Harriet Eunice OVIATT
Obituary

Medina Co. Gazette - September 24, 1885: We condense the following from a notice in the Ohio State Journal of Sept. 14th of the death of Mrs. D. A. Randall, whose remains were brought to Medina for burial Tuesday of last week.
Mrs. Harriet O. Randall, deceased, was the eldest daughter of Captain Herman and Eunice Newton Oviatt. Her parents were born and reared in Goshen, Conn., and emigrated with a company in 1800 to Hudson, Ohio, being among the first pioneers from New England to the Western Reserve. Her father by great industry and judicious management soon acquired considerable property at that place, and was one of the original founders and generous patrons of Western Reserve College, now moved to Cleveland and known as Adelbert University. Her mother, a sister of Aon Eben Newton, of Canfield, Ohio, was a woman of strong character and remarkable courage, which was of great service to her in her intercourse with the Indians during her frontier life. She spoke fluently three Indian languages. Mrs. Randall was born at Hudson, Summit Co., May 20, 1808. She was the recipient of the best educational advantages of her time, and attended the academies at Benton, and Warren, at the former of which she had for associates and classmates, Seabury Ford and David Tod, who afterward became honored Governors of Ohio.

At the age of 22 she married Sherman Bronson, of Medina, Ohio, son of Judge Noah M. Bronson, who was one of the early settlers, from New England, of Ashtabula and later of Medina County. For five years she lived most happily with her husband who was universally respected for his integrity, public spirit and fine business qualities. He was known eminently as a merchant and accumulated what in those days was regarded as a handsome means. In 1835 Mr. Bronson died leaving his wife with a daughter, Emilia Louisa, 3 years old, and a son, Sherman Newton, on 3 months old. She lived a widow nearly eight years when she married in 1843 (*June 7) the late Rev. D. A. Randall, D. D.(*Doctor of Divinity), who was then pastor of the Baptist church at Medina. In 1845 Mr. and Mrs. Randall came to Columbus where he first had charge of editor of the Cross and Journal, now the Journal and Messenger, the organ of the Baptist denomination in Ohio. With the life and character of Dr. Randall as a business man, traveler.

Mrs. Randall possessed remarkable powers of physical endurance as well as mental vigor, taking great interest in the questions of the day and often contributing articles for the press. One of the last letters written by John Brown on the night before his execution was to Mrs. Randall, in reply to one written by her expressing sympathy for him in the hour of his trial.

She was confirmed a member of the Protestant Episcopal church in Medina, Ohio, in 1836 by the late Bishop McElvaine and through life was an earnest and faithful Christian woman.



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