History of Ephraim and Catherine Andrus and Children

History of Ephraim and Catherine Andrus and Children

History of Ephraim and Catherine Andrus and Children

Ephraim Young Love Andrus, was born Aug. 27, 1795 in the State of Vermont. He was one of twelve children.

His father was a farmer, and was killed by his Team running away with him on a load of grain, when Ephraim was a small boy.

Later the family moved west, settling in the southern part of Penn.

He learned the trade, which he followed many years, a Blacksmith, which gave him the nic-name of Peck Andrus.

He was hasty in temper, quick at repartee and always seeing the funny or ridiculous side of every thing. No one ever got the best of him.

At the age of twenty nine he married Miriam Rockwell. They were married in Dec. 1824. She died in Dec. 1825. She lived a few days less than a year after marriage.

In 1828 three years later, he married Catherine Decker, who was born July 5th 1806, being nearly eleven years younger than he.

Miss Decker came from Orange County, New Jersey, to visit her sisters, who had married and came to Penn. to live.

They were blessed with a large family, having ten children, four daughters and six sons:

Nine of them lived to mature years, married and had families.

Catherine was of a mild disposition, devoted to her family and loved by all.

Miriam the first child was named for his first wife (Miriam Rockwell) she married Elijah Mott. They had four children, two are still living.

John the eldest son, married Lavina Comfort. They had four small children, when the Civil war was declared. He enlisted to serve his Country and never came back.

Caroline was the third child. She married Jethro Osburn. Five children were born to them. One has gone hence, leaving two children.

Girden was the fourth son. He married Cynthia Comfort, a sister of John’s wife. Five sons were born to them, two died when quite young. The other three are with us to day.

The next was a girl called Betsy, she married Jesse Smith. They had five children, three are still living.

The sixth, was Ephraim. He married, had one child, a daughter. He joined the Army, served his time and came home all right.

The next was Catherine. Sme married Silas Smith (a brother of Betsy’s husband) for her first husband. Three children were born to them, all are living. Her second husband Mr. Jaquish died leaving her with two daughters. One now dead.

The eighth child was Amander called Mac. As soon as he was of age he enlisted and went to fight for Uncle Sam.

He was in the last battle fought, and there when Lee surrendered, and was back home within the year, all right. He married Nettie Rumsey.

Urvine the next, enlisted when a boy of sixteen and served his time. He was married twice. Four children were born to him. One by his first wife, three by the second, all living.

William Henry, the tenth child died when an infant.

Of their ten children, there are but two now living, Betsy and Amander.

They had four sons serve their County in the Civil War. One gave his life.

There are twenty-three grand children living 3d Gen. Fifty-three great-grand children living 4th Gen. Thirty-one great-great-grandchildren living 5th Gen.

There are five great-grand sons now serving their Country in the World’s greatest War.

Two of them are sons of M.Y.Smith, grandsons of Besty Smith.

Two are sons of Seth Andreus, grand-sons of John Andrus.

The fifth a son of Horace Andrus, a grandson of Girden Andrus.

Catherine Andrus died Sep. 17th 1880 at the age of 74. Ephraim Andrus died March 29th 1890 at the age of 94. He survived his wife ten years.