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Article
written by Reddin Andrews, Jr. in tribute to his
father Reddin Andrews upon his death in 1882. It is
believed to be the Texas Baptist Herald article Reddin,
Jr. referred to in a 11-4-1882 letter to his brother
T. G. Andrews. Reddin Andrews, Jr. (1848-1923)
served as president of old Baylor University at Independence in 1885 and the
first vice president of the new Baylor University which was formed from
Baylor University at Independence and Waco University in 1886. Typed up
by Patsy Andrews Reddin Andrews, Sr.
(1804-1882) My
father was born near Sandersville, Ga., March 12th, 1804. In ____ he moved
with his father to Maplesville, Bibb county, Ala., thence to Dallas county,
near Selma, in 1824. He
came to Texas in September 1827, stopping seven months at Nacogdoches, where
he engaged in trading in stock. In the early part of 1829, he left Victoria
with horses, intending to go to New Orleans, but, finding the route almost
impassable, he disposed of them and engaged to work in Mississippi, Adams
county, where he remained until 1831. During a severe sickness there, the
doctors despaired of his recovery. Recovering, however, sufficiently to
travel, he returned to
Dallas county, Ala. Remaining there two years, he returned to Texas in
January 1835, and lived nearly one year in Bastrop. He made another trip to
Alabama, and returned to Texas, arriving at Matagorda in February 1836. He
was there attacked with the small-pox. The war between Texas and Mexico began
in 1835, and in the early part of 1836, the Mexican began to invade the country
next to the coast. My father, although sick, went to Columbia and remained there one
month. Having recovered, he went to Washington early in April, passing Gen.
Houston twenty miles below there. He was anxious to join the army but Dr.
Deucalion Perry forbade him to do so, not regarding him entirely well of the
small‑pox. He remained for awhile at the
house of his brother in law, J. G. Dunn, father of B. F. Dunn, Esq., on the
Brazos. At
that time Dr. Levi Jones came from Kentucky to Texas. In company with him,
father started to the army of Gen. Houston. His horse failed and he returned
to the families that were fleeing before the Mexicans, from the Colorado.
David Holderman and he acted as guides for their
families, among whom were some of his relatives and
the wife of his brother Richard, who was killed at the battle of Conception,
October 28th, 1836. The battle of San Jacinto was fought April
21st, 1836, and the Mexicans driven back. My father returned to Bastrop two
days after it was burnt, in part, by the Indians. The Mexicans again
threatened to invade the country. Father
went to Gay Hill, Washington county, and remained during the summer. In the
fall he went back to Bastrop. In 1837, he went to the first Texas Congress,
at Columbia, and remained there till adjournment. He engaged in different
kinds of business for several years, being for the most of the time of five
years, the proprietor of a hotel in Lagrange. During the month of December,
1844, he married Mrs. M. J. Munn, (note: Mary Jane Talbot, widow of Neill
Munn) and lived
at her home, eight miles below Lagrange, on the east side of the Colorado
river. On the fourth of March, 1852, she died, and for two years he was
engaged in land and other business. During
August, 1854, he married Miss Martha Box, of Lavaca county, and lived in that
county till 1864, excepting the year of 1861, the most of which he spent in
the noted “Box Gold Expedition” into Mexico. (note:
The expedition was led by Michael James Box, brother of Martha. Research
indicates that their parents, Marmaduke and Nancy Powell Box, and at least
one other sibling Francis M. (Frank) Box made this trip. Martha and Reddin were accompanied by some if not all of the 7 minor
children in their family at that date. Mary Francis, the 2½ year old daughter
of Reddin and Martha died in June on this trip. The
expedition (April to September 1861) was not a successful one and was, by
some accounts, a total disaster.) In the
winter of 1864-65 he moved to the Rio Grande, and remained till the close of
the war. He then settled at the new town of Rockport, Aransas county, in the
summer or fall of 1865. There was his home until two months before his death,
which occurred Sunday, October 15th 1882 and in the 79th year of his age. My
father was converted in Mississippi, Sept. 1831, and, on a visit to Alabama,
in 1839, he was received into the fellowship of Shady Grove church, in
Burnsville, and was baptized by Eld. Robert Martin. I
could say very much with reference to the social and religious character of
my father. I choose rather to let others speak of him, although it would be
gratifying to me to give my own impressions concerning one of the best of
men. Br. P. B. Chandler – my father in the gospel – writes thus to me in a
consolatory letter: “Bro. Andrews was one of the first men I became
acquainted with and learned to love in Texas. Soon after my arrival in Texas,
at the close of 1846, the lamented Richard Ellis, went West, leaving me the
care of the churches then in Fayette county. Your father was then a member of
old Bethany church, which then held its meetings in Col. R. B. Jarmon’s
dwelling, but soon after built a house of worship not far off, and finally
moved over to Fayetteville. It was not long till Bro. Andrews was made a
deacon of that church, which office he filled with credit to himself and
profit to the church. He was
a man of fine sense and of a kind and benevolent heart. -------- He seemed to
have ever maintained a consistent Christian character.” Bro.
