"Andrew-Franklin-Hilyer"

He was born a Georgia slave in 1858. After a brief stay in Nebraska.He settled in

Minneapolis.In 1882,he became one of the first African American graduates of the University of Minnesota.He received two law degrees from Howard University in the Mid 1880s.After his government employment as a clerk in the Treasury Department.

In 1892,Andrew was one of the founders of the Union League,an African American fraternal and business promotion group.The League's directories of local African American businesses published in 1892, 1894 ad 1895 remain important sources of imformation about African American life in the nation's capital on the eve of the twentieth century.The league's outstanding effort was its " study of colored Washington" done in 1901.

Andrew was a man of many talents.He also ran a real estate business and was present at the initial meeting in Boston of the National Business League in August,1900.The league's first president was Booker T.Washington.Booker believed that there was "need of an organization that will bring color people who engaged in business together  for consultation and to secure information and inspiration from each other." Represeentatives attended from over 30 states, most from the South.

Andrew understood the patent process better than most.He toured several southern states in 1899 as a field agent for the U.S. Commission for the Paris Exposition of 1900 was responsible for preparing the " Negro Exhibit" in which was a large number of African American craftsmen, artists,and inventors displayed their wares.

In 1890,Andrew had patented  a " water evaporator attachment for hot air registers" and a related "register." Both of these patents sought to improve the quality of room air by adding more moisture to the environment.

Andrew and his wife belonged to Coleridge-Taylor Society which promoted and peformed the works of the black classical composer,Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.They helped arrange two visits by the composers to the United States where the black elite received him enthusiastically.Andrew and his wife were members of several other music,social,and literary societies.

In 1913, Andrew became a member of the Howard Board of Trustees.In 1916,his wife died.Andrew did not remarry until 1923.His second wife was Amanda Victoria Gray,a family friend,widow,and graduate of the Howard University School of Pharmacy.