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William Randall

Posted 2016-06-20 by Judy Wight Branson
Prescott Courier, Prescott, Arizona Territory
November 16, 1887

William Randall was born in Eastport, Maine, in 1826, and in his
early years was a sailor. He came by sea to Galveston, Texas, in
1854, and from there went through Arizona to San Bernardino, Cal.,
in 1855m with a herd of cattle with Dr. Barton, and the same fall
returned to Fort Yuma, in this Territory. Early in '56 he went to
Tucson, and there was employed by Wm. H. Kirkland, with whom he
remained for six years, most of the time in the lumber business in
Santa Rita.

Kirkland moved to California in '61, and Randall went with him as
far as the Gila City placers, in Yuma County, where he remained
until the discovery of gold in this county in 1863 brought Kirkland
and many others back. Kirkland found Randall at Gila City, and
outfitted him and three others and sent them up here to the new
diggings and shortly after followed them and discovered and located
in what has ever since been known as Kirkland Valley.

In the fall of '63, Kirkland, Randall and Wm. E. Dennison (who was
afterwards killed by Indians at the head of the Hassayampa)
discovered the richest placer diggings ever found in Walnut Grove.
Kirkland sold half of is interest in the Spring of '64 to one
McCloud for $1,500. Later McCloud purchased all the rest, and the
diggings passed into history as 'McCloud's Bar.

Died at Prescott, Yavapai County, A. T., November 11, 1887, aged 60;
buried City Cemetery in Prescott.

By Henry A. Bigelow

See Also: Arizona Gravestone Photo Project




Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.

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