My Genealogy Hound

ANDREW J. HERRICK, farmer of Platte township, Buffalo county, is a native of New York, having been born on Grand island in Niagara river in June, 1833. He comes of York State parentage, originally from New England. His father, Joshua Herrick, was born and reared in New York, served in the war of 1812, and died in the town of Alabama in Genesee county, his native state, in 1837. Mr. Herrick’s grandfather Herrick was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, being colonel of a Vermont regiment and an associate of Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and John Stark, of Revolutionary fame. Mr. Herrick’s mother bore the maiden name of Margaret Shutter and lived and died in her native state, New York. There were four children born to Joshua and Margaret Herrick — Nathan, who died in the Union army during the late war; Rufus, Abigail, and Andrew J., the subject of this sketch.

Andrew J. Herrick grew up in his native place, and starting west in pursuit of his fortunes, made his first stop in Lawrence county, Illinois. In 1852 he entered the United States army, enlisting in Company G, Fourth regulars, and serving on the frontier. He crossed the plains many times during the term of his service and rendezvoused about old Fort Kearney and Fort Laramie when all the countrv west of the Missouri was an endless stretch of prairie, covered with Buffalo and infested with Indians. He served till September, 1858, when he was mustered out at Jefferson barracks, St. Louis, Mo. Returning to Illinois he stopped at Springfield, but remained there only a short time, going thence to Michigan, where, in 1861, on the opening of the Civil war he again enlisted in the service of his country, entering as a volunteer in Company G, “Piper’s Western sharp shooters.” After several months’ service in this command he was discharged on account of his defective hearing, but entered the service again in September, 1863, enlisting in Company G, Eleventh Michigan cavalry. He served through Kentucky, being in the engagements about Lexington, Paris, Mt. Sterling, Cynthiana, and intervening points. He was wounded in the fight at Saltville, October 2, 1864, and taken prisoner, being subsequently exchanged at Richmond, Va. He served till July, 1865, returning then to Calhoun county, Mich., where he settled down. August 7, 1865, he married Miss Caroline E. Bemis of that county, who was born in New York State, moving to Michigan when sixteen years of age with her parents. He resided in Michigan till August, 1881, when he moved to Nebraska, settling on Elm Island in Platte township, Buffalo county, where he took a soldier’s homestead and where he has since continued to live. Hr. Herrick is getting well along in years now and has seen a vast amount of hardship, most of it while serving in his country’s cause. He comes of the patriotic stock of which the best American soldiers are made, his family having furnished a volunteer soldier to the three great wars through which this country has passed — the Revolutionary war, the war of 1812 and the late Civil war. Mr. Herrick talks interestingly of his war days, and he has many thrilling episodes and experiences, which, if faithfully taken down and properly embellished, would makes an interesting and valuable record. He still stands like the rugged oak which has withstood the winds and rains and lightning blasts of many storms, yielding only to the crumbling touch of time, its scarred and weather-beaten form contrasting strangely with the peaceful quiet of its surroundings. Mr. Herrick has but one child, a son now grown, William, around whom cluster the interest, care and solicitude of an affectionate father.