Biography of Randal Faurot, A.M., pages 707 / 708 / 709.  History of De Kalb 
County, Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Randal Faurot, A.M., was born in the town of Hopewell, near Canandaigua, N. Y., 
in 1820. He was the seventh son of Randal and Urana (Dolittle) Faurot, who 
moved to Royalton, near Cleveland, Ohio, when he was twelve years of age.  
Having a desire for an education, he relinquished his share in the prospective 
fine farms for a few terms in an academy and the time to study.  As soon as 
competent he taught school in the winter and devoted his summers to study, 
and finally entered Oberlin College where he remained several terms.  He 
subsequently graduated from Bethany College, Virginia.  In early life he 
took a decided stand with the Disciples of Christ and worked earnestly with 
the people who built up so many large churches of devoted Christians on the 
Western Reserve, Ohio, and soon became a successful preacher as well as 
teacher.  While on a visit to his father and brothers who had moved to 
Michigan, he met the natural orator and revivalist, Benjamin Alton, whose 
labors were so productive of good in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, and 
engaged in holding meetings with him in Stafford, Newville, Coburn’s 
Corners, and other points.  Feeling drawn toward this part of the 
vineyard, he decided to remain in DeKalb County and became of great 
assistance in building the churches at Newville, Waterloo, Kendallville, 
Mishawaka, Edgerton, riding on horseback over the rough roads, and in 
addition to holding meetings, visiting the sick and afflicted, comforting 
the poor and needy, and leading many to righteousness.  He was largely 
instrumental in the building of Newville Academy, which flourished and was 
a great source of good for many years.  His memory is held in grateful 
remembrance by many in different States, because of his arduous labors in 
the cause of education. He was a persistent and thorough worker.  His work 
was never left half done. He was strongly opposed to secret societies, and 
was a clear, shrewd debater, carrying his audience with him more by the 
force of his logic than by his persuasive powers.  Kind and thoughtful, 
his greatest desire was to be useful to his friends, finding his greatest 
pleasure in seeing those he loved happy.  While preaching in Philadelphia, 
he wrote and had published, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” a book written in 
imitation of John Bunyan, in which he showed the advantages and joy of 
living a Christian life.  It was a work of great interest to a Christian, 
and of benefit to a young convert, and he received many letters, 
acknowledging the help derived from its perusal, and thanking him for 
giving the public a work of the kind.  At the breaking out of the 
Rebellion many of his students enlisted, and it was the wish of some that 
he should go as their Chaplain, but one who knew him well, said:  “No; 
Elder Faurot could not look on sin and intrigue with sufficient allowance 
to work among those who so misused each other.”  However, he and his wife 
went twice to Tennessee during the war, first as volunteer nurses after 
the battle of Murfreesboro, and again to look after wounded friends.  
While there they lent such valuable aid in starting schools for the 
colored people that he was subsequently called South to locate a school 
for the oppressed race, and after many months missionary work, he, with 
Dr. W. A. Belding, located the Southern Christian Institute on an old 
plantation of 800 acres. Lying on the railroad fourteen miles east of 
Vicksburg and twenty-six miles west of Jackson, Miss.  Here in the midst 
of the work he built, and which was as dear to him as his own family, he 
died Oct. 10, 1882, the day before his sixty-second birthday.  He was 
married in May, 1847, to Letitia Hutchings, in Cortland County, N.Y.  She 
had preceded him in the pioneer educational work of De Kalb County, and 
there they met in 1845.  She proved a worthy help-mate for a noble man, 
sympathizing with him in all his work, and aiding him by her counsel and 
prayers in all his varied vicissitudes.  Her kindly ministrations to the 
sick and oppressed endeared her to the hearts of all who knew her.  The 
had no children to gladden their home, but reared from childhood a 
motherless nephew and niece, Marvin Faurot Hall, of Hillsdale Mich., where 
he attended college, and subsequently located and is engaged in the 
electric-light business; and Mary L. Hutchings, now the wife of Dr. W.P. 
Andrews, proprietor of the magnetic springs at St. Louis, Mich.  Their 
home was ever the home of the widow and orphan, and the weary and 
oppressed were ever welcome, and given a resting place.  Truly, the deeds 
of the good live after them and shine as bright stars in the crown of 
their rejoicing.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com