Annie Dale Biddle Andrews' family

We give below three articles about Annie Dale Biddle Andrews' family, the first being about her father Samuel Edward Biddle, the second is from a newspaper cutting about her mother Achsah Anna McQuiddy while the third is a newspaper account of her marriage to William Samuel Andrews.

1. Samuel Edward Biddle (1845-1908).

E Menefee and F A Dodge, Samuel Edward Biddle, in History of Tulare and Kings Counties California (1923).

The death of Hanford's most prominent banker, who had been identified with its financial, commercial and political circles for many years, proved a great shock to the people here and was deeply felt throughout the entire county, whose welfare had been of so much importance to him. Samuel Edward Biddle had more to do with things pertaining to the business life here and in this county than any other citizen of the city. His death, which occurred 7 May 1908, at the St Helena Sanitarium at Hanford, removed from their midst one of the people's best friends.

Mr Biddle was a native of Normandy, Bedford county, Tennessee, born there 15 September 1845, the son of John Vance Biddle and Eliza Ann Howe. He received his educational training in the schools there and in 1874 came to California to ever afterward make it his home. When but fifteen years of age he had enlisted in the Confederate army, seeing active service, but he was finally incapacitated by a wound and received his discharge, returning to Tennessee. Here in his native town he was married on 6 January 1870, to Miss Achsah Anna McQuiddy, daughter of Major T J McQuiddy, who is a well known pioneer of Tulare county, and is still living in Hanford. Major McQuiddy made his first trip to California in the early 1870s and selected lands for himself and other members of the party of emigrants who came overland with him in 1874 and settled at Tulare county. This said party consisted of eighteen people, including Samuel E Biddle and his family, M P Troxler and family and Major Cartner and wife. Major McQuiddy also bringing his family.

After his marriage and before coming to California, Mr Biddle took his bride to live in Gibson county, Tennessee, where they stayed for some time, later living at Brazil, Trenton and Humboldt. He had learned the milling business and ran a flouring mill at Trenton, later at Humboldt, and this experience proved most helpful to him upon coming to the new country. When he came to California his family consisted of his wife and two children, a son and daughter, and they settled upon a railroad quarter-section of land a mile and a half north and three miles east of the present site of Hanford, which Mrs Biddle's father, Major McQuiddy, had selected for them. They here built a board and batten house, Mr Biddle immediately seeing the necessity for many improvements which he started to make. Irrigation ditches were erected and the land was prepared for cultivation, and in the year 1876 he harvested his first crop, which was of wheat.

In the meantime Mr Biddle found that all this had taken much of his resources, and he accordingly went to work for I H Ham, the pioneer miller of Tulare county, taking charge of the mill at Tulare, and as the agriculturists in the surrounding country were meeting with good success in the cultivation of grain, he found much work and demand for his milling. At this time his means were practically exhausted, he having only $3.75 in his pocket. Accepting the first job that offered, he began as a roustabout at the Tulare mill. Leaving his family at home, he walked six miles and worked all day on Cross Creek bridge, and then proceeded to Tulare, where he took his position as roustabout. Mr Ham soon recognised his ability, for in less than a week he was made miller, and from this time a very close intimacy grew up between Mr Ham and himself. It was in 1877 that he, in partnership with Mr Ham, built the Lemoore mill, of which he took charge and built up a prosperous business, in 1880 selling it at a handsome profit. He then came to Hanford and built a grain warehouse which he operated himself. This warehouse was so much in demand that it became filled to its capacity, and finally, under the stress of too heavy a weight of grain, it collapsed and Mr Biddle was greatly inconvenienced financially by the disaster. He turned to R E Hyde, the banker of Visalia, for assistance, and the latter proved his true friendship for Mr Biddle when he came forward and supplied the means to rebuild the warehouse, which was immediately done. From this time on is chronicled for Mr Biddle one success after another. In 1883 he built a large brick building on the corner of Sixth and Irwin streets in Hanford, where in association with his brother he conducted a profitable farm implement business until 1887, at which time his banking interests became his most vital business.

