James C. Randolph - G.A.R., Bishop Post

David and Caroline Randolph welcomed their second son on January 19, 1844, in Mahoning County, Ohio.  They named him James Clark Randolph, but he was often referred to as "Clark."  David was a shoemaker with only $20 worth of real estate, according to the 1850 census, and a wife and six children to support, along with a few other relatives.  

In 1860, the family was just about in the same shape.  The two oldest children had left the house by this time, leaving Clark as the oldest at 16, working as a farm laborer.  However, two other children had been added.  Emma and Charles joined Mary Jane, John Clayton and Russel at home.



James Clark Randolph enlisted at the age of 19, on October 3, 1863, as a private in Company E, Ohio 12th Cavalry, for a three year term.  In November, 1863, the group headed to Virginia, then Kentucky and Alabama. The regiment moved back to Virginia that winter where they had their first taste of a lengthy battle in the winter of 1864. The three day battle at Marion, West Virginia, occurred on the December 17-19, 1864.  In 1865, they moved to North Carolina and then to their last battle on April 25, 1865 at Asheville, South Carolina.  Clark mustered out with his company on November 14, 1865 at Nashville.

As a side note, James' brother, John Clayton enlisted into the same company and regiment a year later, on October 4, 1864, for a one year term when he was 18. He was mustered out at the expiration of his term on October 12, 1865, at Nashville, about a month before his brother.

Remembrance Lavina Budd became the wife of James Clark Randolph in Paulding County, Ohio, on October 14, 1868.  The couple could not be located in the 1870 census, but by 1880, they were settled in Auglaize township, Paulding County, Ohio.  James C. worked as a farmer and teamster at the age of 35.  Remembrance had four children to care for - Oscar D., 10; James Clyde, 9; Maud R., 7; and Nellie Blanche, 1.  Franklin Budd, 23, Remembrance's cousin, also lived there and helped James with the teams.

In 1890, James reported in on the Veterans Census, giving very little information.  One wonders if his wife perhaps did the reporting for him.  It was learned that he had no disabilities due to the war.   

The James C. Randolph family remained in Auglaize Township, Paulding County, through the 1900 and 1910 census. In 1900, he was called "Clarke Randolph" by the enumerator.  All of the children had left home by 1900, except for the youngest, Anna C. (Annie), who was 18 and worked as a dressmaker.  The family had a day laborer/ servant also living with them named Elmer Doster, 23.  

In January 1905, Remembrance passed away, leaving James alone on their farm. In 1910, his son, James Clyde, his wife, Mary, and one child, Annie, lived right beside his father. But, eventually, both men left the farm and moved into Defiance where they settled at 903 Jefferson Street.  That was where James Clark was found in the 1920 census at the age of 75.

James Clark Randolph, a man who came from very humble beginnings and who served his country in war, became a successful farmer in Paulding County.  He died on October 12, 1924, at about the age of 80, and was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Defiance.

The Historical Atlas of Paulding County gave this account of his life : 

"J. C. RANDOLPH, farmer and contractor, is a native of Mahoning county, Ohio, born Jan. 19, 1844, the son of Davis and Caroline (Russell) Randolph, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Randolph was reared in Austin town and was educated in the common schools. He began life for himself at the early age of thirteen, and so continued until, in the fall of 1863, he enlisted in Company E, Twelfth, Ohio cavalry, for the term three years. He was assigned to the army of the Cumberland and saw active service in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and North and South Carolina. He was captured at Cynthiana, Ky., by Gen. Morgan, and held for five days, when he was paroled at Claysville. On being discharged at the close of the war, Mr. Randolph returned home and later went to Oil City. In 1866 he came to Paulding county and located at Junction and then at Oakwood, where he operated the Russell farm. October 30, 1868, he married Miss Remembrance Budd, born in Columbus, Ohio, but a resident of Paulding. Mr. Randolph located on the Budd farm, and in 1877 settled upon his present property. He is son of the self made men of the county and by hard work has achieved success and prosperity. He handled ship timber for a time but lately has turned his attention to contracting. Politically he is a republican though not a seeker for office.  Mr. Randolph is the father of Oscar, Clide, Maud, Blanche and Anna Randolph."
His obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent News on October 13, 1924 on page 1.

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)