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.
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
Patsy Andrews - REDDIN1..DOC Last printed 10/17/99 Page 5 of 6
This information may be used for research purposed. Copyright retained by Tammy Owen @2002