Cicero E. Randall

Title

Cicero E. Randall

birthday

22 Feb 1848

Birthplace

North Carolina

Death Date

30 Aug 1918

Occupation

Businessman

Biographical Text

Randall's death certificate lists him as single (not widowed); born in North Carolina to James and Hariett Randall. It lists his profession as merchant.

In the 1860 census, Cisero Randel is 13 years old and living in Rocky Creek Division of Greenville, South Carolina (post office: Buena Vista) with his mother, Harriett, age 44, listed as a domestic; sister Lavina J., age 20, a “factory girl”; and brother Benjamin, age 14. Harriett was born in South Carolina; all the kids were born in NC. Rocky Creek Division is approximately where Highway 14 crosses Woodruff Road; the Buena Vista post office is now the Pelham post office.

In the 1870 census, C.E. Randle is 22 years old, married to E.C. Randle age 23. Occupation is laborer (E.C. is listed as none), and they live with 60-year-old Peggie Hutching and 11-year-old Larry Hutching (perhaps E.C.’s mother and brother). They are in the Butler Township, Buena Vista Post Office (see note above).

The Greenville Enterprise 04 Jan 1871, Page 3, holds a notice that on December 16, 1870, William F. Lester applied to the probate judge of Greenville County for a discharge as guardian of Cicero Randall and Benjaman P. Randall on January 16, 1871.

C.E. Randall purchased Shumate’s lots numbered 16 and 20, both on Randall Street (16 being where the Davenport building is now; 20 down Randall St behind it). The deed entry for lot 16 is dated Nov 27, 1878, and the entry for 20 is dated Jan 23, 1880.

A suspicious entry appears in the 1880 national census, dated June 24 1880, which lists a tiny handful of residents in the new “village of Greer.” One house in the village was owned by Ellis C. Randle, age 32, white male, occupation: grocer; living with him was his wife Alice L., white female age 18, who “keeps house.” Children James M. (9), William (7), John A. (5), and Jefferson C. (10 months old).

The Greenville Daily News 16 Feb 1881, Page 4, notes that a thief was captured in Greer by Cicero Randall, the town marshal. This appears to be the first mention of any law officer in Greer, predating Chief Littlefield by about 8 years.

While entirely conjecture, it seems very possible that Randall Street could be named after this man. Randall Street was named by May 22, 1880, as it appears in a deed entry on that date.

The wording of the prior Daily News article is such that Randall’s role of marshal in Greer is debatable (it leaves room for other interpretations), but is validated by a story in the July 19, 1881 Daily News, Page 4. In the Court of Common Pleas, Baylis James sued Randall for $1000.
Randall had prosecuted James for assault and battery with intent to kill. The case was dropped and James agreed to pay the costs, but then he sued Randall in return. The court dismissed the case with a nonsuit.

Greenville News, Sep 28 1881, Page 4, lists real estate transactions; one reads “Alice E and CE Randall to N Cannon, 1 lot, Greers, $500.” This could well mark the end of his time in Greers.

The New York Times 18 Feb 1887, Page 2, reports: “COLUMBIA, S.C., Feb. 17. – Cicero Randall fired at Henry Cox, of the Salvation Army, in Greenville, S.C., this morning. The ball struck Cox in the side, hitting one of the official papers of the army, which stayed its course, saving the man's life. The "army" is making great capital out of the affair, and preacher after preacher is alluding to it as evidence of providential connection with the army.”

In the 1910 census, the 62-year-old Cicero Randall is living in Macon, GA with his 29-year-old wife, Carrie L. Randall. His occupation is listed as “dealer of soft drinks.”

Randall is buried in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Greer.