Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2023 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The History of Tuscola, Michigan H. R. Page & Co., Chicago - 1883 JAMES ANDREWS, farmer, was born in Burton, Geauga County, Ohio, July 14, 1827. He left his native State when about twenty-two years of age, and resided nearly five years in Wyocena, Wisconsin. From there he came to Juniata, Michigan, then called Rogers, and from there he went to Indian Fields and while there he scorehacked the large timbers for the saw and grist-mills in Wahjamega, and then removed to Ellington in 1853. He had been married to Miss ELIZA STONE, of Claridon, Ohio, Dec. 5, 1847. She was born there Sept. 3, 1832. They had five children, MARY E., (now deceased), CHARLIE, CORNELIA E., JAMES H. and FRANK E. Mrs. E. ANDREWS died Dec. 24, 1876. Mr. A.’s second marriage was to Mrs. ALICE E. RUSSELL, of Newburg, Ohio, May 9, 1878. They have one daughter, MARY ALICE. They have now over 130 acres of land in Almer and Ellington, with 105 under cultivation. They have a fine fruit-bearing orchard of apples, pears, peaches, cherries, and small fruits, and an excellent dwelling and other farm buildings, where, a few years since, the forest seemed to bid defiance to the purposes and courage of coming pioneers. He himself has chopped and cleared over 150 acres of land, doing very much of the work while barefoot. On Aug. 9, 1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, Company D, and served his country in the late civil war until honorable discharged, Feb. 19, 1863, because of disability from sickness. Some years ago he and one son fitted, logged, plowed, fenced and sowed twenty-six acres of fallow in one season, besides doing their other work on the place. He had to prepare a good deal of the track from Indian Fields toward his home, and the last four miles had all to be under brushed and opened. The nearest hut was over four miles away. He was then farther up the river than any other settler. Several years ago he went with a Mr. KESLER, over eighty-two years of age, to show him some lands at or near the forks of Cass River. Mr. K. located the lands and afterward the place was derisively names "Moonshine." The county seat was located there and a log court-house was built, but an injunction was served against the removal of the county records to "Moonshine" and the county seat was changed to Caro. He has not been a hunter, but he one day in the woods found a large bear and two cubs, and with no weapon but a pocket-knife he rushed within arms’ length of the three bears. The two cubs he frightened up trees, but while watching the one the other escaped. Soon, a neighbor, hearing him shout, came and watched while Mr. A. got a long cord from his house, and, ascending the tree nearly eighty feet with the cord and a forked stick, he caught Bruin in a noose of the cord, choked him from the tree, and then went and adjusted the cord on his neck, getting bitten through his hands in the act; after which he led him home to be tamed, but getting a pair of new pants torn off himself one day by Cuffie, he sold him shortly after to a Jew for another pair of pants. Mr. ANDREWS has served as highway commissioner nine years, township clerk one year and township treasurer three years, and is now in his twelfth year of service as justice of the peace. ================================================================================