In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1868
From History of Henry County, Illinois (1910)
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.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
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 History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.