Village of Andover
Andover was the first community in Henry county.
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The first white settler in Andover was a Dr. Baker who arrived on May 6, 1835 but he remained only a short tiem. In June of ther same year three other Americans arrived They were Rev. Pillsbury, Mr. Slaughter and Mr. Pike. They came there looking for a site for a colony being organized in New Yrok. They selected a extensive tract part of which was platted as a town. Streets, alleys and a public square were laid out and it was named Andover after the Massachusett's city where the renowned Congressional Seminary was located. The land company in New York worked with pious intentions of building up a Christian Community and making money incidently but the plan was not realized as originally framed. For in the place of a strong colony American Puritans there sprang up a populous settlement of Swedish Lutherans.
One of the first buildings erected was a flour mill. During the first few years the population was small and the settlers experienced many hardships.
From; Swedes in Henry County
Submitted by Wini Caudell
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