Andrew Johnson Forrester

      The Andrew J. Forrester family has been somewhat difficult to trace in our quest to prove earlier fore bearers.  The earliest proven ancestor was William Forrester who married Nancy Greer and lived in Tennessee and North Carolina (per daughter Elizabeth's death certificate). Some researchers state that William was the son of early Tennessee pioneer, John Forrester who married Altha McCoy. They state further that John was born in 1780. An early Ray family Bible contains the name of our William Forrester recording his birth as 1793. Since most Bibles record births as close as possible to their actual birth year it seems that John was not William's father. However, it is also plausible that John's birth year of 1780 is in error. A Johnson County, Tennessee heritage book announces that John Forrester was in Tennessee by 1780. Furthermore, John listed a William Forrester as one of his heirs. William's daughter Elizabeth named one of her own daughters, Altha. Most likely someone transposed John's birth year from the year he was settling in Johnson County, Tennessee. Thus we can assume that OUR William was John's son.
Our line begins with William and Nancy's daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" Forrester. The 1870 Johnson County Federal Census records her as having been born in North Carolina. Using various censuses and family interviews we can safely say that Elizabeth bore at least seven children. However, we cannot at this time determine the name of these children's father. Thus our Forrester line is a maternal one.
On January 7, 1866 near Shouns Crossroads, Johnson County, Tennessee (now close to modern-day Mountain City) Andrew Johnson Forrester was born to Elizabeth. Unfortunately, there are no records of his life before his marriage, so we know nothing about his growing up years. It appears that his early years before marriage were spent near his birthplace.  We do know that he possessed many talents. Speaking with several relatives we have ascertained that he was a smith, sawyer, farmer, and merchant during his life. Most of the time he was a farmer.
At this point in time we do not know what brought Andrew into Ashe County prior to October 1886. However, on October 1, 1886, in Johnson County, Tennessee,  Andrew married Martha Evaline Wilson of Sutherland Township, Ashe County, North Carolina. Upon this marriage, Andrew immediately became stepfather to Martha's four children from a previous relationship. Various descendants of these children seemed to agree that Andrew was very fond of them and they of him.
In March 1887 Martha gave birth to Andrew's first child, Luther Monroe Forrester. Later in 1890 son William Clinton Forrester was born. Two years later, Andrew's first daughter, Lena Callie Forrester, was born. Finally, in 1896, Andrew and Martha's last son Wade Austin Forrester was born. Another child was born in 1897 but did not live long.
Sometime around 1898 the Andrew Forrester family needed to relocate to Grayson County, Virginia. We have not yet discovered the reasoning behind it, but two of Martha's older children were living in the Pine Branch Community of Grayson. Perhaps, they heard of better farming opportunities and passed this on to Andrew and Martha. The house (built by Martha's grandfather Greer in the 1870s) at Sutherland was sold to Martha's brother John for money to travel to Virginia. Their daughter Callie recalled traveling by covered wagon into Virginia when she was six years old. This would correspond to the estimated date of arrival of 1898.
Upon their arrival they needed to buy land and build their own home. Andrew built a house for his young family on Kindreck Mountain in the Pine Branch Community. To help provide for their livelihood, Andrew planted apple and cherry orchards, as well as, blackberry and raspberry vines. A smokehouse was built behind the house and a root cellar on the left side for storing food. Several yards behind the house a barn was built where Andrew probably did his smiting. In 2011 the Forrester house is still standing proving it was well-built. The property is now owned by a Cole family. Remnants of the apple orchard still exist despite the treachery of hurricane Hugo in the 1980s.
Martha died on May 26, 1904 while Andrew was in Washington State. By this time he had a new wife named Lelia Elizabeth Grubb Christian who gave birth to their first son, Teddy Spurgeon Forrester also born in 1904. Later between 1904-1914 Andrew and Lelia would have four more children: Jacob Carson in 1906, Blanche Geraldine in 1908, Myrtle Effie in 1912, and Gentry Wayne in 1914.
Prior to 1914 Andrew owned a mercantile at Major, Virginia as proven by the letterhead on his bill of sale to Jack Halsey. His grandson Gwyn Anderson later told his children about how strong Andrew was. He could carry a full barrel of flour on his shoulders! Andrew also owned a sawmill at this time. According to Missouri Anderson Testerman, her brother Gilbert Sylvester Anderson began working in 1910 for his future father-in-law before marrying Callie in 1913.
In the early 1920s Andrew had a hankering to return to Washington. Letters to his daughter Callie in the 1920s show that he was living in Everett, Washington. Later on he made his final stop at Guemes Island  where he later died. In Washington he was a farmer. It is possible that he raised cows as he sold a cow to Martha's nephew William "Willie" Isaac Osborne in 1913 for $16.00 ($348 in 2011). A few months later Willie refused $120 ($2613 in 2011) for the cow because it pleased him so.
At the present, we continue to research our "elusive" ancestors. Someday we hope to determine the identity of Andrew's father. Corrections are welcomed!!