E. Q. K.

OBITUARIES.

Mr. Thomas W. Randall

Mr. Thomas William Randall, long prominent as a lawyer in Paterson, died at his residence at Upper Preakness, a few miles from that city, on Feb. 9, 1922, after a long illness. Up until a few days of his death he expected to live at least through the coming Summer, but the final end came with little warning.

Mr. Randall was born at Slough, in Buckinghamshire, England, about twenty miles from London, near the historic Windsor Castle and famous Stoke Pogis church, on June 24, 1853, and is a descendant of some of the most substantial and oldest families in that locality. He arrived in the United States, with his parents, on June 8, 1866, sailing from London, and resided first in Franklin township, Bergen county, and later at Hawthorne, in Passaic county, until he entered upon the study of his profession. He first studied law in the office of Judge Hopper, in Paterson, and afterwards with Messrs. Pennington & DeWitt, of Newark, and also attended the Columbia Law School in New York. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar at the June Term of the Supreme Court in 1877, and, after spending some time abroad, came to Paterson and entered upon the practice of law, in which he was actively engaged ever after until his last illness. He became a counselor at the February Term, 1889.

Mr. Randall took no active part in politics, and never held a political office; he had no liking for mere partisanship. His practice was large in the Orphans’ Court and in Chancery proceedings, as he settled many estates. He was a Special Master of the Court of Chancery and as such many matters of reference were heard by him, and always with promptness and efficiency. He was also a Supreme Court Commissioner. He was counsel for many of the old Passaic families and for various corporations. In the great Paterson fire he lost every thing in his office except what was in his safe. He was an extensive reader of good books and had an excellent memory, a refined taste and the best of habits. He had none of the common vices of the day.

For many years Mr. Randall was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church. He served there on the Board of Trustees and was also a member of the Session. Mr. Randall served the Second Church in a legal capacity without cost to the congregation and was always glad to give legal advice to the poor in need of it. He also served for many years on the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Presbytery and was known by every clergyman in that Presbyterian body. He was seldom absent at a stated meeting.

Mr. Randall was also the recognized friend of the Young Men’s Christian Association and his services in legal transactions were also at the disposal of the Board of Managers. He was counsel for the Young Women’s Christian Association and served as a member of the Investment Committee, with other prominent men of the city.

When in 1886 the people of the People’s Park District appealed to the late Dr. Charles D. Shaw and the elders of the Second Presbyterian Church for the establishment of a Sunday School in that district of the city, Mr. Randall was one of the most interested members of the Session in the movement to that end. Through the aid extended on behalf of the plan the Sunday School was opened a few weeks after the request was considered, and Mr. Randall became the superintendent. He frequently referred to that service as one of the happy experiences of his life. Later the school movement grew into the establishment of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, now one of the most thriving congregations in the city, under the pastorate of the Rev. Franklin J. Miller. Mr. Randall frequently visited the People’s Park church and school to note the progress of the work he had a prominent part in starting. He was also interested in the St. Augustine Presbyterian Church, and in establishing headquarters for the colored men on Governor street.

Mr. Randall was a Christian citizen and was concerned in the welfare of Paterson. He was a member of the Passaic County Bar Association, a director of the Paterson Building and Loan Association, and was identified with the old Board of Trade. When the centennial celebration of Paterson was held in 1892 he was one of the hundred prominent men of the city selected to plan for that big event.