Anyone with any knowledge of the Koreshan would know the surname “Andrews”. The first of these was a man name A.W.K. (Abie) Andrews. He was, perhaps, the first follower of Cyrus Teed (Koresh). According the Claude Rahn’s “A Brief Outline of Dr. Cyrus R. Teed…”:

“…From Utica Dr. Teed moved to Binghamton N.Y. with his family about 1871, and there became acquainted with Dr. A.W.K. Andrews and his wife Mrs. Virginia H. Andrews.

Dr. Andrews was a man of distinguished appearance, standing well over six feet tall, and endowed with superior intellectual discerment and medical knowledge. He was born in Warren, Knox County, Maine May 12, 1833 and studied medicine at the University of Ann Arbor, Michigan. During the civial war he was attached to the Union Army as physician and surgeon at Alexandria Virginia. Here he met Miss Virginia Harmon whom he later married. He died in the Koreshan home in Chicago, Ill., February 18, 1891.

This friendship between Dr. Teed and Dr. Andrews proved to be lasting and valuable to the former in his subsequent effort to spread his doctrined and establish his communistic home. Dr. Andrews provided much needed financial assistance in those early years, and was helpful in aiding Dr. Teed to establish his hedical practive there and elsewhere as predjudice and persecution forced him to abandon on locality for another, once his strange theories became known in the communities where he had located.

In her book, “The Allure of Immortality“, Lyn Millner makes a number of references to A.W.K. Andrews, known as “Abie”. Most of these references are located in the State Archives in Tallahassee, however, at the Koreshan State Historic Site there is one document, albeit secondary that contains a number of transcripts of letters between members of the Andrews Family.

The document was donated to the Park in 2002 by a lady in Pennsylvania. She had been doing genealogy and found a relation to the Harmon family (Viginia Andrews maiden name). She did the transcription which is 22 typed pages. You can view them by going to the Archives. Click on the PDF links at the bottom.

This month we want to return to Chicago and the “WHERE” of the Koreshans. Chicago is important in that this is where the Unity made its real start — where it all began, even if it faltered at times.

Lyn Millner, Journalism Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University is publishing a new and comprehensive book about the Koreshans, called The Allure of Immortality, An American Cult, a Florida Swamp, and a Renegade Prophet. She was kind enough to supply us with an interactive map showing many of the locations (some are no longer there) where the Koreshans lived and worked.

Simply click on the photo of Cyrus, (below) and it will load the maps. Enjoy!

In addition to the post for July (below), I also wanted to make folks aware of a new book coming in October. The book is entitled “The Allure of Immortality: An American Cult, a Florida Swamp, and a Renegade Prophet”, written by FGCU Journalism professor, Lyn Millner.

This is the most thorough and comprehensive look at Cyrus Teed and the Korehsans in a long long time. There’s so many quack sites and false information about Teed and the Unity. This is an honest and refreshing look. You can read an excerpt from the book by going to the University Press of Florida.

You can view the Press Kit, which has even more information about the book and the author.

Last but not least, you can pre-order from the publisher through the links above, or from Amazon

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In this month’s feature we revisit a post from July 2011, with a few updates. I want to explore the Teed family. We usually only hear about Cyrus, but Jesse Sears Teed and Sarah Ann Tuttle had eight children who lived into adulthood.

The fourth child, Charles Jackson Teed was born on July 3, 1843 in Moravia, New York. We don’t know what Charles thought about his brother Cyrus, and his activities as Koresh, however, Charles did leave us some of his own history, thanks mostly to his younger sister, Emma Teed Norton, who went on to follow her brother, Cyrus. Charles was living at home, as you can see in the June 1865 New York Census record above. (Click for a larger view.) This was just before he enlisted in the Union Army on August 15, 1862, serving in the 144th New York Infantry as a Private. You can view part of his enlistment record by clicking on the image below:
He served until 1865. On February 23, 1874 he married Amelia McLaughlin, who was from Tompkins in Delaware County New York.

Their first child was a girl, Ella, who died sometime before 1880. They had two other known children. Sarah, born about 1877 and Marvin, born about 1886.

“Charley” as he was apparently known, died on February 12, 1887. His distraught widow wrote a letter to her sister-in-law, Emma Teed Norton, Charley’s (and Cyrus’) sister on February 24, 1887, just 12 days after his death. You can view the original letter below.

 — June reminds us the the ‘season’ is definitely over. Hurricane season has officially begun and the hot days, and humid nights drag on for then next six months or so. This month’s posting is a “repeat” from June of 2011. Next month we hope to be back with a new post.

This month marks the birthday of Jesse Sears Teed, father of Cyrus, but instead of featuring those ‘known’ Koreshans, we thought we would, once again highlight some of the lesser know members of the Unity. We, once again, feature a somewhat obscure Koreshan who, although his time with the Unity was somewhat short, had a major impact, at least on the infrastructure of the Unity. His name was Richard Jentsch ⁽⁽¹⁾⁾ , born in Germany on the 8th of June, 1883. He came to Estero in 1906. It is unclear how long before that time he had been a member of the Unity.

He was a member of the Unity Orchestra, and this grainy photo is all that we have of him. His claim to fame came in 1906, shortly after his arrival when he took part in the “fight” in Fort Myers when Dr. Teed was struck by Sheriff Sanchez and arrested. Jentsch was a part of it. According to historian Elliot Mackle, writing in the “Florida Historical Quarterly”:

“A crowd quickly gathered around the four men. The train had by that time arrived, and the Baltimore party, escorted by the mayor of Estero and by a young Koreshan named Richard Jentsch, had begun walking toward a hotel in the center of town. Upon meeting the crowd they recognized Dr. Teed. Jentsch sprang forward to defend his messiah, and was followed almost immediately by the three Koreshan boys in his charge-Claude Rahn ⁽⁽²⁾⁾, Roland Sander ⁽⁽³⁾⁾, and George Danner. ⁽⁽⁴⁾⁾

Jentsch struck Sellers and was then himself struck down by blows from the crowd. Claude Rahn, trying to separate Sellers and Dr. Teed, was hit in the mouth by a stranger. George Danner, seeing this, ran forward, kicked Rahn’s attacker, and then retreated. The man yelled, “Grab the kid.” Someone did, and Danner was knocked into the crowd.”

Jentsch is better known in the Historic Site as a member of the Koreshan Orchestra and an active member of the theatre troupe. He eventually left the Koreshan Unity and got married to a fellow Koreshan, Cecile Read Woodruff, who, according to the records we have, was almost forty years his senior. Jentsch died on April 14, 1915, just four months prior to his wife, who died in August of 1915.

1. Richard Jentsch geneaology[↩]
2. Claude Rahn geneaology[↩]
3. Roland Sander geneaology>[↩]
4. George Danner genealogy[↩]

 —  April is the month of the Lunar Festival as well as many other important dates in the Koreshan calendar. April 4th marks the birthday of Virginia Harmon Andrews, the wife of Dr. A.W.K. Andrews. She and her husband were one of the first followers of Dr. Teed. A visitor to this website sent us transcripts a few years ago, of letters that Dr. Andrews wrote to his wife Virginia’s mother, Margaret Harmon explaining why he and his wife had come to believe in Dr. Teed’s mission. [see AM-0153]

We also celebrate the marriage of Cyrus Teed and his wife, Fidelia M. Rowe, on April 13, 1859. Teed eventually left his wife, although he apparently never divorced her. There is some discussion about what exactly happened, but it is widely believed that Teed got caught up in his own beliefs and chose to become celibate. His wife is found in the 1860 census living with her parents and Arthur Teed, their only child, although it is said that Teed moved his family to New York City in 1862.

Teed’s parents, Jesse Sears Teed and Sarah Ann Tuttle also celebrate their wedding anniversary this month.

Finally, we celebrate the birthday of Annie Grace Glosson Ordway, known to the world as “Victoria Gratia“, the “Pre-Eminent” of the Koreshan Unity. Victoria was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1844. She married a man named David Ordway, although most literature says her husband’s name was George. According to the 1870 and 1880 census, David and Annie were still married and living in Chicago. How long her marriage lasted is not known. She does appear to be living in Chicago as early as 1870. It was probably there that she first met Dr. Teed. After Teed’s death in 1908 she was drummed out of the Unity and she founded her own colony, eventually settling in St. Petersburg Florida. She married Dr. Charles Graves, the Koreshan Dentist, in 1909. She died in 1923. There were numerous attempts by some Koreshans to bring her back as head of the Unity, but they, of course, failed.

This month we want to feature the birth of Koreshan John Sargent, but also we want to feature an item that has been in the archives for a long time, but has now been studied and re-typed, cleaned up, etc. etc. Park volunteer, Dr. Joan McMahon worked on Marie McCready’s, “Memories, Memories- Days of Long Ago”. We are including a link to it. The introduction states:

Five McCready children lived at the Koreshan Unity for most of their lives. This narrative was written by Marie, who was about 11 years old when she arrived in Estero, Florida in 1897. Words in brackets […] are notes that help explain concepts. These are her memories, compiled when she was about 80 years old. She writes,

“Acknowledging the inclination of the older generation to reminisce and recognizing the disinclination of the younger sometimes to hear the stories, we have arrived at this solution of the problem: We will write our memories and, though consideration and good manners might require you to listen, there is no law which says you must read.”

You can read this ineteresting document by going here. The article is in PDF format.

The month of March brings us to Springtime in Florida. After a few weeks ago, Spring really means something this year. This month celebrates the birth of John Sargent who was born 169 years ago…

According to the Membership List, compiled by Claude Rahn, Sargent was born on March 20, 1846 in Hutton Illinois. He served in the 68th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. He joined the Koreshan Unity in 1892. He died on September 22, 1932.

The photo at right is purported to show Sargent, on the left with his “GAR” (Grand Army of the Republic) sash on.

Marie McCready, writing in her book, “Folks We Knew While in the K.U.”

John Sargent; “A civil War veteran on the Union side and, perhaps because of his beard, I could always picture him in his blue cap and uniform. Belle Cox engineered having a federal marker placed at his grave. One of Lovelle’s two favorite men there.”

He was also mentioned in some of the early Community Current Events columns in the “Flaming Sword” along with his son, John, who had already become somewhat of a noted painter. Here are two:

Current Events in Our Community Life
BY D. J. RICHARDS
January 1916

On Saturday evening, Jan’y 1, a social entertainment was given at the Art Hall, which consisted of music, games, dancing, and refreshments. When the participants entered the Hall they were presented with “Good Resolution Caps” and 1916 badges. Each cap was inscribed with a word suggestive of agift or grace of character, such as: “Moderate, Cheerful, Thorough, Forgiving,” etc. Then came a New Year’s March, to orchestra music, in which all the newly decorated members participated. Some of the games were quite amusing, and the reading of “Mr. Dooley,” and “Way Down South Once More,” by Sister Berthaldine, was enjoyed by all. (Sisters and brothers do not dance together.) Mr. Paul Sargent, son of our worthy brother-John Sargent, sent his father two barrels of the finest apples grown in the state of Illinois. During the evening we were treated to some of them, which we enjoyed very much. Mr. Sargent’s visit to us a year ago is fresh in our memory, and particularly when we visit the Art Hall, because of the two paintings he left with the Unity, which are a source of joy to all. Mr. Sargent left a warm spot in the hearts of our people, and we appreciate his ability as an artist.

Current Events in Our Community Life
By D. J. RICHARDS
April 1916
On Saturday, March 18, a great many of the members of the Unity availed themselves of the opportunity to visit the Boomer property, across the river, and inspect the new barn just completed. The contract was let to the Koreshan Unity; the construction was in charge of Brother Stephen Chislett, and certainly reflected great credit on him and his co-working brothers for fine workmanship, and on the Unity, in having such efficient and faithful members. Sister Berthaldine, the mother of Mr. LL M. Boomer, and her daughter, Sister Bertie, made this occasion one to be long remembered. The building was gaily decorated, and presented a gala appearance. Sister Elizabeth Robinson played a number of new records, as well as many others from her voluminous collection, on her Victor Talking Machine, which were very much enjoyed. The male quartette sang the following popu-lar numbers, assisted on the violin by Brother Harold Moreland: “Hail Columbia;” “The Battle-Cry of Freedom;” “Flag of the Free,” and the “Song of a Thousand Years.” The one thing which furnished the most amusement was the so called fish pond, inasmuch as each had to exhibit what he caught. The pond was a large clothes basket, which was out of the fisher-man’s view, filled with packages contributed by the different members. Some of the -contributions were exceedingly funny. Refreshments were served as a crowning climax, after which the members took the boat for home, with a most pleasant memory of a well spent afternoon. …On the following Monday, a picnic was arranged in honor of our guests. “The Estero” left the dock in the morning, with twenty-eight on board, bound for Carlos Point. At the mouth, of the river we anchored, and some of the brothers busied themselves gathering oysters. The tide was low, and in a short time we filled several sacks. Our next stop was the fish house, where, with a silver hook, we purchased the choicest silver mullet caught in these waters; these were cooked to suit the taste of the most exacting, and it is needless to say that everyone did full justice to the good things prepared. Brother John Sargent made a short speech, thanking us all for helping him to celebrate his birthday, he having reached his seventieth milestone. This was news to us; nevertheless, we were glad to help Bro. John celebrate. Many interesting things were recalled during the day, in connection with the Koreshan movement, which were exceedingly interesting to some of the newer members, as well as a joy to those who had passed through them. The day was all one could wish for; and having to wait till about nine in the evening for the tide, we returned home under the most glorious moonlight, feeling very much rejuvenated.

Putting the Community Current Events into an historical perspective, especially since the Koreshans believed and practiced equality for women. When the articles above were publsihed in 1916, the United States was about to experience the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress. This was Jeanette Rankin. Here is the entry from Info Please:

Rankin, Jeannette, 1880–1973, American pacifist, b. Missoula, Mont. She was active in social work and campaigned for woman suffrage. A Republican, she was the first woman in the United States to serve (1917–19) in Congress and also was (1941–43) a member of the 77th Congress. She voted against the declaration of war on Germany in 1917 and in 1941 cast the only vote in the House against entering the war. A member of various antiwar organizations, she led (1968) the Jeannette Rankin Brigade, a peace group, to Washington to protest the Vietnam War.

See biography by H. Josephson (1974).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

Read more: Rankin, Jeannette http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/people/rankin-jeannette.html#ixzz3SF9w5XRn