Gen. George W. Andrews
Gen. Geo. W. Andrews was born in Medina, Orleans County, New York, Sept. 1, 1825. He is the son of Joel and Anne (Lewis) Andrews. His father was a Quaker, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits. His grandfather, on the maternal side, John Lewis, was a major in the Revolutionaiy army, and was a descendant of the Lewis family of Rhode Island, who, as Baptists, took a prominent part in the religious controversies of the Roger Williams period. The earlier culture of the General was received at the Quaker institution, "Nine Partners' College," in Duchess County, New York, and in Oberlin University, of Ohio. At the age of eighteen, he began the study of law at Granville, Licking County, and in 1845 was admitted to the bar at Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio. He subsequently entered the practice of his profession at Lima, Allen County, and was at once elected prosecuting attorney. During his stay of three years at this place, he established and edited the "Lima Argus" with marked ability. In 1848, he came to Wapakoneta, and established the "Auglaize Republican.'' The same year he was elected prosecuting attorney, and was re-elected in 1850. In 1856, he was elected to the lower branch of the Legislature, and was re-elected in 1858 and 1860. In 1861, at the request of Governor Dennison, he left the Legislature, and returned home, and within two days raised a company of volunteers, and entered the service with the commission of captain. He was afterward successively promoted to the rank of major, lieutenant-colonel, colonel, and brevet brigadier-general. In 1864 he left the service, after an honorable career as a soldier, and resumed the practice of his profession. In 1873 he was elected to the State Senate, and upon the organization was made chairman of the committees on "Judiciary" and on "Military Affairs," and a member of the committees on "Public Works," "Fees and Salaries," "Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home," and "Privileges and Elections." He has been a distinguished member of the bar, and has conducted to successful issues many important cases, while, as an official, he has a record free from blemish; having often, under difficult circumstances, labored successfully for the interests of his constituency, and the welfare of the general community. In 1875 he was re-elected to the Senate. He is still engaged in the practice of his profession at Wapakoneta, Ohio.
From History of Auglaize County, Ohio, with the Indian History of Wapakoneta, and the First Settlement of the County, Robert Sutton, Publishers, Wapakoneta, 1880