Staggs Family History

My ancestors in the United States

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    Vianna Randolph (1819-1895)

    BIRTH: 1810, Fleming, Kentucky, USA
    DEATH:
    FATHER: James Randolph (1783-1860)
    MOTHER:
    SPOUSE: Philip Beard Staggs (1810-1850)

    When Vianna C Randolph was born in 1819, her father, Reuben, was 38. She married Philip Beard Staggs, and they had three children together. After Philip’s death she married Basel George on November 18, 1858. She died in 1895 in Parkville, Missouri, having lived a long life of 76 years.

    Her story

    The following is an excerpt from Staggs Genealogy – Harold Wareham Staggs – His Book

    Early in 1850 Grandfather Phillip sickened. Family lore tells us that Phillip’s illness came about as follows. Phillip went, as a preacher, to visit a mentally ill neighbor and during a prayer the neighbor struck him on the head with a stick of firewood causing a serious injury which led to his death. It seems that the blow may have caused a paralytic condition because we find that on August 15, 1850, his sister, Lucinda Staggs Tolle filed a testament in the Platte County Courthouse that she had signed Phillip’s will at his request because he was unable to do so.

    Phillip must have known that his death was near because he immediately took steps to provide for his family. He filed his will on June 4, 1850 and later that month placed his four children by his first wife under the guardianship of his nephew, Armsted Hurst, then placed two of them, (the girl’s), under the care of Vianna. She was also to take care of the three boys she had born.

    Phillip died in June of that year, Armsted Hurst (administrator of the estate) sold Phillip’s Missouri holdings while Thomas F. Staggs, (Phillip’s brother) sold Phillip’s Kentucky property then went to Missouri to help settle the estate. When Thomas returned to Kentucky he took the two girls, Sarah and Elizabeth, to live with him until they married. He also took the boy William Phillip Staggs, back home to live with another of Phillip’s brothers, William R. The 1850 census shows that William was caring for not only Phillip’s son, but two of David Stagg’s children as well as his own seven children. We Staggs take care of our own.

    Phillip was only 39 years old when he died. He was a fine man who loved and took good care of his family. What more can you ask of a person? He is buried in Old Cemetery, Parkville, Missouri.

    Below is a list of his children with Vianna.

    • James A., 1846, Platte Co., Mo. Killed in Civil War.
    • Hudson Randolph, b. 22 Oct. 1848, near Waldron, Platte County, Mo., d. 19 Feb. 1916 (age 69), Roseburg, Oregon, m. (1st) 28 Jan. 1875, Pomeroy, Kansas, d. 23 Jan. 1879, (age 23), Parkville, Platte Co., Mo., buried Old Cemetery, Parkville, Mo., died after birth of 3rd child. m. (2nd) 5 Aug. 1880, Waldron, Platte Co., Mo., Ida Antha Stone, b. 23 Apr. 1861, Van Port, Beaver County, Penn., d. 5 Oct. 1930 (age 69), Roseburg, Oregon. Both Hudson R. and Ida Staggs buried City Cemetery, Roseburg, Oregon.
    • Samuel E., b. 1850, Platte Co., Mo., m. 29 May 1873, Platte Co., Mo., Adie Dooley, b. 1855, Platte Co., Mo.

    Will of Phillip Beard Staggs

    WILLS & ADMINISTRATIONS – Staggs. Sec., William H. Bell. 5 Mar. 1849. (Bond B-256).

    STAGGS, PHILIP B., – will dated 4 June 1850. Wife, Vienna C. Staggs, to have her full dower. My children: Henry J., William P., Sarah F., Elizabeth R., James A., Hudson R., and Samuel E. Staggs. Sons, Henry J. and William P. shall live with and be under control of their cousin Armsterd Hurst. Appoint Armsterd Hurst guardian of two daughters Sarah F. and Elizabeth R. Staggs. The rest of the children to be under care and control of their mother, my wife, Vienna. Exr.: Armsterd. Hurst. Wit: George W. Tolle, William F. Jones, Ambrose D. Jones, Lucinda Tolle. Recorded 16 July. 1850. (Will B-29). Sec., W. P. Wallingford and William F. Jones. 16 July 1850. (Bond A-144 & 145)

    Legacy of Vianna Randolph

    Parents

    Father: James Randolph (1783-1860)

    Mother:

    Married

    Married 1st: Philip Beard Staggs (1810-1850) in 1845, Parkville, Missouri.

    Married 2nd: Basel George (1820-1890) on November 18, 1858, in Platte, Missouri, USA

    Children

    • James A. Staggs (1847-1862) served as a Union soldier during the American Civil War and died at the young age of 15. His service and sacrifice are recorded in Missouri’s Civil War military archives.
    • Hudson Randolph Staggs (1848-1916) married Ida Antha Stone (1861-1930)
    • Samuel Elihu Staggs (1850-1935) married Adie Dooley (1854-1924)

    Documents

    Relation of Vianna Randolph to Steven Barry Staggs: 2nd great-grandmother

    Page last updated November 30, 2025

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