Jeptha H. Fitz Randolph

Jepthah Fitz Randolph BIRTH 18 Nov 1814 Salem, Harrison County, West Virginia, USA DEATH 19 Jul 1879 (aged 64) New Milton, Doddridge County, West Virginia, USA BURIAL Middle Island Cemetery New Milton, Doddridge County, West Virginia

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69169157/jepthah-fitz_randolph

Children Photo Rachel Fitz Randolph Lowther 1838–1897

Photo George Washington Fitz Randolph 1844–1932

Photo Luther Fitz Randolph 1846–1922

Photo Daniel Fillmore Fitz Randolph 1857–1912

Alvan Fitz Randolph 1857–1922

DAVIS, THE SETTLERS OF SALEM, WEST VIRGINIA, by Susie Davis Nicholson, Salem, West Virginia, 1992. p. 48, 51, 102

By Roy F. Randolph

Histories of 58 WV Communities - Chapters 4-6

Chapter 4 Doddridge County

New Milton - Nutter's Fork

On Tom's Fork the Howards lived where Varnum Lowther now lives, and the Polans on the farm now owned by Mr. Hurst. In 1847 Jephtha F. Randolph bought the farms of John D. Bee and his brother Josiah and moved to the mouth of Tom's Fork. John D. Bee at that time moved to Hughes River and

Josiah moved to the farm near New Milton where Franklin F. Randolph now lives.

The first cook stove in the community was in the home of Jephtha F. Randolph. Prior to this all cooking and baking was done by the open fire. The boiling being done in pots of various sizes hung on "Trammel" hooks, and in rare cases on hooks hung on a "Crane". Bread was baked in a skill

or an oven both of which were made of heavy iron with heavy lids, these were set in the hot ashes and covered with hot ashes and coals of fire. The "dodgers" and "pones" coming from these skillets and ovens were of a particularly appetizing flavor.

The first post office in this community was established at the home of Amaziah Bee and was known as Meat House Fork. This however did not continue long. After this office was discontinued the persons living here got their mail either at West Union or Salem, both of which were supplied by mail on the stage route of the North Western Turnpike. Some time after the coming of Mr. Randolph to the mouth of Tom's Fork he made application to the post office department at Washington for an office to be established here. This was done and Mr. Randolph was named as the first post master. The new office was named "New Milton" in honor of Milton, Wisconsin, a place to which Mr. Randolph had moved over-land with his wife, his four children, and all his worldly possessions in a wagon drawn

by two horses and from which place he had returned the same year, 1845, well cured of the "Western Fever". Since that time New Milton has been on the map and in the postal guide as a desirable and lovely place for habitation. The following persons have served in turn as post masters at

this place: Jephtha F. Randolph, Elhanan W. Davis, Wm. H. H. Davis, Luther F. Randolph, Perry Shock, Granvil H. Davis, Rev. J. S. Ribblett, Ida J. Warner, Ida M. White, and the present incumbent, O. A. Fisher.

The office has been located at the mouth of Tom's Fork, at the mouth of Wolf Pen Run, and at least six different places in the village of New Milton.

The tan yard at the mouth of Wolf Pen Run which was owned by Jephtha F. Randolph and operated by Asa F. Randolph, brother of the present pastor of this church, was later owned by Elhanan W. Davis and finally by Wm. H. H. Davis, supplied not only the leather for the foot-wear and harness for the neighborhood, but afforded a market for surplus hides of the community and sent the finished products to other sections and city markets. Practically all the foot wear for the entire family was made either by some one in the home or by a shoemaker in the neighborhood. Perry Shock, Frank Noble, J.

E. Towles, L. B. Stuttler, and others have served as shoemakers for the community. The shoes were made of cow hide or calf skin. Rubber over shoes were unknown for either men or women.