Telling Their Story

Telling Their Story. Pause at photos to read.

My Ancestor's Photos

http://www.RandlesStation.com/

We are the chosen. In each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones, to make them live again. Telling the family story makes me feel that somehow they know and approve. Doing genealogy is not a cold hard gathering of facts. Instead , it is breathing life into all that have gone before. We are the storytellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We are called, as it were, by our genes. Those who have gone before cry out to us "Tell our story!" So, we do because In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood before and cried ? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors, "You have a wonderful family; you would be proud of us." How many times have I walked up to a grave, and felt somehow there was love there for me ? I cannot say. It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who I am and why do I do the things I do. It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference. Saying, "I can't let this happen, the bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh." It goes to doing something about it. It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardship and losses. Their never giving in or giving up.Their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.

Visit Roscoe Village

There is always lots to see and do at Roscoe Village. Click the link above for more information about this restored lovely Canal Village. My heart will always be there.I was chosen from Roscoe Village by the talent agents to sing "Look For Jesus" for 29 Nations of the World.

When Merritt was living we often sang for the folks on the Canal Boat Tow Path at Roscoe. Once while fishing there, the Coshocton County Sheriff's Mounted Posse rode up. Merritt put down his guitar and told them, "Watch this, the Lord is going to let me catch a great big fish." My first thought was, oh no that's not going to happen. The next thing I knew that fishing line was zipping across the lake! Merritt was so fond of fishing and telling a good fish story.

The first grade photo of one I owe my life to - my mother, Lucille (Taylor) Randles. She sang gospel music over the early radio stations. I acquired my singing voice from her. My mother died at age 45 in 1968 from a heart attack.

In front: Two of the sons of Roscoe pioneer, Abraham Randles Sr. On left, Abraham Jr. and on right the oldest of the children, John Randles. Standing, my great grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Randles, son of Abraham Jr. He is holding my grandfather William. T.J. (See 1880 Coshocton Census) was a very successful fur trapper. He made enough money to employ a maid for his wife, Susan. At 443 Maple Street in the original Caldersburg section (Roscoe) is the home of one of Roscoe's prominent citizens, John Randles. Built in 1842, it is a private residence today.

Andrew Jackson "Jack" Randles, was known by sight to every child in Coshocton County, Ohio. He kept many families in food during the World Wars. He was the grandson of Roscoe pioneer, Abraham Randles Sr. and the son of John, pictured at the left. Three bridges were named for him. He was a carpenter and builder as well. In 1927 he built a filling station near the Muskingum River "Randles Bridge" One of the proudest moments in his long and useful life came a few years before his death when he posed for a photograph with the governor of his native state, George White, at the Coshocton County fairgrounds. Read more on "Find A Grave.com"

Elizabeth Jane (Randles) Porter, was the daughter of Susan (Rizor) and Thomas Jefferson Randles and sister of Carrie Rose who was born in the old Monticello Canal Boat.

Charles Remick Randles. "Remick" was the son of Enoch Jr. C.R. was a school teacher and also served as Auditor for Coshocton County. He later worked in the Ohio State Auditor's Office.

The third Randles Bridge built. The first one was a double covered bridge, one spanned the old Canal, the other spanned the river.They were built so Jack could easily access his land which covered many acres. He raised some of the finest horses in the entire country. Photo Circa 1984

Monticello Canal Boat on the Tow Path at Roscoe Village.

Old photo of original Canal Boat at the Canal Locks, Roscoe Village

My grandfather, "Guy" William A. Randles. He died young leaving grandmother with 11 children to raise alone. All were successful in life, several were college graduates. One daughter, Susan worked at Wright Air Force Base with a direct line to the President of United States during World War 2. She came home to care for her aging mother and was also employed as Coshocton County Recorder. Grandpa William was a skilled cabinet maker & Artist. He was employed by American Art Works as a designer, at the time of his death.

Going uphill past the Hardware Store is Jackson Township Road 55, in present day Roscoe. On this road is where my Grandfather Abraham Sr. settled in the midst of the wilderness. Some of his family came with him. His sisters were married to the Fosters. Several family members also married into the Chaney family. Samuel Chaney born about 1848 in Ohio is listed on the 1900 Census in the Cherokee Nation.

Some of these Randles traveled by covered wagon. I can almost picture them telling their stories around the campfires at night.

A pioneers life was a hard one. Just think none of the luxuries we have today. What a story this old log cabin could tell!

Jack Randles' Covered Bridge. Photo Credit Roscoe Village.

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Enoch Randles Jr., son of Margaret "Peggy" (Williams) and Enoch Randles Sr. of Roscoe,Jackson Township, Ohio. He was married to Louisa (Milligan) daughter of Cuthbert and Dorothy (Reed) Milligan. They had 3 children, Amanda Jane (Maston), George Cuthbert and Charles Remick Randles, shown at right.

Margaret, born March 11, 1838 in Roscoe, Ohio. She was the 11th child of Enoch Sr. and Margaret "Peggy" (Williams) Randles. She is shown here with her husband, George William MCCullough. The couple were married in 1865. This photo courtesy of Lon McCullough of Alaska, their great great grandson.

It goes to deep pride that the fathers fought and some died to make and keep us a great Nation. It goes to a deep and intense understanding that they are doing it for us. It is of equal pride and love that our mothers struggled to give us birth, Without them we could not exist. So we love each one, as far back as we can reach. That we might remember them. So we do, with love, caring and scribing each fact of their existence. We are they and they are the sum of who we are. So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family. Someone will be chosen in the next generation to answer the call. They will take my place in the long line of story tellers. That is why I do my family genealogy. That is what calls us to step up. Our destiny is to restore the memory and greet those whom we had never known before.

This Andrew Jackson Randles was a Blacksmith per Fed. Census. He also was one of the sons of Abraham Randles Sr and the Uncle of A.J. "Jack" above. He moved to Kansas, and his nephew "Jack" lived near him for a year in Greenleaf, Kansas. Some of the Randles family went west to claim land under the Homestead Act of 1862. This photo courtesy of Rachael (Randles) Hromidko of Swisher, Iowa.

The John Randles home on Maple Street in Roscoe, Ohio. It is privately owned today and near the old Caldersburg section.

This home at 443 Maple Street, built 1842 in Roscoe (the old Caldersburgh section) was the residence of pioneer John Randles.

The Jack Randles Bridge 1st and last bridge built.

Jack Randles

Abraham, John , Thomas J. & baby William Randles - 1880

A.J. "Jack" a son of Abraham Randles Sr.

A photo of the old original canal boat at the locks.

My great great Cherokee Grandmother born 1823 at age 77. Her family was on the Trail Of Tears.

This is my Cherokee gr.gr.grandmother Eliza Jane Fivecoat, at age 77. Born in 1823, most of her family was on the Cherokee Trail Of Tears.