Randall was born in Ames, New York, on October 31, 1819.[1] His father, Phineas, was judge of the court of common pleas there from 1837 to 1841. Randall attended Cherry Valley Academy in New York then studied law with his father.[2] He was admitted to the bar in New York at age 19.[1] Shortly after that, he moved to Wisconsin Territory. He opened a law practice in Waukesha in 1840, where he became postmaster in 1845.[1][2]
Randall was a delegate to the state's first constitutional convention in 1846. There he successfully advocated for a resolution that would put the question of "Negro suffrage" to a statewide referendum.[3] He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 1855 session and was the Republican Party's first candidate for Attorney General of Wisconsin, running unsuccessfully in the 1855 election.[1][4] From 1855 to 1857, he was a circuit judge in Milwaukee.[1]
Randall was elected governor in 1857 as a Republican, and won re-election in 1859.[1] He was a dark horse candidate in 1857. The two principal candidates in the convention that year were Edward D. Holton of Milwaukee and Walter McIndoe of Wausau. Holton's abolitionist passions and his connections with the Milwaukee elite gave him strong support, but McIndoe's more rough-hewn personality resonated better with the frontier character of the state at the time. As such, they split the vote, neither able to garner a majority for the nomination. When it became apparent that the convention was at an impasse, and the delegates were released from their obligation, the votes eventually were cast in favor of Randall, the obvious compromise candidate.[5]
Prior to the beginning of the Civil War, he was an ardent abolitionist and proposed that Wisconsin secede from the Union if Abraham Lincoln did not win the presidency.[6]
As governor, Randall conducted an investigation of fraud in the distribution of federal railroad land grants in Wisconsin perpetrated by his predecessor, Republican Governor Coles Bashford.[2][7]
Civil Waredit
Once war began Randall raised 18 regiments, 10 artillery batteries, and three cavalry units before leaving office, exceeding Wisconsin's quota by 3,232 men. The Union Army created a military camp from the former state fairgrounds in Madison, Wisconsin, and named it "Camp Randall" after the governor. Camp Randall Stadium is now located on the site of the military camp.
In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Randall U.S. Minister to the Papal States.[2] He was succeeded by Richard Milford Blatchford, and, in 1863, accepted appointment as Assistant Postmaster General.[1] President Andrew Johnson appointed him United States Postmaster General in 1866 and he remained in that position until 1869.[1] When Johnson was impeached, Randall remained loyal, testifying on Johnson's behalf and contributing to his defense fund.[2]
After leaving the federal government, Randall moved to Elmira, New York, where he resumed practicing law. He died there July 26, 1872.[1] He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
^ abcdefghiWisconsin Historical Society, Dictionary of Wisconsin History, "Term: Randall, Gov. Alexander W. (1819–1872) 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved December 20, 2012.
^ abcdeWisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Historical Images, "Governor Alexander Randall". Retrieved December 20, 2012.
^Michael J. McManus, Political Abolitionism in Wisconsin, 1840–1861. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1998, p. 28.
^Caryn Hannan (ed.), Wisconsin Biographical Dictionary. 2008–2009 ed. State History Publications, 2008, pp.334–335.
^"State Convention of 1857". The Milwaukee Sentinel. March 18, 1896. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
^Gayle Soucek, Chicago Calamities: Disaster in the Windy City. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2010, p.54.
^National Governor's Association, "Wisconsin Governor Alexander Williams Randall". Retrieved December 20, 2012.
^"The Official Canvass". Daily Free Democrat. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. December 19, 1855. p. 2. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
Further readingedit
Brown, Reuben Samuel Tilden. The War Administration of Alexander Randall. Master's thesis, University of Wisconsin, 1921. At Google Books; at University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries
External linksedit
Randall, Gov. Alexander W. (1819–1872) | Wisconsin Historical Society
alexander, randall, wisconsin, politician, alexander, williams, randall, october, 1819, july, 1872, lawyer, judge, politician, from, wisconsin, served, sixth, governor, wisconsin, from, 1858, until, 1861, instrumental, raising, organizing, first, wisconsin, vo. Alexander Williams Randall October 31 1819 July 26 1872 was a lawyer judge and politician from Wisconsin He served as the sixth Governor of Wisconsin from 1858 until 1861 He was instrumental in raising and organizing the first Wisconsin volunteer troops for the Union Army during the American Civil War Alexander Randall22nd United States Postmaster GeneralIn office July 25 1866 March 4 1869PresidentAndrew JohnsonPreceded byWilliam Dennison Jr Succeeded byJohn Creswell3rd United States Minister to the Papal StatesIn office June 6 1862 August 4 1862PresidentAbraham LincolnPreceded byJohn P StocktonSucceeded byRichard Blatchford6th Governor of WisconsinIn office January 4 1858 January 6 1862LieutenantErasmus D CampbellButler NoblePreceded byColes BashfordSucceeded byLouis P HarveyWisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 2nd CircuitIn office April 1856 December 31 1857Appointed byColes BashfordPreceded byLevi N HubbellSucceeded byArthur MacArthur Sr Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Waukesha 4th districtIn office January 10 1855 January 9 1856Preceded byJesse SmithSucceeded byCharles S HawleyPersonal detailsBornAlexander Williams Randall 1819 10 31 October 31 1819Ames New York U S DiedJuly 26 1872 1872 07 26 aged 52 Elmira New York U S Resting placeWoodlawn CemeteryElmira New YorkPolitical partyRepublican 1855 1872 Whig Before 1838 1849 1855 Free