When Edwin Ruthven Andrews was born on 1 January 1846, in Wisconsin, United States, his father, John Vermillion Andrews, was 27 and his mother, Aurilla Saxton, was 22. He married Jane Virginia Harron on 7 November 1865, in Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons. He lived in Ohio, United States in 1870 and Rockport Township, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States in 1880. He registered for military service in 1862. He died on 31 May 1884, in Lakewood, Lakewood, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States, at the age of 38, and was buried in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States.