Andre, Thomas Jefferson, Dr. – Obituary

Dr. Andre Answers His Last Summons

After Doing Good to Mankind for More than Forty Years, Dr. T. J. Andre Goes Down the Long, Long Trail

The news of the earthquake in California was not half so startling as the news on Tuesday morning that Dr. Andre had passed away at about 4 o’clock that morning after an illness of only a few hours, of angina pectoras. On Monday evening he had an attack of the trouble and for a time was quite sick but appeared recovered from it and was feeling considerable better Tuesday. Dr. Armstrong came over from Ida Grove to see him Tuesday morning and advised him to go to bed and keep quiet, but anyone acquainted with the doctor knows that inactivity is not in his vocabulary – he has never known such a word, and during the afternoon he was around as usual although not doing much in the way of work, and was feeling pretty good. About 6:30 he had another attack and he completely collapsed and from that time he continued to fail. Dr. McCray was summoned as also was Dr. Parker of Ida Grove, but it was very evident to them that the end was not far off. He rallied some but relapsed again and the end came at 4 o’clock yesterday morning.

Thomas Jefferson Andre was born on May 10, 1857, in Columbiana County, Ohio, near the village of Hanover. In 1865 he came with his parents to Iowa, the family locating in Scott County on a farm. Dr. Andre remained with his folks on the farm for several years, attending the common schools where he received his education. Early in his young manhood he decided to follow the medical profession and with this end in view he enrolled as a student in Rush Medical College, of Chicago, and from which institution he graduated with high honors in the spring of 1882.

In the fall of the same year he came west seeking a location and was advised by friends of an opening at Schaller, and upon investigation decided to make this place his field of work, and for almost forty-three years he has given of his time and talents for the benefit of mankind. Schaller, at that time was in its infancy and during gall these years he has been faithfully and successfully practicing his profession. In the language of the good book, “He saved others, but himself he could not save.”

On December 28, 1884, Doctor Andre was united in marriage to Miss Cora A. Pettit of Storm Lake, and to this union were born three children: Miss Edna R. Reedy of Amarillo, Texas; Mrs. Dorothy Youngstrom and Thomas J. Andre Jr. of this place, all of whom, with his widow survive him. He also is survived by three sisters and one brother, namely: Mrs. Scott Fleck of Lake City; Mrs. Alberta Landstrum of New Sharon; Mrs. Gene Parker and Frank Andre of Davenport.

By the death of Doctor Andre there is removed the oldest citizen as to years of professional and business service. He came here before the railroad was completed and has continued in his profession without a break. His life was characterized not only by the high order of his medical ability, but also by that tact and human sympathy which overleaps mere sentiment and is a prominent factor in the life of a successful physician. It is the mixture of smile and good nature with medicine which wins the patient’s confidence and gives encouragement, and to this combination might be attributed the pronounced success of his work in this locality.

Funeral services will be Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock and will be held in the city park if the weather is favorable, as no other place would be sufficient to accommodate the people who would thus desire to pay their last respects to one whom they so sincerely admired and respected.

Note: Family records reflect Thomas Jefferson Andre was born 10 April 1857 and died 30 June 1925.

(Clipping from unidentified newspaper, collection of Alta Ramsey Andre.)