The Andrews Family of Henry County, Illinois

In a history of the men whose labors have contributed to public progress in Henry county and who, having lived useful, active and honorable lives, have passed on to their honorable reward, mention should be made of James Andrews, for many years one of the leading farmers of this part of the state. His sahen traits of character were such as commended him to the confidence and good will of all who knew him, and his memory is enshrined in the hearts of many with whom he came in contact. He was born at Hartford, in the Western Reserve of Ohio, April 17, 1830, a son of the Rev. Wells and Nancy (Harper) Andrews. His father was one of the pioneer residents of the Reserve, where he located when a youth of seventeen years. He went to that state from Connecticut in 1804 with his parents and five brothers, and, determining to devote his life to the work of the ministry, he afterward became pastor of the Presbyterian church of Hartford, Ohio. He married Nancy Harper, a Virginian by birth, and a sister of Joshua Harper, one of the first and best known settlers of Henry county, Illinois. On leaving Hartford, Rev. Wells Andrews removed to Athens, Ohio, where for several years he occupied a professorship in the university. In 1843 he came to Illinois and purchased a farm near Tremont in Tazewell county, while at the same time he accepted the pastorate of a Congregational church in that locality.

It was upon that farm that James Andrews was reared, receiving thorough training in the work of the fields and coming to love the life to which he devoted his time and energies in his youth. The opportunity for investment at a lower rate than he would have to pay for land in Tazewell county led him to remove to Henry county in 1854 and as his financial resources increased he made wise and judicious investment in farm property. His entire life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and his spirit of enterprise and determination enabled him to place his fields under a high state of cultivation and to carry on the farm work in accordance with the most progressive methods.

On the 26th of March, 1862, Mr. Andrews was united in marriage to Miss Mary Campbell of Geneseo, who still survives him. They became the parents of ten children: Charles, of Steele City, Nebraska; John, of Ottawa, Illinois; William, of Geneseo; James, of Kewanee, Illinois; Robert, of Geneseo; George, of Nebraska; Mrs. Mary B. Young, of Shannon, Illinois; and Jessie, Maude and Wells, all of Geneseo.

The death of Mr. Andrews occurred in Geneseo, March 12, 1908. George W. Shaw, in writing of him said: "Mr. Andrews was heart and soul a farmer. He loved country Hfe and when absent from his farm was always impatient to return. He was a fine specimen of strong and healthy manhood until within a few of the last years of his life, when he retired from his farm to reside in Geneseo. His closing years were clouded by the advance of an incurable disease. During his whole life, however, he was of a cheerful and even jovial disposition and was fond of social enjoyments. He was not only a man diligent and successful in business, but also a reader of good books and a thinker. He loved to discuss public questions from an independent point of view; and as he grew older took less interest in partisan considerations. Independence of thought and action were prominent traits. To these were joined inflexible integrity and great kindness of heart. He was invariable in his attachments, a over of his family and friends and of all manhood — one of those men who are the strength and hope of a nation. It is not a flower of the valley that has faded but an oak of the forest that is laid low."

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM L. ANDREWS.

William L. Andrews, a farmer and stock-raiser whose home is on section 7, Geneseo township, was born on the farm and in the house which he now occupies, his natal day being October 12, 1868. His parents were James and Mary (Campbell) Andrews, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this work. Their family numbered eleven children, one of whom died in infancy, while ten still survive, six of the number being yet residents of Henry county. William L. Andrews, who was the fourth in order of birth, acquired his preliminary education in the country schools and afterward spent some time as a pupil in the Geneseo Collegiate Institute. Through the periods of vacation his time and energies were devoted to farm work so that he gained comprehensive knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil and of caring for the crops.

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Mr. Andrews began his married life on the farm owned by his father in Colona township and there resided for ten years, after which he took up his above on the old homestead farm, where he has since remained. He has brought its fields under a high state of cultivation, has added modern improvements and has carried forward the work of general development until the farm is now one of the valuable properties of this part of the state. The soil, naturally rich and arable, returns a golden tribute for the care and labor bestowed upon it, and for his rich harvests Mr. Andrews finds a ready sale on the market.

In the faith of the democratic party Mr. Andrews was reared and has since been allied with the organization, casting his first presidential ballot for Grover Cleveland. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking but in 1909 was elected a member of the first board of education for the township high school. He further progressive measures along educational lines and in fact his influence is ever given for the betterment of public interest. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church and both he and his wife are members thereof, their lives being in strict conformity to its teachings and principles.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES H. ANDREWS.