On 11 April 1887, was launched the Bank of Hanford, in whose incorporation Mr Biddle was most actively interested. It was the first bank established in Hanford and he was installed as its cashier and manager, serving in this capacity for a long period, and when this was succeeded by the First National Bank of Hanford, Mr Biddle severed his connection therewith and organised in November 1901, what is now the Old Bank, and of this establishment he was president and manager up to the time of his death, being also a heavy stockholder. His wide reputation for strict integrity of character and honesty in all his dealings made him sought out by many for advice and the handling of their capital, and he had always proved himself to be a clever and shrewd business man in making investments and in the execution of his duties in general.

Along with these heavy business cares, Mr Biddle had found time to give himself to public service, having served as supervisor for this part of Tulare county for one term, and at the time the fight was made for the independence of Kings county he was one of the earnest workers, was one of the commissioners, and afterward served as a member of the first board of supervisors of Kings county. Associated with him in the organisation of the new county government were J H Malone, W H Newport, William Ogden, E E Bush and G N Wendling. Later he was president of the Hanford Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade, and in all these offices he had ever held the advance and development of his town and county foremost in mind. His exceptional activity as a public-spirited citizen and a charitable and well-wishing friend to all with whom he came in contact caused his death to cast a shadow over the entire public of this city and county.

Samuel E Biddle and his wife were the parents of three sons and four daughters, viz.: Tolbert Vance, who resides in Coalinga, California; Eliza Jane, wife of I C Taylor, of Berkeley; Samuel Edward, Jr., cashier and manager of the Citizens' Bank of Alameda; Beta H, wife of Robert Crawford, of Hanford; Wallace J, a plasterer, with residence at Oakland; Kate J, wife of Dallas H Gray, of Armona, Kings county; and Annie Dale, Mrs William S Andrews, of Berkeley.

2. Death claims pioneer mother.

Death claims pioneer mother - surcease from sorrow after lingering illness. Large family mourn her translation, The Hanford Sentinel, Hanford, California (Friday 18 February 1921).

Mrs Achsah A Biddle, widow of the later Samuel E Biddle and eldest daughter of the later Major Thomas J McQuiddy, passed away Thursday at 7:40 p.m. at the home of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs Dallas H Gray of near Armona. She was aged nearly 73 years, her birthday being February 24 and until her last illness, which was of about five months duration, enjoyed remarkably good health for one of her age.

In the death of Mrs Biddle, Hanford has lost a pioneer resident who came here about 47 years ago and was much beloved by all who knew her. She had successfully managed her large affairs for a dozen years since the death of her husband, the late banker, retaining his extensive interest in The Old Bank, serving as director up to the time of her death. Mrs Biddle was an active member of the Presbyterian church and a member of the societies connected with the congregation. During her last illness, she sustained her suffering with rare fortitude, courage and patience and showed her appreciation of the loving efforts of relatives to allay the pain that preceded dissolution.

Mrs Biddle was born on 24 February 1848 in Normandie, Bedford County, Tennessee, and the McQuiddy family resided in Missouri from 1849 until 1863, when they returned to Tennessee. In her native town, she was married on 6 January 1879 to Samuel Edward Biddle, a veteran of the Confederate army, having been incapacitated by wounds from further service. Mr Biddle took his bride to live in Gibson County, Tennessee. Major McQuiddy had made his first trip to California about this time and in 1874, with his family who included Mr and Mrs Biddle, made up a party of emigrants who came overland to the "golden state," settling in Tulare county. The Biddles, consisting of the parents, son and daughter, settled on a railroad quarter section of land, 1 1/2 miles north and 3 miles east of the present site of Hanford.

Mr Biddle launched the Bank of Hanford on 11 April 1887, with himself as cashier and continued with this institution until it was succeeded by the First National Bank, when he organised The Old Bank, of which he was president and manager until his death in 1908. He was one of the first supervisors of Kings county, having been active as commissioner for the independence of the new county.

Mrs Biddle was the eldest of a family of eleven children. Three surviving brothers and sisters are Attorney W R McQuiddy and Mrs Kate E Jacobs of this city, and John T McQuiddy of Sonoma. Seven children are bereaved by the loss of their mother: T Vance Biddle and Mrs Reta Crawford of Hanford; Mrs I C Taylor and Mrs William S Andrews of Berkeley; S Edward Biddle of Manteca, and Mrs Dallas H Gray of Armona. Twelve grandchildren survive: Anna Vivian and Doris Achsah Biddle, children of T V Biddle of Hanford; Ileen Coma Taylor, daughter of Mrs I C Taylor of Berkeley; Delbert Westover Biddle, son of S E Biddle of Piedmont; Robert H and Catherine Crawford, son and daughter of Mrs Reta Crawford of this city; Wallace Joseph and Betty May Biddle, children of Wallace J Biddle on Manteca; Dallas H Jr and Frank Biddle Gray, sons of Mrs Dallas H Gray of Armona, and Dale and William S Andrews, children of Mrs W A Andrews of Berkeley.

