THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON 1811-1912

RANDOLPH M. WARDLE is numbered among the enterprising merchants of Carlton, where he is engaged in dealing in hardware, implements and building materials. In this connection he is developing a good business, his enterprise and reliable methods gaining for him a liberal patronage. He was born in Los Angeles county, California, February 27, 1857. His father, John Wardle, was a native of England, born August 3, 1815. The ancestry of the family can be traced back as far as 1695, showing the family to be an old one in that country. In his youth John Wardle learned the shoemaker's trade but afterward devoted much of his life to farming. He came to America in 1840 and was married at Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1856, to Miss Emeline Baker, a native of Ohio. They remained for a brief period in Salt Lake and then removed to California, settling near Los Angeles, where they resided for a short time. They then took up their abode in another part of the state, living at different points in California until 1865, when they came to Oregon, settling in Yamhill county, where they resided until 1880. In the meantime Mrs. Wardle had passed away on the 3d of December, 1877. In 1880 Mr. Wardle went to Washington county, this state, and two years later took up his abode in the state of Washington, where he died at the age of eighty-five and one-half years. The children of his second marriage were eleven in number: Randolph M. Koskelyii(sic), who is living in Orting, Washington; Harriet, a resident of Centralia, Washington; St. Clair M., of the same state; Waverly AL, whose home is in Portland; Deborah A., of McMinnville, Oregon; Nathan, who died at the age of two years; Olive, who died in infancy: Daisy A., of Portland: Alphonso W., who died when twenty-three years of age; and Emeline M., whose home is near Centralia, Washington, John Wardle had been married previous to leaving his native country, his first union being with Miss Harriet Ball, whom he wedded in 1837.
They became the parents of seven children, of whom two are still living: Frances, a resident of Centralia, Washington: and Alice, whose home is in Little Rock, Idaho. The others were Margaret, Emma, Matilda, Charles and Anna, all of whom are deceased. After losing his first wife, John Wardle, as previously stated, wedded Emeline Baker.
At the usual age Randolph M. Wardle became a pupil in the public schools, continuing his studies until about twenty years of age, when he began learning the blacksmith's trade, which he followed continuously until 1907, engaging in that business at different times at Carlton, Oregon, and Tenino, Washington, and at Olympia and Tacoma. He also engaged in sharpening tools at the mines in Washington, in Baker county, Oregon, in Union county, Oregon, at Elma, Washington, and in McMinnville, Oregon. In 1907 however, he disposed of his shop and entered commercial circles in Carlton as a dealer in hardware, implements and building materials, which business he has now carried on successfully for more than four years.
He owns the business block in which he is conducting his enterprise and he also owns a fine residence and other properties in Carlton.
Mr. Wardle has been twice married, having on the 1st of February, 1881, wedded Miss. Nancy Ticknor, a native of the state of Washington and a daughter of J.T. and Elizabeth (Ford) Ticknor. Her father is now deceased but her mother still resides in Washington. Mr. Wardle's second marriage occurred in 1900, when he wedded Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Dodson, a widow, living in Yamhill county, and a daughter of George B. and Susan J. (Bush) Manning, both of whom were natives of West Virginia, where they spent their entire lives. Their family numbered eight children: Samuel, deceased: William M., who died in Oregon, at the age of sixty-four years; Rebecca J., the wife of R.W. arley(sic), of Washington county; Joseph, who is living in Moundsville, West Virginia; Mrs. Wardle; Henry C, of Tacoma. Washington; and W.L. and Frank V.. both of whom are residents of Moundsville. West Virginia.
The father of these children passed away at the age of seventy-six years and the mother when seventy-seven years of age.
By his first marriage Mr. Wardle had three children: Vida E., who was born December 17, 1881, and is the wife of Eldridge Crosno, of North Yakima(?), Washington; Ada E., who was born April 17, 1883, and died at the age of eight years; and Clarence W. who was born October 30, 18S7, and is married and lives in Portland. Mr. Wardle's second wife, Mary Elizabeth (Dodson) Wardle, had been twice married before her union with him and had a daughter by her first marriage, Annie L., who was born in 1870, and is the wife of George Willis, of Carlton, Oregon, and a son by her second marriage, Frank C. of Carlton.
Mr. Wardle is a democrat in his political views and ever keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to a number of local offices: he served for a number of years on the school board, as clerk; and has been mayor and councilman of Carlton, in which connections he has exercised his official prerogatives in support of various progressive measures for the general good. He is also well known in fraternal circles, holding membership in both the subordinate lodge and encampment of the I.O.O.F. In the former he has filled all the chairs and is now past grand. In Masonry he has taken the degrees of the lodge and of the Royal Arch Chapter. His life exemplifies the beneficent spirit and purposes of those organizations, and in every relation in which he has been found he has proved his loyalty and worth, his progressiveness and his public spirit.