John Blankenship Andrews

John was known to be a quite, gentle man. A Christian who believed in "turning the other cheek," never speaking ill of his neighbors, and never taking his responsibilities lightly. He was a member of Panther Creek Baptist Church. He owned a store and Grit Mill. He also made coffins, repaired watches and clocks.

On May 26, 1916, John was appointed Postmaster of the small community of Japan, NC. Several years later someone robbed the Post office. No arrest was ever made although the community felt sure they knew who the robbers were. Soon after the robbery, John resigned as Postmaster, He cut and sold jack pine and reimbursed the Postal Dept. for the money that was stolen.

  <nowiki>--------------</nowiki> Interview by Robin Guay of her family about John B. Andrews:

"I had a long talk with my grandfather (Monroe Edwards), he remembers your grandfather very well! In fact, he and my grandmother, Rosalie, my great-aunt Icy Edwards Green and her husband Ken, were visiting your grandfather John on the very day he died. I asked my grandfather to tell me anything he could remember about John....here is what he said. "He was a good friend, a good citizen; one of the best. I knew him all my life. He tended to his own business and wouldn't tell anything he knew about you. I took grain to him to meal sometimes. His mill race came down on my daddy's property(Tom J. Edwards).

John was a smart man. He ran the Post Office and I stopped about everyday. He fixed a watch for me. He was a Republican."

My uncle Alvin remembers about John also building coffins. He remembers that they were really beautifully made.