Benton Randolph

b. 11 April 1832, d. 21 July 1894
  • Benton Randolph was born on 11 April 1832 in Alabama.
  • The following appeared on 12 May 1865 in The Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph: We are authorized to announce Benton Randolph as a candidate for Senator from the district compaosed of Montgomery, Grimes and Walker counties.
  • The following appeared on 8 September 1865 in The Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph: New Appointments by the Governor. . . Walker -- , Chief Justice; W. B. Rome, District Clerk; M. S. Gibbs, County Clerk; Peter Royal, Sheriff.
  • He married Eleanor Louise McKinney on 26 April 1866 in Walker County, Texas.
  • The following appeared on 3 July 1875 in The Galveston Daily News: (Huntsville, July 2, 1875) The surviving members of the Hood Brigade present at the reunion met in the Cough House at 8 A. M.
         . . . Fifth Texas -- P. J. Goree, H. G. Hame, J. W. Neighbors, L. J. Goree, Jim A. Dickie, T. A. Birdwell, T. A. Bowden, A. C. Woodall, W. G. Smith, W. R. Rome, W. J. Smither, J. G. Burden, Robert Burns, W. W. Alston, Calhoun Kearse, J. H. Parker, M. A. Lamplain A. S. Martin, E. M. Berry, James B. Assek Goree, W. P. Wilson, W. G. Coleman, Berry Hicks, W. I. Sandel, R. A. Brantley, L. A. Cox, A. M. Pinson, F. M. Polland, W. J. Towns, A. J. Decapie, W. B. Campbell, L. Gillam, R. a. Park, F. A. Charles, E. J. Adickes, Walter Keenan, C. T. Hull, R. S. Neblett, Jeff C. Hayson, Wm. T. Hill and A. T. Hill, Gen. J. B. Robertson and Capt. Thos. J. Goree, of Longstreet's staff.
         . . .
         Judge Benton Randolph welcomed them to the hospitalities of Huntsville in a short speech.
         . . .
         Norman Kittrell, Esq., of Galveston, replied on behalf of the Lone Star Rifles and did himself and his comrades credit.
         General Robertson closed the speech-making, when the soldiers and ladies were invited to dinner.
         The people of this vicinity had a profusion of everything good, prepared invitingly, and the guests did it ample justice. It was a good, old-fashioned out-of-doors barbecue and dinner.
         The veterans will meet nowhere in the State with a heartiereception than this of to-day.
  • Benton Randolph and Eleanor Louise McKinney appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Walker County, Texas. Other members of the household included Benton W. Randolph Jr., Samuel McKinney Randolph, Andrew Todd Randolph, William Hanby Randolph, David Randolph and Robert Alexander Randolph.
  • He was a lawyer, according to the 1880 census.
  • The following appeared on 20 January 1881 in The Galveston Daily News: Messrs. L. A. Abercrombie and , of the Huntsville bar, are guests of the Washington. Both gentlemen are in attendance upon the high courts.
  • Benton Randolph became a widower at the 16 April 1884 death of his wife Eleanor Louise McKinney.
  • The following appeared on 31 October 1884 in The Galveston Daily News: (Austin, Oct. 30) . . . The governor has commissioned Hon. Benton H. Randolph, of Huntsville, district judge of the Fourth district, in place of Judge Kennard, deceased.
  • He married Eliza Stocks Wood, daughter of Willis Breazeal Wood and Sarah Anne Harris, on 6 September 1886 in Walker County, Texas.
  • Evelina Wood wrote from Willis, Texas, to her grandson Wood Powell in Christian County, Illinois on 12 April 1887, ". . . Billie went to Huntsville last Thursday. started at 5 o’clock A.M. and returned at 5 P.M. went in his buggie. He dined with Judge Randolph & Eliza. Eliza wrote me a lengthy letter by Billie. About three months she expects a little Randolph. She was 40 years old last January. . . . Lizzie Hill I hear from often, but see her seldom. She stays at home closely, has not been to see Eliza yet. . . ."
         Letter in private collection of B. M. Henwood, descendant of Wm Wood Powell, original transcription by R. E. Reichardt.
  • Benton Randolph died on 21 July 1894 at age 62 in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas.
  • His wife Eliza Stocks Wood became a widow at his death.
  • The following appeared on 22 July 1894 in The Galveston Daily News: (Huntsville, July 21) Judge Benton Randolph died at his home at 3 a. m. to-day. He was born in Jefferson county, Ala., April 11, 1832; served in Hood's brigade in the war between the states; was a member of the constitutional convention of 1866, and was a senator in the Tenth and Eleventh legislatures. He served as a county judge of Walker county and also as district judge. The funeral took place this afternoon and was largely attended.
  • Last Edited: 11 Apr 2013

Family 1: Eleanor Louise McKinney b. 25 November 1841, d. 16 April 1884

Family 2: Eliza Stocks Wood b. circa 31 January 1847, d. 29 May 1910