RANDOLPH
by Becky Cardon Smith
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Randolph marks a brief but eventful period in the early years of Joseph Sr. and Lucy’s marriage. Though the exact location of their store and home is unknown, it is helpful to learn about some of the significant events that occurred in this area. (Some of the local historians feel the store was once located near the current intersection of Route 14 and Clay Wight Hill Road.)

The Township of Randolph was named after Edmund Randolph and received its charter in 1781. Edmund was a delegate to the Constitutional Congress but declined to sign the constitution because he felt it was not republican enough. Randolph was also the home of Justin Morgan, who is remembered as the breeder of the remarkable “Morgan horse.” The town currently has a population of about 5,000 and is located about 10 miles northwest of South Royalton.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy rented out their farm in Tunbridge and moved to Randolph where they opened a mercantile store in 1802. Their small family consisted of Joseph Sr., Lucy and their two sons: Alvin and Hyrum. After living here for less than six months, Lucy became very ill with tuberculosis. Told by doctors that she would not live, she made a covenant with the Lord “that if He would let me live I would endeavor to serve him according to the best of my abilities” (HJS p. 34). Lucy’s health quickly improved and for the rest of her life she kept her promise to serve the Lord to the best of her ability.

Unfortunately, Joseph Sr.’s business venture was not successful. At the time of their family move, Randolph was one of the larger villages in the state and the store seemed to be a sound business venture. Joseph Sr. also became interested in crystallizing and exporting ginseng root to China where it was in great demand as a remedy for the plague.  Due to the dishonesty of Mr. Stevens (a business competitor), Joseph Sr. did not receive the full proceeds from the sale of his ginseng root shipment. Telling Joseph Sr. that the sale in China had been a failure, Mr. Stevens took the large amount of silver and gold received from the actual sale of the ginseng and fled to Canada. Joseph Sr. was left heavily in debt, having borrowed money for store goods with plans to pay the debt from the proceeds of his shipment to China. He now owed about  $1,800. Joseph Sr. and Lucy were able to pay off their debt by using the $1,000 given to them as a wedding present and by selling their farm in Tunbridge at only half its value (see HJS p.37-40). Then debt-free but struggling financially, the young Smith family moved to Royalton and soon after relocated to Sharon on the farm of Lucy’s father.    

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