John N. Andrews and His Family

We tend to think of the missionary often as an intrepid individual. However, in most cases, that individual also had a family with them. This is the case with John N. Andrews. John married Angeline Stevens, the sister of Harriet Stevens-Smith, wife of Uriah. They had three children, Charles, Mary, and Carrie. Little Carrie died in early childhood. Angeline herself died from a stroke in 1872. So, here is John with two children, ages 17 and 12 being called to leave the rest of his family and travel across the sea.

Letter from Edward Andrews to “My Dear Children,” probably 1863. Many people who wrote letters preserved in this collection were quite frugal when it came to use of paper. What you see here is fairly typical of quite a number of the letters. Some are difficult to read as the “side ways” writing sometimes overlaps the horizontal writing.

Letter from Almira Stevens to Angeline Andrews. This is mother writing to daughter on October 7, 1865, two months after the death of Angeline’s young daughter, Carrie. Angeline had lost a pre-mature baby girl two years previously.

Mother writes:

“Dear afflicted Angeline. I have thought of you often since we heard of your baby death. How hard it is for you especially when John is gone. I was glad to learn that you was sustained by the promises of god. . . . “

Charles Melville (1857-1927) Andrews.

Carrie Matilda Andrews. Youngest child of John and Angeline Andrews. She was born August 9, 1864 and died in September the next year from dysentery.

Letter from Sarah Andrews to John N. Andrews, March 6, 1872. This is John’s mother writing to him. On page 1 she writes about the weakened condition of Uncle William. Then she talks about how encouraged she is that Angeline “is gaining” [strength].

What you see is page 2 where Sarah discusses the goodness of the Lord. She says:

“I want to cleave to the Lord with my whole heart, and have my treasure laid up in heaven.”

She then admonishes her son to not over work himself in mind or body and points to the example of Uncle William who did just that to the point of having the disease of “softening of the brain.”

Family portrait of John and Angeline Andrews with children Charles and Mary. Dates from about 1869 or 1870.