Orrin Andrews

As printed in 1912

ORRIN ANDREWS (Deceased)

Probably no couple were more intimately associated with the early history of Johnson county than Orrin Andrews, who passed to his reward January 11, 1902, and his venerable widow, who is so widely and favorably known there. They passed through many years of hardship and privation and enjoyed the fruits of their early toil together, being among the earlier pioneers to locate in their community. Mrs. Andrews well remembers the early years when wolves were frequently seen in front of their cabin, and deer, elk, and wild fowl were plentiful. At first the candles used for lighting the home were made by the primitive method of "dipping," and later, when molds came into the market, the new method was considered a great saving of time and work. She was a typical pioneer wife and mother, and was always most solicitous of the comfort and welfare of her family.

Orrin Andrews was born in Orange county, N. Y., December 8, 1825, son of Nathan and Filena (Ames) Andrews, and died in Johnson county, Iowa, the same day that his son, Charles M., was called to rest, a severe shock to the widow and mother, thus doubly bereaved, and one from which it seemed difficult to recover. Mr. Andrews was very young when he removed with his parents to Oswego, New York. Eight years later he accompanied them to Trumbull county, Ohio. One year later removal was made to Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he attended the country schools. He was married in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and moved to Iowa in 1854, locating first on the home where his father had located, the latter being a pioneer of Graham township, Johnson county. Later he purchased eighty acres of land in Section 10 and kept adding

H&f JB to his holdings until lie had 300 acres, lie took an active and honorable part in all public movements and was one of the building committee who erected the Christian church at Morse, being one of its founders and an elder for many years. His widow is still an active and useful member. He served as township trustee and four years as justice of the peace, also being active in school matters. Tie was keenly interested in local and national politics. He became very successful as an agriculturist and erected good, substantial buildings on his farm. He also made other improvements and installed modern machinery. He fenced and tiled the place and brought it to a high state of cultivation. In the early days he was obliged to use the crude and primitive tools of the day, such as the diamond plow and the cradle, and was delighted with modern tools for lightning labor and saving time. He was a most highly respected member of society, popular in many circles, and sincerely mourned by his multitude of friends. He is buried in the Morse cemetery as is his son, as this is the family cemetery with many members buried there.

Mr. Andrews was united in marriage with Sarah Shepard in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, December 16, 1852, married by Justice Finley, and they made their first home in Erie county, Pennsylvania, remaining there two years until moving to Iowa. Sarah Shepard was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1827, daughter of Mason and Jane (Smith) Shepard, her father a native of Vermont and a farmer by occupation. He was married in Erie county and died in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, in 1866, at the age of seventy-seven years. Mrs. Shepard was born in Erie county and died in Crawford county, at the age of eighty-six years. Mrs. Andrews, the eldest of their eight children, is now in her eighty-fifth year, and in full possession of her faculties. She was reared on her father's farm and well educated in the public schools and in an academy. The locality where she and her husband settled, soon after coming to Johnson county in the spring of 1854, was mostly unbroken prairie, but contained some timber. The trip to the new home was fraught with interest to the young couple. They came by wagon to Erie City, thence down the Ohio by steamer and on to Cleveland, thence by rail to Chicago, and on from that city by stage to Tipton, Iowa. Arriving at Tipton, they crossed the Cedar river at Gower's Ferry, now Cedar Bluffs, and landed in Newport township, their final destination. Part of Newport was later included in Graham township, the present home of Mrs. Andrews.

Mr. Andrews lived for a time on his father's farm, where their first children were born, and the first eighty acres of their own was unimproved. Their hewed log cabin was of fair size, plastered and mortared with clay, and it is still plainly remembered by Mrs. Andrews. The location was formerly known as Picayune Grove, and they lived there nine years. In the rugged pioneer cabin Charles M. Andrews first saw the light. Their three children were: Jennie I., wife of Arthur

E. Page, a farmer of Polk county, Wisconsin, whose postoffice address is Frederick; Jessie married.james Cozine, M. a Chicago physician, died November 27, L911, ami is buried in Oakwoods cemetery, Chicago, Illinois, also have one child deceased; Charles M., who died in L902. Mr. and.Mrs. Page have the following children:.Miss Edna, the sole companion and comfort of her grandmother; Ada, married Charles Johnson, lives in Frederick, Wisconsin; one child, Gladys I.eora, the only great grandchild of Mrs. Andrews; Arthur O., Tracy S., Bertha X., and two deceased. These are Jennie Andrews' children. Mrs. Andrews lives in the old homestead in Graham township. Miss Edna is a bright and charming young woman and brightens the days of her aged grandmother. Mrs. Andrews has rented all her land and is relieved from its care, so that she is able to enjoy a well earned rest 'with few cares to interrupt her ease and quiet. She lias a vivid recollection of early days and her account of her earlier life is most interesting. This is one of the rare families in which there are four generations living.

As printed in Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa, history (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.