James Andrews

NATHAN WILSON, RATCLIFF, CLAYTON, LLOYD, OWEN, TEAGARDEN, FOGG, SANTEE

Posted By: Gail Meyer Kilgore (email)
Date: 2/15/2004 at 23:08:04

JAMES ANDREWS, a leading farmer of Linn Township, Marshall County, his home being on section 21, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, June 7, 1845, and is a son of Daniel and Mary R. [Ratcliff] Andrews, His paternal grandfather, John Andrews, and his wife, Sarah, were members of the Society of Friends, and lived and died in Virginia.

Daniel Andrews was born November 6, 1803, and emigrated to Columbiana County, Ohio, in his early manhood. He was a farmer by occupation, and after engaging in that vocation in Ohio until the fall of 1856 he removed to Marshall County, Iowa, and bought two hundred and forty acres in Taylor Township, to the improvement of which he devoted himself until shortly before his death, on September 27, 1865. He was first a Whig, and later a Republican, and like his father before him, was a Friend. He was twice married. His first wife died without children, but to himself and second wife were born twelve children, all but two of whom lived to maturity. They are as follows: Margaret, Mrs. Lloyd; Elizabeth [deceased], wife of Adna Fogg; Isaac R.; Sarah, who became the wife of Ezra Teagarden; William; James; Martha, wife of William Owen; Mary, who wedded W. Santee; Deborah and Hannah B. The mother of these children, who was born in Virginia, was the daughter of Isaac Ratcliff, a pioneer of Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, and of English origin.

Our subject was born and brought up on the farm, and when eighteen years old, with his brothers, began caring for the family. In 1865, in company with a brother, he bought one hundred and five acres, where he resided until April 1890, when he removed to his present farm. He and his brother had years before made a specialty of breeding hogs of fine grades. The present fine property belonging to Mr. Andrews comprises three hundred and eighty-eight acres on section 21, and is under good cultivation.

Mr. Andrews was married on October 17, 1878, to Miss Asenath C. Wilson, whose birth occurred in Hamilton County, Ind., May 3, 1860. She is a daughter of Nathan W. and Anna [Clayton] Wilson. The father of the former, Samuel Wilson, was the sone of one Joseph, who was born and reared in North Carolina, his wife being Sarah [Charles] Wilson, of Quaker stock. Samuel Wilson. also of North Carolina, emigrated to Hamilton County during the early days of its settlement. He was the father of thirteen children, eight boys and five girls. His wife, formerly Ruth Thornburgh, died in 1860. He afterwards removed to Leavenworth County, Kan., where he died in 1866. Nathan W. Wilson was born in Hamilton County, Ind., July 12, 1837, and in addition to running a farm worked as a blacksmith and a carpenter. In 1864 he emigrated to Kansas, where he engaged in farming and also worked at his trade. In the spring of 1876, he came to Marshall County, but at the end of three years located in Grundy County. Five years later he became owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Cherokee County.

Mrs. Andrews is one of ten children, the others being as follows: Andrew F., Alvan E., Mary A. [deceased], Sarah A., Albert C., Emma., Mattie E., Ida M., and Bertha A. Our subject and his wife are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows: Daniel, Edwin C., Luella, Anna M., Clara E., Raymond J., and Nathan F. They have all been given good school advantages and have been brought up in the faith of the Friends' Church, of which their parents are members. Mr. Andrews and his wife are among the most esteemed citizens of the community in which they dwell, and in their lived one sees mirrored forth the peaceful and beautiful teachings of their lovely faith.