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Below is a family biography included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1898.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HON. HARLAN P. ANDREWS, an Ex-Member of the State Assembly, and a representative citizen of the town of Cuyler, this county, is a son of James and Esther (Clough) Andrews, and was born in the town of Fabius, Onondaga County, N. Y., October 12, 1837.

The family is of New England stock; his grandfather, William Andrews, was a native of Winsted, Litchfield County, Conn., born August 21, 1766, and there grew to manhood. He married Miss Gosley, December 3, 1786, in Glastonbury, Conn., and reared a family of seven children, four of whom were born at Winsted, Conn, as follows: Seldon; William; Lucy; and James. The other three were born in Fabius. They were Elezar; Clarissa; and Jerusha. William Andrews made agriculture his life work; he took up a tract of Government land, consisting of 160 acres, in what is now known as Keeney’s Settlement. He afterward added to this by purchase, until he owned 200 acres, upon which he was at last overtaken by death. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and took a very active part in all that pertained to it. He was one of the organizers of the church at Fabius, filled nearly all the offices at different times, and was class leader and steward. He gave liberally to the cause so dear to his heart, and his house was the home of the ministers during the time the church was in its infancy. He was an old-line Whig and a strong Abolitionist, holding very decided views and not at all afraid in giving them utterance.

James Andrews was also a native of Winsted, Conn. Born April 14, 1796, coming to New York State at an early age. His life was devoted to husbandry and dairying. Fifteen years prior to his death he moved to the village, where he lived a retired life surrounded by his friends. He was a Republican-Abolitionist, strong in the cause. He united with the Baptist Church of Fabius after his removal to the village having previously been a member of the church of the same denomination at Keeney’s Settlement, where he had served in most of the offices of that body. His wife was Esther Clough, born June 18, 1799, at Fabius, N. Y.; she was the mother of seven children: Henry, who is an agriculturist of Belvidere, Ill.; Harriet, deceased, was twice married, first to Reuben Risley and subsequently to George Hayes; James Franklin, a retired minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, residing at Syracuse, N. Y.; Abel, deceased; Elon, deceased; Melvina, deceased, wife of Seabury Kinney; and Harlan P., our subject.

Harlan P. Andrews was educated at the district schools in Keeney until he had reached his thirteenth year, when he was found to be sufficiently advanced to enter the High School of Fabius, which he did, graduating from it a few years later. When eighteen he entered Cazenovia College, where he spent two years acquiring a good education, which was but the nucleus to which he has continually added since. He is a man of unusually bright intellect, a close observer and a keen student of human nature. He returned home from college, and until he was twenty-five spent his time there in tilling the soil. He then purchased a farm of 160 acres in Cuyler, and has since made it his home. He afterwards purchased 100 acres joining him on the north, and later the 100 that joined him on the south, giving him one of the largest as well as best farms in that section. He has entered quite extensively into dairying, keeping from forty-five to sixty-five cows. He was formerly a cattle dealer and very successful, but his attention has been centered principally in the dairy for several years past. Every building on his farm is in good condition and the stock has the best of care; thrift and order are everywhere visible.

Mr. Andrews has been twice married. He was first married to Phoebe P. Brown, daughter of Benjamin Brown of Cuyler, December 4, 1861. Three children were born to them: Burnett B. lives near Syracuse on a farm; Mertie, wife of George Loomis, a merchant of Cazenovia; Lina, wife of Walter Keeney of Keeney’s Settlement. After the death of Mrs. Andrews, he placed Marian Bogardus at the head of his household. She is a daughter of Israel Bogardus, a Quaker of Belvidere, Ill. Four children have blessed this union: Howard I., a graduate of Syracuse University, class of 1895, and at present a student of Drew Theological Seminary of Madison, N. J.; Mildred, a student at Cazenovia College; Irene and Louise, both pupils in the district school at their home. The youngest two are assiduous in their studies and give promise of a brilliant future, and their father is sparing no pains to give them every advantage in the way of a good education. Mr. Andrews has been closely identified with the interests of the Republican party in Cortland County for many years, serving as assessor, three terms as supervisor, one term as justice of the peace and as assemblyman in 1884 and 1885. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, although formerly a Baptist, and an attendant of that church at Keeney’s Settlement, where he has filled most of the offices. Both himself and wife are ever willing to lend a hand to any good work, no matter by what sect it may be fathered and advanced, so that it has for its object the betterment of humanity, or some portion of it. He is also a member of Truxton Lodge, A. O. U. W.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in Book of Biographies: Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Cortland County, New York published in 1898. 

View additional Cortland County, New York family biographies here: Cortland County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Cortland County, New York here: Cortland County, New York Map

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