Washington

RANDALL, George W.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 332-333 
(portrait p 332)

George W. RANDALL, of Waterbury, was born 18 September 1825 in Waterbury 
[Washington County, Vermont], son of Oliver C. and Electa (COFFIN) RANDALL. 
He was bereft of parental guidance when five years of age and by this sad 
loss was thrown on his own resources. Having received such instruction as 
was afforded by the common schools of Waterbury, at the age of sixteen he was 
apprenticed for three years to learn the blacksmith's trade, during which 
engagement in the intervals of labor he still continued his educational 
course and later at Stowe and Bakersfield academies, paying his expenses as 
he advanced. After teaching successfully for a short period, he entered the 
law office of Hon. Paul DILLINGHAM of Waterbury, but attracted by the newly 
discovered golden wealth of California, he departed in August 1849 to seek 
his fortune; after crossing the Isthmus of Panama and meeting with lively 
adventures at Acapulco he finally reached San Francisco, paid fifty cents for 
sleeping on a pile of shavings, and the next day received five dollars for 
striking five hours at a blacksmith's forge. He then went to the mines and 
seventeen months after returned to Waterbury with six thousand dollars worth 
of gold dust. Two years later he again returned to California, contracted 
yellow fever and was the only survivor of a company of thirty. Mr. RANDALL's 
health did not permit him to remain, and again returning to Vermont he has 
since been engaged in farming and dealing in real estate and lumber. Besides 
being possessed of large tracts of timber land, he owns and operates saw 
mills both in Bolton [Chittenden County] and Waterbury. Republican; has been 
repeatedly called upon to serve the town in almost every capacity; as a 
member of the Legislature in 1872 he was influential in securing 
appropriations for the reform school, and in 1882, while again serving in the 
House, was a member of the committee on railroads. Washington County elected 
him to the Senate and he did good service as a member of the committee on 
claims and chairman of that of the insane. On 21 June 1854 Mr. [George W.] 
RANDALL married Leefie, daughter of John WHITE; she died in 1874. He [George 
W. RANDALL] then married Bell, daughter of Henry and Betsey (WOODWARD) 
GLEASON, of which union there are two children: Pearl, and George W., Jr.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly