View source for W. W. Andrus

'''Wiman W. Andrus''' (1858-1935) was a physician
and a leading citizen of [[Miles City]], where he is now
holding the office of mayor. Dr. Andrus has been
prominent in athletics, as a professional base ball
player he acquired the money to defray the expenses
of his collegiate technical course, and fitted
him for his medical profession. Although descended
from two old and influential families of
New York, Dr. Andrus was born in Orono, Ont.,
Canada, on October 14, 1858. His father, Edson
Andrus, was a native of New York, and there engaged
in the sawmill and lumbering business. In
1845 he removed to Ontario, Can., where he continued
the manufacture of lumber until his death.
The Doctor's mother was Mary Ann Wiman, also
of an old New York family. She is now living in
Bowmanville, Ont. Of the three children in the
family Dr. Andrus is the youngest and the only one
of the family in Montana.

Dr. Andrus received his early education in the
public schools of Ontario, and he was engaged in
teaching for four years, proving capable and successful.
Fond of outdoor life and athletic sports,
Dr. Andrus became specially skilled in the "American
national game," and in 1883 began playing
professionally as a member of the Indianapolis
team. In 1884 he played with St. Louis and Minneapolis;
in 1885 and 1886 with the Hamilton,
Ont., team, in the International league. In 1887
he was with the Portland, Me., team, the next year
again with Hamilton, in 1889 and 1890 with Buffalo,
in 1891 with Manchester, N. H., and in 1892
with Kansas City in the Western league. While
thus engaged the Doctor was assigned to second
base, shortstop or right field. During this period
of labor he was saving his salary and accumulating
the funds which he used in pursuing his studies in
the medical department of Trinity College, at Toronto,
Can., he attending school winters and playing
ball during the regular base ball seasons. 
a classmate of his - the late Dr. Henry Chappel - 
In
1893 he was duly graduated from Trinity, receiving
the degree of M. D. The same year of his
graduation he came to Montana, and for eight
months was associated in practice with a classmate of his, Dr. [[Henry
Chappel]], of [[Billings]], who had preceded him. He then came to Miles
City, in October, of the same year, and established
a large and successful practice. He is recognized
as a well-read and skillful physician and surgeon,
who possesses the essential qualities and disposition
requisite for successful practice. Fraternally
Dr. Andrus is a member of the lodge, chapter
and commandery of the [[York Rite of Freemasonry]];
of the [[Knights of Pythias]], the [[Benevolent Protective
Order of Elks]], the [[Ancient Order of United
Workmen]], the [[Woodmen of the World]], the
[[Knights of the Maccabees]] and the [[American Order
of Protection]]. In 1899 he was grand medical examiner
of the grand lodge of the [[Ancient Order of
United Workmen of Montana]], and socially he is
identified with the [[Miles City Club]].
The Doctor has been an active factor in local affairs
in the Republican party. In 1897 he
was elected to represent the [[First ward]] on
the board of aldermen of Miles City. He
served one term, and in 1899 was elected [[mayor]]
of the city, giving so efficient and economical an
administration of municipal affairs as to be elected
without opposition to a second term of office in 1901. He went on to serve a total of four terms, until 1909. 
He served as county physician twice and county health officer at least three times.

He takes deep interest in the advancement and 
prosperity of his city, county and state, and his
popularity demonstrates public opinion as to
his character. He still indulges his love of outdoor
sports, and usually makes a fishing trip to Canada
each summer, thus renewing vigor for the arduous
work of his profession. On [[20 November, 1895]], Dr. Andrus married Miss [[Corma Ireland]], who was born in Illinois and reared in
Montana, the daughter of [[Allan Ireland]], a former
resident of Miles City, who is now dead. One
child, [[Edson Andrus]], born [[November 28, 1899]],
brightens their home.

About 1899, he went to [[Horse Creek] at [[Knowlton]] ([[Jimmy Anderson]] ranch) to attend to a broken leg, which had been correctly set the day before by a neighbor, E. Frank Crosby.


In 1903 he and fellow [[physician]] [[L. C. Bruning]], purchased a large, two story house in the 500 block on [[South Lake Avenue]] in 1903 and operated it as a [[hospital]] for a couple of years, selling it in 1905.

In 1906, he presided over the [[Dusting Off the Old Ones (164)|Y-Tic-Se-Lim Carnival]]. His son was a page.

In 1912 he was a delegate the State Republican convention in [[Livingston]].

About 1917, he operated on [[Frank Wiley]] whose horse had fallen on the first (wooden) paved block of [[Main Street]].

[[18 Apr 1918]] he became contract surgeon to the Auxiliary [[Remount Depot]] at [[Fort Keogh]] until [[7 August 1918]] during [[World War I]].

Dr. W.W. Andrus died in 1935 and is buried at Miles City.