Hyrum L. Andrus’ Introduction to the 2004 PDF Edition of the Andrus Recorder

TO THE ANDRUS FAMILY AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS

At the time I was appointed the Genealogical Chairman of the Milo Andrus Family I was participating in a BYU Education Week program and was not present at the Reunion. Yet I appreciated the honor the family placed on me and I determined to promote the genealogical research, which a few individuals in the family had been carrying on by their own efforts, in a way that would enable family members in general to contribute.

I was also aware that there were historical materials regarding family members that existed, such as personal histories, journals, etc. J. Roman Andrus was President of the Family Organization, so I suggested to him that we publish a family newspaper and the name The Andrus Recorder was given to the proposed paper. Roman devised the mast head for the paper and we published the first issue in October 1964. To finance the paper and our family research we proposed that each family contribute a specified amount.

The Andrus Organization was composed of Central Officers and Wife Line Chairpersons who were asked to collect historical materials and promote genealogical research on their respective lines. I took the initiative in getting the family group sheets for each of Milo’s wives thoroughly researched and made available to the family. The records which I received when asked to serve as the Genealogical Chairman were very sparse, with many inaccuracies. In this task I turned to the genealogical institution in Provo that was headed by J . Grant Stevenson and utilized his skills and staff and in time we had authenticated Family Group Sheets for each of Milo’s wives. I also gave attention to the problem of determining the parentage of Ruluf Andress and Azubah Smith, who were Milo’s parents. The Ruluf problem still needs solution, but I did find, while working in the Historical Department of the LDS Church, in Salt Lake City, that Milo was baptized in the Mississippi River for John and Sarah Smith, the parents of Azubah.

There were key members of the family who contributed to the Recorder, but I shall not mention their names for fear of missing some who should be mentioned. As I look back over the years, I remember with fond feelings of gratitude those who were willing to go the extra mile to publish the issues that were given to the family. Those were very busy years for me, with many pressures on my time, which increases my appreciation for their interest and efforts. I was released from these responsibilities and asked to write a history of Milo, or to get one written, so I turned to my longtime friend and colleague on the Religion Faculty, Ivan J. Barrett, who, during his later years at BYU, was without doubt the man who best knew the details of church history in the broad sweep from 1820 to the turn of the nineteenth century. Though much of the book, Trumpeter of God (1992) had to be improvised to put Milo in the given historical settings, Professor Barrett’s insights into the details of church history gave accuracy to the general picture. Before he finished the manuscript his health failed him and I found it necessary to write some of the chapters of the book. I also carefully read the total manuscript and made additions along the way, where it seemed appropriate to do so.

I do hope that every effort will be made to make these issues of the Recorder available to the family, and heartily commend those who are doing this important work.

Hyrum L. Andrus
Alpine, Utah
June 14, 2004

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