GEORGE PIERCE ANDREWS

George Pierce Andrews was born at Kailua, Hawaii, on April 9, 1838, the son of Dr. Seth Lathrop Andrews and Parnelly (Pierce) Andrews, who came to Hawaii in 1837 as members of the Eighth Missionary Company. In 1848, after the death of his two infant daughters, his wife, and his second son, failing health compelled Dr. Andrews to withdraw from the Mission, and he and George returned to the Mainland.

Young Andrews did his college preparatory work at Andover and then enrolled in the freshman class at Yale. Never in robust health, he found the work beyond his physical endurance. Since the requirements of a medical course were not so exacting in those days, he then matriculated to the Medical Department of Michigan University at Ann Arbor. From Michigan he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York from which he graduated with honors in 1862.

Dr. Andrews married Miss Sarah Dyar in Romeo, Michigan. Following their marriage the young couple settled in Detroit. One daughter, Winifred, was born to the Andrews.

During the Civil War a large government hospital had been established in Detroit to care for wounded soldiers. Dr. Andrews received an appointment to the hospital staff where he was actively employed while building up a practice of his own. He was soon well established and became one of the leading physicians of the city. The doctor was one of the founders of the Detroit Medical College and became professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine, a post he held until 1881. When a medical journal was published at the College, Dr. Andrews was its editor. He was also one of the founders of the Detroit Academy of Medicine and of the Michigan State Medical Society. In 1874 he served as president of the Detroit Scientific Association.

Ill health brought Dr. Andrews to Honolulu for a visit in February 1888. Finding the climate beneficial, he returned to Detroit and closed out his business affairs, returning in February 1890, with his family.

His first office and residence was located at the corner of King and Alapai streets, and he was soon active in professional and community affairs. In 1892 he was appointed the attending physician at the Queen's Hospital, which in those days had a staff of two -- Dr. C.B. Wood being the attending surgeon. The following year he was selected as one of the three medical men to serve on the Board of Health under the Provisional Government, and in September, 1893, he became Port Physician. In 1894 the doctor made an extensive trip to the Mainland.

Dr. Andrews joined Central Union Church in 1891 and was an active member of the congregation. From 1890 to 1891 he served as president of the Hawaiian Mission Children's Society. Reading a paper entitled, "A Polyglot Community", before the Social Science Club in 1897, the "Advertiser" reported that the doctor "expressed very tolerant and progressive views on intermarriage", which certainly was not indicative of the thinking of the times. From 1897 to 1898 he served as president of the Hawaii Medical Association. Appointed to the Board of Medical Examiners in 1898, he served until November 1902. In 1899 the Honolulu Eye and Ear Infirmary was established to provide free treatment for needy patients with Dr. Henry Sloggett as surgeon, assisted by Dr. Andrews.

On May 10, 1903, Dr. Andrews died in Honolulu at the age of 65.

He was a recognized connoisseur of oriental rugs and pottery and was also interested in weaving, botany and chemistry. In addition to the organizations named above, he was a member of the University Club and the Kilohana Art League.

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