McDonough ILGenWeb

ANDREWS, Thomas, who has been for more than half a century engaged in farming in Industry Township, McDonough County, Ill., was born in Somersetshire, England, July 21, 1823, a son of John and Ann (Biddlecomb) Andrews, also natives of England. William Andrews, the paternal grandfather, and Thomas Biddlecomb, the grandfather on the mother's side, were also of English birth. Thomas Andrews, who is the second of nine children born to his parents, received his education in the common schools and worked on a farm until 1849. At that period he came to the United States and located in Ohio, where he continued in farm work for nine months. He then came to Schuyler County, Ill., and was employed for one year in the same occupation, after which he located in McDonough County and worked four years with his two brothers. In 1859, Mr. Andrews bought a farm of forty acres in Industry Township, to which he added from time to time until his farming possessions now amount to 350 acres of land. This is situated in four townships, viz.: Scotland, Industry, Bethel and Chalmers. Of late years he has lived on his original farm in Industry Township, Section 6. When he first came to this vicinity all his land was in timber. The whole region was a wilderness, and deer were abundant. Mr. Andrews cleared all of his land but about forty acres, and has made all the improvements.

Three weeks before Christmas, in 1847, Mr. Andrews was married to Sarah Garland, a native of Somersetshire, England, who has borne him ten children, namely: Eliza (Mrs. Cobb); Ellen (Mrs. Venard); William; Joseph, of Macomb, Ill.; Annie (Mrs. Stevens); Charles, George, Frank and two who died in infancy. In political contests, Mr. Andrews ranges himself on the side of the Republican party, and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 813. Extracted 11 Oct 2018 by Norma Hass.