J. H. Stribling, in the same kindly manner writes
of my father,” While I was a student in school and anticipated entering the
ministry, from time to time I called at his hospitable home and received
repeated marks of his sympathy and kindness. He was a Christian in heart and
life, and a worthy associate in piety, generosity and zeal, with Baylor,
Lester Jarmon and other noble men in Western Texas who laid the foundation
for our prosperity and success as Baptists. He was the friend and patron of
missions, of education and churches, and redeemed souls will bless his memory
and generous deeds. While he loved all pious people and helped all good
enterprises, he was a Baptist in principle and practice.” My
father was a zealous Christian, devoted to his different pastors and always
punctual in his attendance on the meetings of his church. In the absence of
the preacher, he would expound the Scriptures, and exhort the people. He was
very kind to all and had great confidence in his fellowmen. In return they paid
him in kind, for he had few or no enemies. He was positive when he regarded
his positions correct, and his convictions of truth and duty were very
strong. He was
free from doubts as to his regeneration. With all this, he felt great
personal unworthiness. He was very cheerful and companionable. In the
kindliness of his heart nothing more could have been asked of him, than what
he manifested in the relations of brother, friend, father and husband. His
children were among his companions. They honored him in life and they will
revere and cherish his memory. His life, the purity of his character and the
family prayers in which he led us, have all under God, largely influenced me
in my life. I thank God for such a father and for having spared his life so
long. My
father was no more afraid of dying than of living. The great kindness of a
host of friends and kindred who vied with one another in their attentions to
him, led him to believe that he was not a burden to any. For this reason and
only this, but as he intimated to me when I saw him at the Convention, at
LaGrange, in 1878, he was willing to tarry a while on this side of the grave. The
infirmities of age and the flesh had hindered him from being active in the
cause that he loved so ardently. In his patient endurance during the last few
years, we could read the sublime ___eroration
before which came the impressive sermon of a noble
Christian life. He died without pain, without a contortion and without a
struggle, and was buried in the village of Montell,
Uvalde county near the grave of the Christian brother, John W. Baylor, whom
he loved so well. Near
midnight on the third Sunday in October, my father passed silently into rest.
Since then, Montgomery’s beautiful hymn has taken on a new and more blessed
meaning. This hymn voices my address to father: “Servant
of God, well done; Praise
be thy new employ; And
while eternal ages run, Rest
in they Savior’s joy.” This
sketch is the feeble but loving tribute paid to the memory of a father by the
son who bears, and hopes worthily to bear, his father’s name. DEEDS
(Grantor is Andrews unless otherwise noted) Grantor
Grantee instrument record description of property R
(Estate by Admin.) Barth. Manlove Deed A 233
11/27/1837 11/27/1837 Farm Lot #16 W M St.-Mina Richard
(by Comr.) James J. Ross Comr D B 111 10/5/1833
6/15/1838 2 lots Parthana &
Richard (dec) Micha Andrews Deed C 175 3/22/1839
7/27/1839 2500 acres Richard
(by Admin.) Samuel H. Reid Admin C 630 9/25/1840 9/28/1840 500 acres Micha
William R. Hancock T-Bond D 81 11/13/1838 12/?/1840 300 acres Andrews Micha
Henry Brite T-Bond D 86 12/9/1840 12/?/1840 1040 acres Andrews Reddin &
M. Mary Hemphill PCD (?) D 513 ?/31/1843 8/?/1843 A Andrews HR R (by
Administrator) William R. Hancock Deed H 156 11/26/1851 12/?/1851 740 acres M
Andrews Micha
(by Admin.) Henry Brite Deed H 425 8/19/1852 8/?/1852 M. Andrews R
Baylor Univ. T-Bond H 545 9/22/1852 1/?/1853 307 acres R. Andrews Reddin W.J.
Nixon Deed L 279 4/5/1859 4/23/1859 453 acres R. Andrews R.
William Harbert Deed M 68 3/16/1861 6/6/1861 450
acres R. Andrews Reddin James
Haynes Deed N 594 12/24/1860 12/13/1867 300 acres R. Andrews Reddin Rufus
C. Burleson Deed O 419 1869 3/29/1869 320 acres Reddin T.J.
Hancock Deed 12 43 4/5/1859 3/22/1888 453 acres R. Andrews W.A.
Hemphill Reddin Andrews Deed K 7 7/19/1850
1/14/1856 pt. League-And M. Arciniega R. Andrews Sp. Title K 8 11/23/1832 1/14/1856 PROBATE
of Richard Andrews 1837
Order to File Documents A 21 Min Order
to Make Title to Land A 22 Min Orders
allowing claims A 23 Min A 34
Min A 36
Min A 37
Min Order
appointing appraisers A 39 Min Order
to sell real estate A 39 Min Order
appointing appraisers A 42 Min Order
to file claim A 47 Min Order
setting hearing to close A 47 Min 1838
Orders allowing claims A 61 Min Orders
rejecting claims A 61 Min Order
to make title to land A 62 Min Order
closing estate A 62 Min Order
refusing to open a former judgement A 99
Min Order
continuing hearing A 105 Min Decree
of court A 106 Min Order
to survey land A 110 Min Order
appointing appraisers A 115 Min Order
assessing court costs A 115 Min Order
to reopen judgement A 126 Min Proof
of will A 186 Rec Will A
186 Rec 1839
Order to give bond in suit B 14 Min Order
dismissing suit B 15 Min Order
to amend petition in suit B 18 Min Order
continuing suit B 23 Min 1840
Application for discharge B 39 Min Order
appointing curator B 40 Min 1842
Order to administrator to file acct. B 140 Min PROBATE
of Michael Andrews 1837
Order dismissing suit A 30 |
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