U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Randolph, Experience (1852-1906) ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Ritchie County by Minnie Kendall Lowther Wheeling News Litho. Co., Wheeling W.Va., 1911 Pages 630-633 Experience Randolph. — Though entirely foreign to the original idea and plan of this department, it only seems fitting and just that the name of one of the many worthy daughters of Ritchie should have a place in this corner; and for this place we choose the name of "Experience Randolph." Miss Randolph ("Perie," as she was familiarly known) was born near the little town of Berea, on July 10, 1852; and here (with the exception of two or three years) amidst the forest, surrounded by the many dis-advantages of a defective educational system, the days of her childhood and early youth were spent in a quiet, uneventful way. But she had the "heritage of a noble heart," a brilliant mind, and a deeply religious character, and despite the dis-advantages of her environments, she diligently applied herself to her studies, and, at the early age of sixteen years, entered the profession of teaching. Her first school was taught near what is now the little hamlet of Lawford, during the winter of 1868-9, shortly after the inauguration of the Free School system; and being inspired with a zeal for a college education, she soon began to lay her plans to this effect; and in 1874, accompanied by her sister, who is now Mrs. Callie Meathrell, of Berea, she set out for Alfred University, New York, and five years later, came out of this institution with the A. B. degree. She paid her way through college, however, by teaching in the meantime. Immediately after her graduation, she accepted a position as teacher in the public school at Alfred, but being compelled to resign by the illness of her father, which called her home, she again engaged in educational work in her native state; and while thus engaged began to give serious consideration to what her chosen life-work should be. And for a time, she seemed inclined to the medical profession, but after entering upon a course of reading as a preliminary to matriculation at a medical college, she was not wholly satisfied, and finally decided to enter the ministry, (1882); and a little later, she entered the Alfred University as a Theological student, after first being assured that no discrimination should be made against her on the account of her sex. Here she found herself the one female member of the class, and the only distinction that was made, was brought about by her own will; and that was her refusal to accept a share in the funds from the Missionary Board and other sources that had been set apart for the support of young men, who were preparing themselves for the ministry. As women had not been included in the terms of this gift, she felt that she should not accept a share of it, preferring to defray her own expenses; and her class-mates, in recognition of the honest motive which prompted this refusal, presented her with a valuable collection of books for her library, on one occasion. She finished her course, however, and received the degree of B. D., her grade of work being as efficient, at least, as the average — a fact which her class-mates were willing to admit. Though naturally her opportunities to preach or to engage in other ministerial work during her collegiate course, were very much limited as it was a "marked departure from the custom of the period" for a woman to enter the ministry, and the prejudice and the antagonism must be confronted. And she had some mis-givings concerning her own home church at Berea, as to the attitude it might assume toward her chosen work, but this burden was soon removed by an action of the official members of this church, on July 7, 1883, which took the form of the following resolution: "Whereas, It has come to our hearing that Sister Experience Randolph has decided to prepare herself for the ministry, therefore, "Resolved, That we most heartily approve of her decision, and that we promise her our sympathy, and our prayers. During the vacation of the summer of 1884, she spent the greater part of her time between the Lincklaen and Ostelic churches near DeRuyter, New York; and the following winter, she became pastor of the church at Hornersville, that state; and before the close of her academic year, she had accepted the pastorate of the two churches that she had first served. And at the expiration of her college course, she was ordained at Hornellsville, by a council called for that purpose, the Rev. Wardner C. Titworth, pastor of the first church at Alfred conducting the examination before the Council. Owing to the general opposition to women ministers, some of her friends had suggested the Missions fields of China as a place for her labors, but, as her inclinations did not lead her in this direction, she gave the subject no farther consideration. At the end of her first two years as pastor of the churches, Lincklaen and Ostelic, she was married to Leon D. Burdick, one of her parishoners, who was preparing himself for the ministerial work, and her whole energies were then concentrated in her husband's labors, and during his College and Theological training, at Alfred, as well as his subsequent career, as teacher, and as pastor (at Georgetown, New York; Marlboro, New Jersey; Verona, New York; and New Auburn, Minnesota), her every endeavor seemed to be to uphold and to strengthen the cause that he espoused. On Thanksgiving Day (November 29), 1906, after a brief illness at her home, at New Auburn, Minnesota, she passed to her reward leaving her husband and one daughter. Genevieve C. Burdick. Thus one of this county's most distinguished daughters passed away. But the incense of the life of love that she shed upon all that came within her influence can never lose its fragrance. It must ever live as a precious memory. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ritchie County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ritchie/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------