organizations and held the position of secretary of the Young People's society of Christian Endeavor - representing the combined Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Association groups - at the same time that John R. Mott was president of the organization. During her last year at Cornell, she became acquainted with her future husband, Lester C. Randolph, who was a post graduate student at the university at the time. On December 25, 1890, she was married to Mr. Randolph. They moved to Chicago where she entered the Woman's Medical college of the Northwestern university and Mr. Randolph entered a theological seminary. She was graduated from the medical school in 1893, one and a half years after the arrival of her first child, Beatrice. She never entered into active medical practice, but she tried to apply her medical knowledge in the rearing of her family. She was an undiscouraged student throughout her life. She took a great interest in collecting books and papers of a cultural nature which were a great help to Mr. Randolph in his work as a pastor. In all they collected between three and four thousand volumes. She was an enthusiastic supporter of the Esperanto language, and by sending out material and talking about it she helped to create interest in which she hoped some day might become the universal language. She was a member of the school board for many years at Alfred, N. Y., and she was greatly interested in the public library. Besides her literary and public interests and her activities in caring for her family she conducted a lyceum bureau for several years which was active throughout the middle west. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Randolph: Beatrice, Victor, Paul, Kenneth, Howell, and Doris. Though she had heavy responsibilities in the home and through her public interests and activities were no small consideration she maintained an attitude of quiet and retiring simplicity. She always faced the future with intrepid courage, even in situations very difficult to bear. When within one month she lost two full grown sons and her husband, she bore up bravely and lived always usefully for the remainder of her family. Mrs. Randolph's husband, the late Dr. Lester C. Randolph, was for many years an outstanding minister in Seventh Day Baptist churches and for seven years the pastor of the Milton church. He devoted much time to the interests of Alfred university and of Milton college. He was a popular preacher in pulpits of many denominations. He was a strong champion of the prohibition movement and was well known as a chautanqua and lyceum bureau lecturer. Mrs. Randolph was keenly interested in his work and ever alert to discover materials of value which he could use. Mrs. Randolph was a member of the Seventh Day Baptist church and a woman of fine Christian qualities. Though she was not prominent in the work of her church, her abiding interest was evident to her friends. Mrs. Randolph is survived by one brother, Howard C. Strong, Owego, N. Y., and by one sister, Mrs. Geo. Story, Chicago. Another brother, Clayton C. Strong, Oakland, California, has passed on. She is survived by three children: Dr. Victor and Dr. Howell Randolph, Phoenix, Ariz., and Doris, Mrs. Ezra Vincent, Two Rivers, Wis. There are five grandchildren: Kenneth's daughter Jean Marie; Victor's son and daughter, Victor Jr. and Caroline Elizabeth; and Howell's son and daughter, George Frederick and Susan Charlotte. Mrs. Randolph has been afflicted for several years with gradually failing health and the loss of sight until she was nearly blind. She bore her distress with great patience and fortitude. Through the use of her radio she enjoyed worship and sermons, lectures on educational and cultural subjects and good music. She kept up her interest in good books and engaged one and another to come and read to her. When callers came in she had interesting subjects of which she loved to speak and she rarely mentioned her physical distresses unless questioned about them. In her passing she leaves not only her children who will miss the abiding interest and affection of a loving mother, but also she leaves a large circle of friends who have known her, loved her, and who will long cherish the memory of one who lived and served so unselfishly. The funeral was held from the Milton Seventh Day Baptist church on Tuesday afternoon, October 27, 1931. Mrs. W. E. Rogers was the organist. A male quartette consisting of Dr. A. E. Whitford, Prof. L. H. Stringer, Prof. W. D. Burdick, and Mr. Leslie Bennett sang appropriate selections. The funeral was conducted by Pastor James L. Skaggs, the Rev. John W. Findley, West Lafayette, Indiana, and the Rev. Edwin Shaw assisting. Burial was made in the Milton cemetery. They Came to Milton http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=jonsaunders