After acquiring an education, he moved to Dubuque, Iowa, where he taught school for some years and conducted business. In 1860, he moved to Illinois. He enlisted in Company G, 12th Illinois Infantry and served through the American Civil War, rising through the ranks to become a division commissary, serving with Sherman on the March to the Sea and the Carolina campaigns. After peace was restored, he moved to Davenport, Iowa, married and for several years was engaged in compiling and publishing county and State atlases, in partnership with John Milton Lyter, who became mayor in 1870. In 1875, he completed and published his greatest work, which was an "Illustrated Historical Atlas of Iowa." It was accurate and became an official authority for real estate dealers, county and State officers. Although many made him substantial profit, others, including his Minnesota and Indiana atlases, were financial failures. Later Andreas moved to Chicago and organized the “Western Historical Company,” and took up historical writing, publishing a three-volume "History of Chicago". He died at New Rochelle, New York, on February 10, 1900.