Milo’s Living Grandchildren (3 of 7): Ted Garner Andrus
This is the third in a seven part series highlighting Milo’s remaining living grandchildren. These profiles were written in 2006.
A cold winter day, January 24, 1919 in Elba, Cassia, Idaho, Ted was born to Hyrum Andrus (son of Milo Andrus and Margaret Ann Boyce) and Virginia (Jenny) Garner Andrus. They lived in a two-story frame house and it was very nice. The home was located on 80 acres where they raised grain and were surrounded by beautiful mountains, crystal clear mountain streams and a close-knit community. He was born into a family of one older sister, Margaret and four older brothers, Charles, William, (Brother Bill), Owen and George. Ted was the youngest.
Ted describes his father Hyrum as “the best of four-team drivers.” He hauled freight to the end of the railroad in Utah to the Alma Elba stores. He also would build the grades to make roads in these areas and in Yellowstone Park and throughout the West. His group prepared the bare ground, filled the gullies, etc. so they could make a road. He could stack hay faster than younger men.
Hyrum served a mission to the Indian Territory of Oklahoma/Texas. The people there did not like missionaries. He was often threatened and followed my mobs. After his mission he came home and married Virginia who was about 20 years his junior. They started a family and worked doing construction work. The Andrus family lived in Elba until Ted was 9 years old. Hyrum died January 28, 1946, while Ted was away in the army.
Ted was the baby in the family and his mother always told him, “he was an answer to her prayers.” She baked and sewed and was generous with her own family as well as the people of the community. She was dedicated to church and to her callings. Ted’s mom always wanted him to go to high school but he quit after he graduated from the 8th grade at Sugar Loaf School.
Ted loved to rope calves whether they were running or standing. When there was nobody around to play with, he would get the calves running and would rope them for an hour our so. He was a good rider and even broke a horse for a special friend. When he was farming he could get crops to grow on land others had not been able to do well on. He loved his cattle and became a good vet and even helped the neighbors when they did not have the money to pay the regular vet. Ted has always done math in his head and could figure faster than others could get their paper and pencil out.
Ted married Arlyane Blanch Bartholomew on November 15, 1940. They became the parents of four children: Dennis, Beverly, Clinton and Gary.
One day something inside him said, “Don’t be a draft dodger.” So he went and enlisted in the United States Army. His brother Charles, whom Ted farmed with, sold the farm as he could not farm it alone and Ted found a home by the Jerome, Idaho water tower for his wife and two children. Ted was inducted into the Army at Fort Douglas Utah and then sent to Camp Roberts in California for basic training. His first assignment was occupation duty on the Japanese mainland. Not long after his arrival he was honorable discharged.
He worked a few different jobs until his love for farming and livestock led him to trade his home in town for thirty head of white-faced calves, a team of work horses and some equipment. He rented the Dick Handy place and set to work with his cattle. He finally quit farming in 2003. He loved it and loves it still today. His heart will always be with the land and the cattle but the body wears out. Now he tends his garden, waters and mows the yard, waters Arlyane’s beautiful flowers and trees and takes tender care of the love of his life, his sweet little wife Arlyane.
Advice to his grandchildren: Always be polite saying please and thank you. Be good to old people—for you’ll get old someday and you do not want them to make fun of you.
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Do you know Ted Garner Andrus? Are you related? Send us stories and pictures about him. What are your favorite memories? What impresses you most about him? Use the Comment fields below, or e-mail them to miloandrus.org@gmail.com.
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5 Responses to “Milo’s Living Grandchildren (3 of 7): Ted Garner Andrus”
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Ted is my uncle, my Dad’s name is George. My fondest memories of him are farming on his farm north west of Jerome. Ted was also a very good hay stacker. I guess his son Dennis and I got our love for playing with calves and roping them from Uncle Ted. I also remember that he could raise some darn good watermelon’s on his place in Hagerman.
Ted is my great uncle. My parents are G. Keith Parker and Maurine Margaret Andrus Parker. My fondest childhood memory about Uncle Ted is that he always had a huge watermelon or two, perhaps the biggest and the best of that day’s harvest, ready for me to take home after a family reunion. He must have known that watermelon is my (and my Daddy’s) most favorite fruit. I truly believed it was his way of communicating his love for me since I am Deaf since birth and use American Sign Language. Ted’s Hagerman watermelons are still the best!
Ted is my grandfather. My Dad is Dennis. Some of my fondest memories of him as a child include always reaching in his pocket for loose change to hand out to me and my brothers and sister, delivering fresh cow’s milk to our doorstep and chatting with me as I watched him feed the cows while he let me follow him around the farm. We knew that every summer, we would be blessed with goodies from the garden and of course…watermelons! Grandpa is a true farmer through and through. When I think of him, I think of a hard working man who has spent his life dedicated to his family.
My name is Dennis, oldest son of Ted and Arlyane Andrus.Dads life has been a testimony of his desire to work and provide for his family.Today Dad and Mom are returning to thier home in Hagerman Idaho after sharing a wonderful Thanksgiving stay at my home in Fruita Colordo.Dad will soon be 90 years young.It was a real joy to spend a few days with him. His eye sight is fading, but his memory is sharp and refined. We are grateful that he is still a vital part of our family.I know it’s hard for him to keep up with the growth of the family.I am ever greatful for the inspiration, that Dad is in my life.
Wow…how are we related? Ted is our dad’s best friend–he also happens to be his uncle. They are close in age and so got into a great deal of mischief as youngsters. Ted is the brother of our Grandmother. Yes, we remember the watermelons, as well–they WERE the best. We also remember Ted’s kind heart towards animals–he took in Susan’s orphan red hunting dog when she couldn’t keep him any more–she was teaching school and single in Springville and he agreed to take “Red” and adopt him as his own. Red was rescued from the pound and we imagine he thought himself in heaven, hunting with Ted…
Dennis Andrus, you’ll probably never see this comment–do you remember Sandra and Susan, Rex’s girls? We had the biggest crushes on you–you’d come to visit us in Logan and we’d hide under the bed and you’d try to find us! I’m pleased to say we’ve matured–we’re just under the beds trying to sweep up dust bunnies now-a-days!