He was born in Paterson, N. J., June 30, 1867. When six months old the family moved to West New York, Hudson County, where he obtained a public school education. At the early age of ten he left school and began to earn his own living, finding employment as a "reele " in the Givernaud silk-mill at Homestead. He was a foreman over twelve other young men when only fifteen, and at the age of sixteen became a freight checker on the West Shore Railroad. Six months later, however, he began to learn the trade of mason and plasterer, which he has followed ever since with the exception of two years, when he was a special policeman at the Guttenberg race track. In 1891 he engaged in business for himself, and was the first builder to erect a three-story brick house in West New York. This building stands on King Street, near Pierce Avenue. In 1897 he built no less than thirty-three houses, some of which are his own property, and eleven of them were cottages at Highwood Park.

Mr. Andes is one of the most successful contractors and builders in the northern part of Hudson County. He is thorough in every detail, energetic and practical in carrying out his contracts, and prompt in all he under- takes. His foresight, integrity, and sound judgment, and his capacity for business, have brought him into more than local prominence. In politics he is an ardent Republican. He was elected a member of the North Bergen Board of Education from District No. 5 in 1891, and was re-elected in 1893 and again in 1894, the last time for a term of three years, receiving 388 out of the 401 votes cast. He was one of the principal organizers and the first Foreman of the American Hose Company of North Bergen, which he has served as Treasurer, and is a member of the Germania Schuetzenbund, Sergeant of the First Battalion of New Jersey, and a member of the Independent Order of Foresters and of the Merry Owls.