Mrs Biddle submitted to a surgical operation last September and while the operation was considered a success, she never fully recovered her health.

The burial will be in charge of the People's Undertaking Association and funeral services will be held Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the family residence, 406 Central Avenue. The officiating clergyman will be Rev Mr Fouk, pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church of San Francisco. All friends are invited to these obsequies but the burial services at the family plot in Hanford cemetery, immediately following the services will be private. The body of the deceased pioneer will lie in state at the old home at Central Avenue and Kaweah Street Saturday. Friends are invited to call.

3. Annie Dale Biddle marries William Samuel Andrews.

Most Elaborate Wedding, Hanford Morning Journal (Saturday, 12 October 1912).

The most elaborate wedding to be celebrated in Hanford since the late spring, was the marriage on Monday evening, 7 October, of Miss Annie Dale Biddle of this city and William Samuel Andrews, a promising young attorney of San Francisco, the event being consummated in the Church of the Saviour, the Rev G R E MacDonald of Fresno officiating, with the Rev Ray O Miller as his assistant. The interior of the church was a bower of beauty for the occasion, its rough walls and brick pillars combining as an effective background for the autumnal colour notes of green and yellow, which were well carried out, great masses of smilax and huge yellow chrysanthemums banking the altar and chancel, while on the end of each pew was a wreath of yellow lilies tied with an effective tulle bow. The bride, who is of the blonde type, appeared very charming in her bridal costume, a French creation of white charmeuse, trimmed with silver and old lace, and made empire, cut 'en train'. Her veil was caught with the customary orange blossoms and she carried a shower bouquet of orchids and lilies of the valley, combined with masses of ferns and caught up with white tulle.

She was attended by her sister, Mrs Dallas H Gray, as matron of honour, who was effectively gowned in flowered chiffon over yellow satin, med in gold and made empire and en train, carrying on her arm a huge bouquet of Salile D'Or roses and maiden hair fern tied with wide yellow satin ribbon, and also attended by four bridesmaids, the Misses Kate Hall, Neola Hall, Mary Biddle and Harriet Hight, who, in their smart frocks of white marquisette over yellow, carrying armfuls of yellow lilies and ferns, made an attractive picture. The groom was attended by Robert A Hood of Vancouver, and four ushers, Messrs Frank M Cameron, Stephen P Ross, Willett Foster and Dallas H Gray, who wore the conventional black.

As the party advanced up the aisle, Mrs J H Styles and Lynn Fox rendered the Lohengrin wedding march, and, during the entire service played softly, "Call Me Thine Own." S Edward Biddle of Alameda gave the bride away.

The ministers, groom and best man entered the church from the right, and waited for the bridal party, which, led by the ushers, advanced up the aisle for the sacred ceremony. Following the nuptials the bride and groom led the way, to the joyous strains of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March," and, quickly leaving the church, entered a machine and were driven to the home of the bride's mother, Mrs Achsah where an a elaborate reception was given, about eighty-five of the two hundred guests in the church being present. The home, too, had been artistically decorated with greens and the blossoms, the doorways and arches being festooned with smilax and studded with chrysanthemums. The happy couple left on the Angel for the south, after a gay shower of rice, and from there will go by boat to San Francisco, being at home to their friends in Berkeley about November 1.

Mrs Andrews is well known here, where she has lived the greater part of her life, having attended both the grammar and high schools in this city. In 1908 she graduated from the University of California with honours, attaining the Ph.D. in higher mathematics. It was while in college the romance was commenced which ended in the wedding of Monday night.

During the last year she has been a member of the faculty of the University of Washington. She is a most gifted and popular young woman, and her hosts of friends in this city are tendering congratulations to the lucky groom upon his good fortune in winning her for a wife. The groom is a San Francisco attorney, connected with the firm of Charles H Wheeler, and is the only son of Mrs Mary Andrews of Berkeley.

A poem in compliment to the young couple was written by the best man, Robert A Hood of Vancouver.

Last Updated March 2025