ALLEN M. RANDALL. The production of peaches, apples and berries claims the time and attention of Allen M. Randall, one of the successful horticulturists of Bainbridge township. He was born May 1, 1842, in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada, and was only six years of age when he came to the United States with his uncle, James I. Randall, who brought him to St. Joseph. His uncle was a ship carpenter at St. Joseph. When eight years of age, in the spring of 1850, Allen M. Randall went to live with H. C. Morton, with whom he remained for three years. He then entered the employ of William B. Sutherland, while his brother, William Randall, lived with Warren Pearl. For five years Mr. Randall continued in the employ of Mr. Sutherland and found a good home there. He had also found a good home with Mr. Morton. Mrs. Sutherland was a most competent woman and her careful guidance and assistance proved of the utmost value to him as well as the business training which he received under the direction of Mr. Sutherland. When sixteen years of age he began working by the month as a farm hand, and devoted the winter seasons to the acquirement of an education in the public schools, which he attended until nineteen years of age. During this period he regarded the Sutherland home as his.

After the country became involved in the Civil war Mr. Randall enlisted in 1862, in response to President Lincoln’s call, becoming a recruit of Company D., Sixty-sixth Illinois Western Sharpshooters. He reached the regiment at Corinth, Mississippi, and participated in the battles of Iuka and of Corinth. He continued with that command until 1863, when he was detailed to the quaretermaster’s department and was given charge of a train of the Fourth Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps under General John A. Logan. He had about two hundred teamsters, twenty wagonmasters, six blacksmiths and others under his command, the entire force numbering about three hundred. He was often in the closest quarters but by quick action went through without the loss of arms or the loss of men. He was retained in that position from the beginning of the Atlanta campaign until after the army reached Washington and participation the grand review in the capital city. Mr. Randall arrived in Michigan in July, 1865.

Mr. Randall and his brother William sold goods in Millburg for a period of fifteen years, beginning in 1865. They also operated a sawmill and grist mill and other industries a part of the time. All of his children were born during their residence in Millburg.

In 1891, Mr. Randall returned to the Sutherland farm and was afterward for three years engaged in the conduct of a dairy near Benton Harbor. He later again turned to the Sutherland farm, where he is now living, the place comprising one hundred and forty-five acres of rich and productive land. He also has eight acres in Benton township, and he has given eighty acres to his children. Upon the home place he has forty acres devoted to the raising of peaches and apples and twenty acres to berries. He is continually setting out other fruit. He is now well known as a leading horticulturist of the county and his fruit sales have amounted to three thousand dollars in a single season. He also has upon his place from five to ten acres of melons. Much of his fruit is young and all of it has been set out within twelve years. In his business affairs Mr. Randall is very practical and at the same time progressive and has met with excellent success, working his way steadily upward. He well deserves that oft misused term "a self-made man," for his prosperity has resulted entirely from his own earnest and honorable labors.

On the 13th of January, 1870, Mr. Randall was united in marriage to Miss Adelaide M. Sutherland, a daughter of William Sutherland. She was born on the farm where she now lives on the 29th of November, 1846, and with the exception of a few years has always resided upon this place. She represents one of the old prominent and honored families of Berrien county. The representatives of the name in this section of the state were Lott and David Sutherland, and a third brother, Justus Sutherland, who resided in Allegan county. David Sutherland came with his sons from New York and spent three years near Kalamazoo. He located the sons upon property in this portion of the state and died soon afterward. His sons were William, Bushrod, John and George, of whom Bushrod resided in this vicinity, while John made hishome in Pipestone township, and George settled near Kalamazoo. All are now deceased.

William Sutherland, the other member of the family, married Jerusha Barnard. She was born in New York, belonged to one of the old families of New Hampshire, and died on the farm in Bainbridge township. William Sutherland spent the greater part of his life upon the farm which is now the home of his daughter, Mrs. Randall, and was a well known and enterprising agriculturist of the community. He had added to the old place from time to time and had invested in other land opportunity offered until he owned about five hundred acres and [END OF PAGE 669. Sorry, I can’t find page 670!]