James H. Andrews of Kewanee, practicing at the Henry county bar as a member of the firm Anderson, Andrews & Welch, and also well known as a local leader of the democracy, was born in Geneseo, Illinois, December 18, 1870, and is one of a family of ten children, all of whom reached years of maturity.

His parents were James and Marietta (Campbell) Andrews, the former a farmer by occupation. In the country schools the son pursued his early education and afterward benefited by instruction in the Geneseo Collegiate Institute and in Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois, graduating from the former in 1891 and the latter in 1895. When his more specifically literary education was completed he began preparation for the practice of law and attended the Illinois College of law in Chicago, where he qualified for a professional career being then admitted to the bar on the 5th of December, 1901.

In the meantime, however, Mr. Andrews had come to Kewanee and was identified with newspaper interests here. He arrived in this city in August, 1897, and soon afterward purchased the Kewanee Democrat. He was also owner and publisher of the Kewanee Daily Verdict, a democratic paper which he issued for three years. In 1895 he organized the Geneseo Arena, which he published for two years, and all this time through his persistent efforts and also through the columns of the paper he was exerting a wide-felt influence in democratic circles. In the fall of 1900 he was elected on the democratic ticket to represent his district in the lower house of the state legislature and served for one term, giving to each question which came up for settlement thoughtful and earnest consideration.

Since admitted to the bar in 1901 Mr, Andrews has engaged continuously in the practice of law and has made steady progress along professional lines. He has never specialized in any particular branch of the profession but has given his attention to general practice, and the ability he has displayed has led to his retention as council for the defense or prosecution on many important cases. He is strong in argument, logical in education, and his devotion to his clients' interests stands as an unquestioned fact in his career. Moreover, he possesses marked oratorical ability, and his fluent and earnest speech is a factor in his success. In 1906 he entered into partnership with Nels F. Anderson, of Galva, under the firm name Anderson & Andrews. This partnership has existed to the present time, with the addition to the firm of Thomas J. Welch in 1908, under the present firm style of Anderson, Andrews & Welch.

On the 2d of February, 1907, Mr. Andrews was united in marriage to Miss Eva M. Russell, a daughter of Samuel and Matilda Russell, the former now a retired farmer residing in Kewanee. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have one son, Russell Harper. They are members of the Congregational church and are prominent in the social circles of the city, enjoying in large measure the regard and esteem of all with whom they have been brought in contact.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ROBERT LEE ANDREWS.

One of the successful farmers and stockmen of Edford township is Robert Lee Andrews, whose farm on section 12 would consist of one hundred and sixty acres were it not for the canal that passes through it. He was born on the old Andrews homestead in Geneseo township, August 25, 1872, and is the son of James and Mary (Campbell) Andrews, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume. Reared upon the paternal farm he attended the district schools, and upon the completion of the prescribed course of study went to the Collegiate Institute in Geneseo. After three years spent there he returned to his home and until he became of age gave his father the benefit of his labor. On attaining his majority he began for himself as miller of the soil, first as a renter upon his father's land. He later came to Edford township where he purchased his present farm. Here he has engaged largely in the breeding, feeding and shipping of cattle. He has devoted himself persistently to his calling, and finds his efforts rewarded with a gratifying income.

In Geneseo, September 13, 1894, Mr. Andrews was united in marriage to Miss Dora Englebrecht of that city. She was born in Shelbyville, Minnesota, and is a daughter of Alvin and Lucinda (Shank) Englebrecht. Her mother died when she was nine years of age, but she was reared in her native place until she was fourteen, when she came to Geneseo to make her home with an aunt, Mrs. Laura Warnsoldt, under whose care she grew to womanhood. Until the age of twelve she attended the schools of Mankato, whence she went to the state normal school, at which she prosecuted her studies for two years. Upon coming to Geneseo she entered the public school and then completed her education in the Collegiate Institute, from which she was graduated with the class of 1893. The next year was spent in teaching a county school. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrews: Virginia, James Cass, Susan Irene, Gracia Lovell, Robert Campbell and Catherine N. The eldest has graduated from the district schools and in the fall of 1909 entered upon a course of study in the Geneseo Collegiate Institute.

Mr. Andrews is in sympathy with the principles enunciated in the platform of the democratic party and cast his first presidential ballot for its candidate in the election of 1896. Although he has not sought for public preferment, he has willingly devoted a great deal of his time to the interests of the schools and has capable filled the post of school director. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and their two oldest children, who were reared in that faith, have been admitted into the congregation. Fraternally he enjoys pleasant relations with Camp No. 201, of the Mystic Workers, and is one of the active members of the local organization.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.