Benton Randolph (1832-1894) came to Walker County, Texas in 1852 with his parents and siblings. Soon after, he attended Austin College to study law and earned a Bachelor's degree in 1855, the first graduating class of Austin College.

Randolph continued his study of law with Judge J.B. Banton and started his own practice shortly before the American Civil War. At the breakout of the war in 1861, Randolph volunteered and joined a company in Hood's Texas Brigade. He made it through the war, suffering a wound to his foot, and returned home in 1865. Randolph began practicing law again and created a partnership with his brother-in-law called, Randolph and KcKinney. Later, he joined another practice with Abercrombie and Randolph.

Once Austin College moved from Huntsville to Austin, Randolph played a large part in the creation of a teacher's college in Huntsville, where the old Austin College building still stood, by conferring with the Board of Education and helping to raise funds for the institution.

Randolph served in the legislator and was a member of the Constitutional Convention.