A. L. (Andrew L.) Byers

Born in Albany, Illinois, on August 26, 1869, Andrew Linnaeus Byers grew up in a musical family; his mother, Nancy Byers, was also a songwriter. Sources describe him becoming involved in evangelistic work in 1890 with Daniel Warner and Barney Warren, and later serving for a year as music editor for the Gospel Trumpet publishing company.

After leaving that role because of health problems, he continued as an evangelist and pastor, working in Idaho and Oregon before taking a pastorate in Sacramento, California, in 1934. He died in Sacramento on November 9, 1952.

Byers is remembered both for hymn writing and for religious publishing. His credited works include many gospel songs and tune settings, and he is also known for Birth of a Reformation, his book on the life and work of D. S. Warner, first published in the early 1920s and later reprinted.