William Henry Andrews

For other people with the same name, see William Andrews.
William Henry Andrews
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Mexico's At-large district
In office
March 4, 1905 – January 7, 1912
Preceded by Bernard S. Rodey
Succeeded by district abolished
Chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican State Central Committee
In office
1889–1890
Member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
In office
?? 1895 – ?? 1895
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
1889–1893
Personal details
Born January 14, 1846
Youngsville, Pennsylvania
Died January 16, 1919(1919-01-16) (aged 73)
Carlsbad, New Mexico
Political party Republican


William Henry "Bull" Andrews (January 14, 1846 – January 16, 1919) was an American politician who served as a Republican representative in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and as a delegate from the New Mexico Territory.

Andrews was born in Youngsville, Pennsylvania. He was educated in public schools and engaged in the mercantile and railroad industries early in his life. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1895, and a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1889 to 1893. From 1889 to 1890, he was chair of the Pennsylvania Republican State Central Committee. When the voters "retired him from office" in 1902, Andrews moved to Sierra County, New Mexico. He later moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to get himself re-involved in politics.

Andrews became an astute and dominant politician in territorial New Mexico. A year after arriving, he was elected to the New Mexico Territorial Council. He was elected to Congress in 1905 (narrowly defeating Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo), and reelected twice, serving in the 59th, 60th and 61st Congress, 1905–1911 until New Mexico became a state.

Andrews, working with old contacts in the federal government from his days in Pennsylvania politics, was influential in obtaining statehood for New Mexico. He expected to be rewarded by election to the U.S. Senate; however, an alliance between Thomas B. Catron and Albert B. Fall thwarted Andrews' efforts.

Andrews organized and promoted the Pennsylvania Development Company, builders of the New Mexico Central Railroad. While in office, he was blamed for a $300,000 shortage in a Pennsylvania bank, money allegedly used to finance the Santa Fe Central Railway.

Andrews died in Carlsbad, New Mexico virtually penniless. His body was shipped back to his home in Titusville, Pennsylvania and buried at Woodlawn Cemetery. He spent a fortune in politics, always hopeful that he would get a seat in the U.S. Senate. Ironically, Albert B. Fall, after being appointed to a Cabinet position in 1921, said that if Andrews were still alive, he would have convinced the Governor to appoint him to Fall's senate seat.

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Bernard S. Rodey		 Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Mexico
1905-1912 		Succeeded by
statehood achieved
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