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Claude Walter Randall was born July 27, 1879, at Rochester, Monroe, New York.[1] He was the first of three children born to William Albertus Randall and his wife Phebe Ann Mosher.
As a small child, Claude moved with his parents to Michigan, where he grew up. His parents separated when he was just a boy, and he was raised by his single father. His mother remarried and moved to another county, where she had three more children. She died of consumption when Claude was just 15 years old. According to family tradition, Claude left home when he was a teenager and may have resided for a time with his uncle George Randall's family at Angola, Steuben, Indiana. Later, he headed to DeKalb, Illinois, where he attended Dekalb Normal School (now Northern Illinois University). As his father was very poor, it is said he put himself through college, although it is unclear how.[2] At Dekalb, Claude was a highly regarded student, and was very active in the school's sports programs. He is known to have been a member of the school's basketball, football, and basketball teams. While attending DeKalb, Claude's address was listed as 631 S. Third Street in DeKalb.[3]
Note: Although the 1930 US Federal Census states that Claude was a veteran of the Spanish American War, a check with the Department of Veteran's Affairs shows no such service.[4] According to his daughter, Elizabeth Nelson, Claude did attempt to enlist during the War, but was turned away due to his age.
Following college, Claude taught briefly at Bureau County Illinois Rural School, before being named principal at the Seatonville School in Bureau County. From 1906 to 1909, he served as principal of the Lostant School in LaSalle County. In 1907 and 1908, while serving at Losant, Claude attended summer classes at DeKalb. He then he served as Superintendent of Wenona Schools, from 1909 to 1911.[5]
Claude married fellow teacher, Lena Cordelia Dorothea Kaiser, 27 Dec 1910, likely at her parents' home in Tonica, LaSalle, Illinois. The marriage was conducted by Rev. George Harlan McClung, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Tonica.[6] In 1912, the couple traveled across the country by train to the city of Phoenix in the newly admitted state of Arizona. There, they had two children Louis Kaiser (1914-1998) and Elizabeth Marie (1919-2011).
At Phoenix, Claude and Lena both became teachers in the Phoenix School District, beginning with the 1912-13 school year. By 1918, Claude was serving as Assistant Superintendent with the school district. Claude last appears on the Phoenix Schools personnel roster during the 1920-21 school year.[7][8] During this same time, Claude was continuing his own education during the summers at the University of California Berkeley, from where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1921.[9] Soon after, Claude and Lena moved their family to Palo Alto, Santa Clara, California, where Claude went on to receive a Master's Degree from Stanford University, 9 Oct 1924. The family then moved to Ontario, San Bernardino, California, where Claude served as Superintendent of the Ontario School District. Claude was also a teacher of Philosophy and Logic at Chafee Junior College in Ontario. Claude received his California Teacher's and Administrator's Certificate in December 1928.
On the afternoon of 21 Mar 1940, while on the way to a meeting at the school district, the car Claude was driving was struck by a train. He was killed instantly.[10] The day of his memorial service was declared a school holiday and his funeral is said to have been attended by hundreds of mourners. Although the subject of much debate at the time, the evidence sadly points to the accident being a deliberate act of suicide. Claude was entombed at Bellvue Mausoleum in Ontario.[11]
According to his voter registration: Claude was 5”10” tall and weighed 145lbs. He had brown hair and brown eyes.[12]
1880 – Walter Randall, son, age 1, Benton, Eaton Co., Michigan.[13]
1900 – Claude Walter Randall, age 20, has not yet been found in the 1900 US Federal Census.
1910 – C.W. Randall, boarder, age 30, public school teacher, Wenona, Marshall Co., Illinois.[14]
1920 – Claude B. Randall, head, age 40, Assistant Superintendent, City Schools, Phoenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona.[15]
1930 – Claude W. Randall, head, age 50, public school teacher, Ontario, San Bernardino Co., California.[16]
This week's featured connections are Redheads: Claude is 17 degrees from Catherine of Aragón, 16 degrees from Clara Bow, 23 degrees from Julia Gillard, 15 degrees from Nancy Hart, 13 degrees from Rutherford Hayes, 16 degrees from Rita Hayworth, 15 degrees from Leonard Kelly, 21 degrees from Rose Leslie, 18 degrees from Damian Lewis, 17 degrees from Maureen O'Hara, 24 degrees from Jopie Schaft and 35 degrees from Eirik Thorvaldsson on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.