My Grandma Myrna was the only person on my side of the family that kept any kind of records about the "Andrews" history. There were pictures, newspaper clippings and post cards. Myrna would tell many stories about the Andrews side of the family. I could always trace her side of the family (Roberts) back to England in the mid-1800's. The Andrews side of history was "fuzzy".
Myrna's husband was Charles Elmer Andrews. His dad was Elmer Andrews married to the "first" Addie May. Then history is vague. Elmer Andrews owned an 80 acre farm around Mukwonago, Wisconsin west of Milwaukee. I think the courthouse in the county that contains Mukwanago would have a lot of information but I've never taken the time to do the research.
I do remember Elmer Andrews. He died in 1950 when I was ten years old. He lived out the end of his life at the City Club (his last 10-15 years). He is the one allegedly to have fathered twins in Canada but I never really confirmed that.
I quizzed Myrna about the history of the Andrews family "before Elmer". Her answer was that they were descendants of Connecticut Yankees. What the hell is a Connecticut Yankee? The standard definition of a "Yankee" is an inhabitant of New England. So a Connecticut Yankee was defined as an inhabitant of the state of Connecticut. The term Yankee probably comes from the Dutch term of "Little John". "Yankee" was also used to refer to pirates but began to be applied to to New Englanders in general. Yankee characteristics include shrewness, mechanical ingenuity, and individualism. Yup that is "us". Connecticut Yankees have long been famous as entrepreneurs, inventors and peddlers who drive sharp bargains. The first Yankee settlers came from Great Britain (including Scotland).
So if Myrna was right, our "Andrews family tree" traces back to early America with roots in Connecticut. We seem to have been farmers and sheep herders. I don't know about the pirate accusation. I know there are a few "bandits" in our family. Beyond early settlers in Connecticut, we trace back to the shores of Europe probably England and Scotland.
If you want any more history, you will have to do it yourself. I would begin with the Andrews family history records in the Mukwonago, Wisconsin courthouse. Then it would be a clue by clue discovery process going generation by generation. Good hunting.
I don't know if I've made things less fuzzy but the only thread of verbal history I can remember was Connecticut Yankee.
Stay Warm.
Love,
Dad