Wellington J. Andrews, born April 14, 1865, near Ottawa, Canada, moved with his family to Bon Homme County, South Dakota, in 1874. After completing his education at Scotland Academy in 1886, Andrews pursued business ventures in Parkston and Scotland before establishing a successful grocery store in Sioux Falls in 1898. A dedicated Democrat, he actively participated in state and county politics but avoided seeking major office. Andrews was a member of several fraternal organizations, including the Masons and Elks. He married Persis U. Tyler in 1899, and they had one daughter, Edith Alice.
Wellington J. Andrews, one of the well-known and honored citizens of Sioux Falls, is a native of the Dominion of Canada, having been born near the city of Ottawa on the 14th of April, 1865, and being a son of William H. and Eliza Ann (Johnson) Andrews, who were likewise born in Canada, where they continued to maintain their home until 1874, when they came as pioneers to what is now the state of South Dakota, locating near Scotland, Bon Homme County, where the father took up government land and developed a good farm, becoming one of the representative citizens of that section of the state.
The subject of this review received his rudimentary education in the common schools of his native county and was nine years of age at the time of his parents’ removal to South Dakota. Here he was reared to manhood under the sturdy discipline of the pioneer farm, while continuing to attend the public schools until 1885, when he entered the academy at Scotland, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1886. Thereafter, he continued to assist in the work and management of the home farm until 1886, when, at the age of twenty-one years, he went to Parkston, Hutchinson County, where he was engaged in the agricultural implement business and dealing in livestock until 1893, when he returned to Scotland, where he opened a general merchandise store, building up a successful business and continuing operations there until 1898, when he sold out and came to Sioux Falls, where he established himself in the grocery business, in which he has ever since continued, catering to a large and representative trade and having a finely equipped store. His establishment is modern in all its appointments, and the stock carried is exceptionally comprehensive and select, while he is recognized as an energetic and progressive businessman and as one well worthy of the uniform confidence and esteem in which he is held. In politics, Mr. Andrews has ever given uncompromising allegiance to the Democratic party, has taken an active part in the promotion of its cause, having been a delegate to various state and county conventions, and has been called to serve in a number of minor offices, though he has never sought personal preferment in this line. Fraternally, he is identified with Unity Lodge, No. 130, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Scotland Chapter, No. 31, Royal Arch Masons; Parkston Lodge, No. 99, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Sioux Falls Lodge, No. 262, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On the 8th of February, 1899, Mr. Andrews was united in marriage to Miss Persis U. Tyler, who was born in Des Moines, Iowa, being a daughter of L. S. Tyler, who has been a resident of Sioux Falls since 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have one daughter, Edith Alice.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.