Biographical Sketch of H V ANDREWS, Vermilion County, Illinois Newspaper: Unknown (Danville?, Vermilion County, IL), Date: approx. mid/late-1930's BORN IN CEMETERY - BUT HAS BEEN MUCH ALIVE By Mrs. Belva Wallace, Armstrong Correspondent ARMSTRONG- Shut that door! Were you born in a barn? The above is an odd expression used in this locality. But H. V. ANDREWS, oldest business man of Armstrong in point of service, can go one better than that! Believe it or not, Mr. Ripley, Mr. ANDREWS was born in a cemetery! And although he might have begun life at the wrong end, so to speak, he has made a commendable record for himself in business and in his community, being the oldest in point of service. ANDREWS, who has been in business at Armstrong for over 36 years, was born in Springhill Cemetery, Danville, in 1869. At that time his parents were sextons of the cemetery. They were John H. and Laura ANDREWS. His only distinction isn't being born in a cemetery; for he has a monument in honor of that occasion which can still be found along the west drive of the cemetery. When his son, Harve, was born, John H. ANDREWS twisted two small hickory sprouts in the cemetery, and they still remain there. H. V. was left an orphan at the age of 10, and made his home with N. A. KIMBALL, who had an undertaking establishment. ANDREWS worked in this business for two years. In those days there were no compulsory school laws, and ANDREWS was the type of boy who wanted an education, so he left the KIMBALLs to make his home wit I. S. DOAN, who had a grocery store, and he went to school. During the winter that he was 13 he carried the Danville Daily News on the Southtown route. The next year he moved to a farm near Oakwood operated by Nelson LIGGETT, where he remained until he was 21 and where he finished his grade school education. He attended Brown's Business College in Valparaiso, Ind. He then worked for the Glenburn Coal Company at Glenburn, Ill., for 11 years until the mine was abandoned. For the next five years he was employed at various grocery stores and coal companies in Armstrong, Fithian, and St. Charles, Mich. In 1902 he became the manager of the R. G. Risser Grain and Implement business in Armstrong. He was with this firm for about two years when he resigned to go into the general merchandise business under the firm name of Mills, Andrews and Goodwine. This firm was changed to Andrews and Cook, a few years later becoming Andrews and Williams. For the past three years the name of the store has been H. V. Andrews General Merchandise. ANDREWS was married in October, 1905, to Miss Louise JAMES of Danville. They are best known to Armstrong residents as "Harve" and "Louie." On School Board The merchant served as a member of the Armstrong Grade School Board for 18 years and has been Republican precinct committeeman for the past eight years. He has been a member of the local M. E. Church for the past 30 years and has served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of that institution. A few years he was superintendent of the Sunday School. He has always been interested in anything for the good of community and has always co-operated in every way when anything worthwhile was under consideration. When asked if he would advise his business for the coming generation, ANDREWS tells us that he would not advise such in a rural community under present conditions. Good roads and improved automobiles make it possible for customers to go to large towns to trade where they have a larger variety of merchandise from which to select. ANDREWs' hobby is gardening and every year he has one of the prettiest and most productive vegetable gardens in town. This garden he works early each summer mornings and evenings after coming home from the store. He is proud of his flowers and lawn. ANDREWS is quitting business March 1. He and Mrs. ANDREWS are leaving Armstrong some time in March. ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Whitney R Profitt