Louise Randolph

Grave Services This Morning For Stage Star

Mrs. Sanford C. McKnight, 83, for many years a featured player in Broadway productions as Louise Randolph, died Monday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George S. Trevor of Port Chester, N. Y.

Mrs. McKnight was descended from the Randolph family of Virginia and took the family name when she made her debut in John Craig's stock company at Castle Square Theatre in Boston. Later she appeared under David Belasco's direction with Frances Starr in "The Easiest Way." After that she starred in companies managed by the Selwyns.

During the summers she played in stock companies. One of her devoted fans was Mark Twain, who described her as "one of my favorite actresses." In private life she was active in the DAR and in the Stage Women's War Relief until she retired from stage activities some years ago.

She was born March 12, 1870, at Ft. Leavenworth. Kan. She was the daughter of the late Capt. Henry C. Messinger of Boston, a Civil War hero and newspaperman and his wife, Margaret Collins Messinger, of Lebanon, O. She was married first to Louis Dornette (Dorntee), Boston industrialist, and later to Sanford D. McKnight.

She is survived by her husband and two daughters, Mrs. Trevor, widow of George S. Trevor, for a number of years sports editor for the New York Sun and Mrs. Agnes D. Burritt, of Tarrytown, N. Y., two sisters, Mrs. Helen M. Lloyd, Hempstead, L. L., Mrs. Martha J. Messinger, New Canaan, Conn., four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren. She is of the ancestry of Jonathan Conrey, pioneer Lebanon family.

Services will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday, at Lebanon Cemetery, Rev. J. T. McHendry officiating.

The Western Star (Lebanon, Ohio) 5 Nov 1953, Thu - Page 8