Samuel Andrews, an Edwards county pioneer and now a retired resident of Kinsley, is a native of England, born at Ryhall Feb. 1, 1846. His parents, Isaac and Elizabeth (Sharp) Andrews, were both born in England, but in 1853 removed to Canada with their family and located at Mooretown, Ontario. The father, who was a life-long farmer, died in Canada at the age of seventy-seven; the mother survived until ninety-eight years of age. They were the parents of thirteen children and both were communicants of the Episcopal or Established church of England.

Samuel Andrews was a mere lad of seven years when his parents came to America, and at the age of seventeen, or in 1863, he came to the United States, locating first at Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed in the iron works for one year. From there he went to Ironton, Ohio, where he was similarly engaged for one year. In the great national conflict then raging his sympathies were with the Union cause, and in 1864 he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Seventy-third Ohio infantry, with which he served until mustered out June 26, 1865, by order of the war department. Immediately after being mustered in the regiment was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., where it arrived about Oct. 1 and was assigned to duty. Early on the morning of Dec. 15 it took position on the Murfreesboro pike, leading into Nashville. After daylight it was moved to the left of Fort Negley and in the afternoon to the right of the fort where it remained and fought during the battle of Nashville. After the battle it was employed in guarding prisoners at Nashville and in their transit from Nashville to Louisville. On Feb. 15, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Columbia. After remaining there a few days it was directed to proceed to Johnsonville, Tenn., and participated in the battle there. Mr. Andrews also fought in a number of smaller engagements but was never wounded or taken prisoner.

After the war he returned north to work in the iron mills and was employed eleven years as a puddler at Pittsburgh, Pa. Puddling is the art or process of converting cast iron into wrought iron or steel by subjecting it to intense heat and frequent stirring in a reverberatory furnace in the presence of oxidizing substances, by which it is freed from a portion of its carbon and other impurities. Mr. Andrews became an expert iron worker. In 1875 he quit iron work, however, and came to Kansas, locating on government land seven miles southwest of Kinsley, Edwards county. That county was then but newly organized and was still on the frontier. Each year for three years Mr. Andrews killed a number of buffalo a short distance south of Dodge City, and buffalo meat was then a common article of food in the larder of the Andrews household. He made final proof on his homestead and also on a timber claim, both of which he still owns, the land now being valued at $75 per acre. From the first Mr. Andrews entered actively into the public life of Edwards county and he has held different offices of trust and responsibility. He was trustee of Trenton township three years; was a member of the board of commissioners of Edwards county six years, and for two years chairman of the board; has served as deputy sheriff for several years at different times; has served as a member of the city council of Kinsley four years, and has been a member of the school board ten years.

At Sharon, Pa., in 1874, Mr. Andrews wedded Miss Jane Ann Brunson, whose parents were natives of New York. Two children have blessed their union: Frederick, who died at the age of fourteen at Kinsley, Kan.; and Elvira, who was married in 1902 to A. C. Bailey, a farmer at Kinsley. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have two grandchildren—Laurence and Myron Bailey. Mr. Andrews is a member of the T. O. Howe Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Kinsley, and is now its senior vice-commander. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church.