Charles Andrews and His Family

Accompanying John Andrews to Europe was 17 year old Charles. At the beginning Charles did not have a whole lot of interest in spiritual things. Despite the initial ambivalence he proved a very useful worker in the fledgling publishing venture in Europe. With the death of his father in 1883, Charles was left alone in Europe. By that time, however, he and Marie Ann Dietschy had developed a romantic interest in each other. Charles returned to the United States and Marie came a little later. They were married soon after that. Charles went to work at the Review and Herald Publishing Association in Battle Creek where he remained until he retired many years later.

To Charles and Marie were born three children, Harriet (b. 1887), John (b. 1891), and Edwin (b. 1900). Harriet married Stanford Harlan and had four children, one of whom, Russell, many may recognize as the artist of many familiar paintings appearing in the pages of Church publications. The large portrait of John N. Andrews hanging in the Center for Adventist Research is by Russell Harlan.

Young Edwin had the unfortunate distinction of being killed by lightning in front of the General Conference building in Takoma Park, Maryland. He and another man went to investigate a tree which had just been struck by lightning when a second bolt of lightning killed both men and injured a girl. Out of this tragedy, however, a new missionary family grew. It was during the funeral for Edwin that John Andrews and Dorothy Spicer decided to marry. More about them to the right in this exhibit.

Charles lived to be 70 years old. Marie lived another 31 years until the age of 94. Reportedly she lived a rather lonely and unhappy life. She was nearly deaf by 1916, and she never did communicate real well in English.

Letter from Charles Andrews to his father, John N. Andrews, December 10, 1878. In this letter Charles anticipates the death of his sister based on what his father said in a letter John wrote and mailed one day before Mary died. John and Mary had returned to Battle Creek where they hoped Dr. Kellogg could cure Mary’s tuberculosis, but to no avail. Despite the sad news Charles is upbeat. He says,

“if she has fallen asleep, I know that she has got safely through, that she will have part in the first resurrection. It will be but a short time till then.”

[emphasis his]

This is what we would probably today term a passport. It is dated 3 days after his father died. It is assumed that with the death of John, Charles had to establish his own legal status since he was probably traveling on his father’s documents.

This is an early picture of Charles and Marie Andrews, generally thought to be their wedding picture, 1880s.

Following his return to the United States, Charles settled in Battle Creek, Michigan, and went to work for the Review and Herald Publishing Association. He remained with the press until he retired doing a variety of jobs including work in the bindery.

This photograph shows Charles and Marie Andrews with their children Harriet (b. 1887), John (b. 1891), and Edwin (b. 1900).

This is Charles and Marie Andrews entertaining their son and daughter-in-law, John and Dorothy Andrews, along with some of their grandchildren on the front steps of their house in Takoma Park, Maryland, on the Fourth of July holiday.

Charles Melville Andrews (1857-1927).