Joseph H. Andrews

by Ernest Mae Seaholm

Joseph H. Andrews was born about 1836 in Shelby County, Tennessee to Alfred Gray Andrews and Winifred Hyman Andrews. Around 1847 the Andrews family moved to Lavaca County, Texas where A. G. Andrews became active in county affairs and a successful farmer. Joe Andrews became a part owner with Rupert Van Wagner of a store in Oakland, Colorado County, Texas across the Navidad River from Lavaca County and the Andrews land.

In 1861, Joe Andrews joined the local militia group called the Oakland Grays under Captain J. Duff Brown along with Daniel Cherry Payne, his friend and brother of his sister Winifred B. Andrews Payne. These two later joined Company F, Terry's Texas Ranger in September, 1861.According to his military record he was mortally wounded at Shiloh. According to a letter from Frank Batachelor to Julia Turner Batchelor from a camp near Nolanville, Tennessee, Frank reported that he had not hear a word about Joe Andrews for a long time, "the last was that he was seen at Aberdeen Miss. on his way to Texas--as this was months ago I am afraid something has befallen him."1

Since his father and mother and brother Pembroke had moved to Tuxpan, Mexico, in 1868, his partner Rupert Van Wagner had to settle his estate which lasted into the 1870's. Joseph H. Andrews had no wife or children. He was my great great uncle.

1. Rugley, Helen J. H., ed., Batchelor-Turner Letters, 1861-1864: Written by Two of Terry's Texas Rangers, Steck Co., Austin, 1961. p. 36.