My great-great-great-grandfather Lewis Feuilleteau Wilson (L.F.W.) Andrews was the son of the Presbyterian minister Reverend John Andrews who, in the early 1800s, served the Concord Presbytery (Little Britain, North Carolina); the Presbytery of West Lexington (Kentucky); the Washington Presbytery (Washington and Greene Counties in Pennsylvania) and the Presbytery of Redstone (Greensburg, PA). The senior Andrews also is credited with publishing Ohio's "first religious newspaper", beginning the Recorder in 1814 in Chillicothe, Ohio. L.F.W.'s namesake was the Rev. Lewis Feuilleteau Wilson(1753-1804), also of the Presbyterian Church, a mentor to John Andrews.
From the Biographical and Historical Catalogue of Washington and Jefferson College, Containing a General Catalogue of the Graduates and Non-Graduates of Jefferson College of Washington College and of Washington and Jefferson College 1802-1902, George H. Buchanan and Company, Philadelphia, 1902 :
"
1821
Andrews, Lewis F. W. - Son of Rev. John, founder of first religious newspaper; born ____; medical student; practiced medicine Pittsburg; editor Pittsburg Commonwealth, '25; died ________."
He married a Methodist minister's daughter, Jane Gray of Alleghenytown in western Pennsylvania in 1827. From the June 12, 1827 Pittsburgh Reporter:
"Married Wednesday last, Dr. Lewis
F.W. Andrews to Jane, eldest daughter of James Gray
Esquire. Both of Alleghenytown, Pa."
From one account, "the Rev. L. F. W.
Andrews (1802-1875) was a Universalist minister through
much of the antebellum period in the Southern States.
" I haven't determined whether he ever had formal
seminary education.
Evidently, he was officiating marriages in
Connecticut in 1832. From a transcription of Hartford
Vital Records from Barbour, 1668-1852:
"Harvey, m Lydia Denslow, Mar 22,
1832, by Rev L F W Andrews"
He is mentioned by name in papers re: the
1833 South Carolina Universalist Convention, with the
comment that he is considering relocating to the region.
“The Larger Hope -- Volume 1: The First Century of the Universalist Church in America” by Russel E. Miller (1979)
editor and owner of GOSPEL WITNESS 1831-1832 Hartford, Conn.
theological editor of HEARLD OF FREEDOM 1832 Bethel, Conn. (publisher: P.T. Barnum)
pastor of the Second Universalist Society in Philadelphia 1832
associate editor of SOUTHERN PIONEER AND GOSPEL VISITER Baltimore MD -1833-
circuit riding in Portsmouth VA 1833
preaching at Edenton NC in fall 1833 on his way to Augusta GA
preached extensively on his trip to Al, including at the then Ga state capital of Milledgeville in 1833.
clergyman Montgomery Alabama winter of 1833 - 1834 and agreed to stay one year, founded a church within one week of his being in town.
preaching at Mobile, Al 1834
preaching at New Orleans, La 1835 (as visiting minister)
owner and editor of the SOUTHERN EVANGELIST 1834-1835 Montgomery AL
corresponding editor of the SOUTHERN EVANGELIST 1835-1836 Charleston, SC
pastor of an Universalist society in Charleston 1835-1836, resigned due to ill health in his family
co-owner and editor of SOUTHERN PIONEER 1836-1837 Baltimore MD
owner and editor of the EVANGELICAL UNIVERSALIST 1838-1839 Macon, Ga 1838,
preaching in Lafayette Al 1839
living in Pittsburgh Pa 1839
living in Feasterville SC 1842-1844 preaching at Liberty Universalist and teaching school
preaching in Georgia 1844 (preached funneral in Abbeville SC)
Editor of CHRISTIAN CRUCIBLE 1871-1872 Macon, Ga
At various times, L.F.W. also was credited as:
Writer, (pamphlet) "A Looking Glass for Fanatics" (no date, no publisher, circa 1830s: copy in Tufts U, anti-revival meeting tract)
corresponding editor of the Universalist Historical Society
and anti-revivalist, anti-capital punishment, pro-temperance, anti-abolitionist
By1842, he is teaching classics at Feasterville Academy
in Fairfield County, South Carolina.
The 1850 census record finds him living in
Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, lists his occupation as
"editor". The record also claims he is North Carolina-
born. L.F.W. and Jane's children were: Lewis Holcombe Andrews, Helen J Andrews, John C Andrews, Jane (Jennie) G Andrews, Fannie A Andrews and EL (Alie?) Andrews. Jane died sometime between 1860 and 1867.
L.F.W.'s listed as a "public speaker" from Macon, GA in: The Spiritualist Register for 1859; Facts, Philosophy, Statistics of Spiritualism. U[riah] Clark, Editor and Proprietor. Auburn, New York:U. Clark, Spiritual Clarion Office. (listed again in 1861)
L.F.W. married a second time to Mary Lamar on 27 Jan 1867. Also in 1867, Dr. L. F. W. Andrews recognized the historic Rockwell Universalist Church as the first Universalist Church of then Jackson County, and it was called Mulberry Church. It is the second oldest Universalist Church in Georgia.
Lewis F. Wilson Andrews died suddenly in 1875 and is buried at Linwood Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia.
From The Macon Telegraph and Messenger, dated Wednesday, March 17, 1875, p. 4 col. 1
"Dr. L.F.W. Andrews died suddenly at his home in Americus about one o'clock yesterday. He left Macon yesterday morning in his usual good health, and died soon after reaching his home. We heard no further particulars relative to this event. His remains will arrive here this afternoon. The time of internment has not yet been fixed.
The deceased was well known in this State, having been connected with the press at different times in this city and elsewhere. In religion he was a Universalist, and during the late years of his life he has devoted much of his time to the propagation of the doctrines of that Church. He expected to have gone to Alabama tomorrow, on that mission, and upon his return, intended making a trip to Virginia.
Dr. Andrews was prominent as a Mason, and was Past Grand Master of Odd Fellows. We presume these Orders will attend his funeral."