Soil 1848 1849 Democratic 1838 1848 Spouse s Mary C Van Vechten died 1858 Helen M Thomas died 1918 ChildrenSarah Adaline Randall b 1843 died 1852 ParentsPhineas Randall father Sarah Beach mother Professionlawyer politician Contents 1 Life and career 2 Civil War 3 Electoral history 3 1 Wisconsin Attorney General 3 2 Wisconsin Governor 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksLife and career editRandall was born in Ames New York on October 31 1819 1 His father Phineas was judge of the court of common pleas there from 1837 to 1841 Randall attended Cherry Valley Academy in New York then studied law with his father 2 He was admitted to the bar in New York at age 19 1 Shortly after that he moved to Wisconsin Territory He opened a law practice in Waukesha in 1840 where he became postmaster in 1845 1 2 Randall was a delegate to the state s first constitutional convention in 1846 There he successfully advocated for a resolution that would put the question of Negro suffrage to a statewide referendum 3 He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 1855 session and was the Republican Party s first candidate for Attorney General of Wisconsin running unsuccessfully in the 1855 election 1 4 From 1855 to 1857 he was a circuit judge in Milwaukee 1 Randall was elected governor in 1857 as a Republican and won re election in 1859 1 He was a dark horse candidate in 1857 The two principal candidates in the convention that year were Edward D Holton of Milwaukee and Walter McIndoe of Wausau Holton s abolitionist passions and his connections with the Milwaukee elite gave him strong support but McIndoe s more rough hewn personality resonated better with the frontier character of the state at the time As such they split the vote neither able to garner a majority for the nomination When it became apparent that the convention was at an impasse and the delegates were released from their obligation the votes eventually were cast in favor of Randall the obvious compromise candidate 5 Prior to the beginning of the Civil War he was an ardent abolitionist and proposed that Wisconsin secede from the Union if Abraham Lincoln did not win the presidency 6 As governor Randall conducted an investigation of fraud in the distribution of federal railroad land grants in Wisconsin perpetrated by his predecessor Republican Governor Coles Bashford 2 7 Civil War editOnce war began Randall raised 18 regiments 10 artillery batteries and three cavalry units before leaving office exceeding Wisconsin s quota by 3 232 men The Union Army created a military camp from the former state fairgrounds in Madison Wisconsin and named it Camp Randall after the governor Camp Randall Stadium is now located on the site of the military camp In 1861 President Abraham Lincoln appointed Randall U S Minister to the Papal States 2 He was succeeded by Richard Milford Blatchford and in 1863 accepted appointment as Assistant Postmaster General 1 President Andrew Johnson appointed him United States Postmaster General in 1866 and he remained in that position until 1869 1 When Johnson was impeached Randall remained loyal testifying on Johnson s behalf and contributing to his defense fund 2 After leaving the federal government Randall moved to Elmira New York where he resumed practicing law He died there July 26 1872 1 He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery Electoral history editWisconsin Attorney General edit 1855 Wisconsin Attorney General election 8 Party Candidate Votes General Election November 6 1855Democratic William R Smith 37 312 51 22 5 81 Republican Alexander Randall 35 533 48 78 Plurality 1 779 2 44 12 00 Total votes 72 845 100 0 31 03 Democratic holdWisconsin Governor edit 1857 Wisconsin gubernatorial election Party Candidate Votes General Election November 3 1857Republican Alexander Randall 44 693 49 63 0 23 Democratic James B Cross 44 239 49 12 0 95 Scattering 1 126 1 25 Total votes 90 058 100 0 24 05 Republican hold1859 Wisconsin gubernatorial election Party Candidate Votes General Election November 8 1859Republican Alexander Randall incumbent 59 999 53 21 3 58 Democratic Harrison Carroll Hobart 52 539 46 60 2 53 Scattering 83 0 07 Total votes 112 755 100 0 25 20 Republican holdReferences edit a b c d e f g h i Wisconsin Historical Society Dictionary of Wisconsin History Term Randall Gov Alexander W 1819 1872 Archived 2016 03 04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved December 20 2012 a b c d e Wisconsin Historical Society Wisconsin Historical Images Governor Alexander Randall Retrieved December 20 2012 Michael J McManus Political Abolitionism in Wisconsin 1840 1861 Kent OH Kent State University Press 1998 p 28 Caryn Hannan ed Wisconsin Biographical Dictionary 2008 2009 ed State History Publications 2008 pp 334 335 State Convention of 1857 The Milwaukee Sentinel March 18 1896 Retrieved January 7 2016 Gayle Soucek Chicago Calamities Disaster in the Windy City Charleston SC History Press 2010 p 54 National Governor s Association Wisconsin Governor Alexander Williams Randall Retrieved December 20 2012 The Official Canvass Daily Free Democrat Milwaukee Wisconsin December 19 1855 p 2 Retrieved August 7 2020 Further reading editBrown Reuben Samuel Tilden The War Administration of Alexander Randall Master s thesis University of Wisconsin 1921 At Google Books at University of Wisconsin Madison LibrariesExternal links editRandall Gov Alexander W 1819 1872 Wisconsin Historical SocietyParty political officesNew party Republican nominee for Attorney General of Wisconsin1855 Succeeded byMortimer M JacksonPreceded byColes Bashford Republican nominee for Governor of Wisconsin1857 1859 Succeeded byLouis P HarveyPolitical officesPreceded byColes Bashford Governor of Wisconsin1858 1861 Succeeded byLouis P HarveyPreceded byWilliam Dennison United States Postmaster General1866 1869 Succeeded byJohn CreswellDiplomatic postsPreceded byJohn P Stockton United States Minister to the Papal States1862 Succeeded byRichard Blatchford Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Randall Wisconsin politician amp oldid 1184747429, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
