Andrew Alexander Van Brunt was born on January 1, 1877 in Brooklyn, New York to Henry and Rebecca Schmock Van Brunt. At the age of 12 he wrote his first verse and at the age of 20 was the youngest local preacher in the New Jersey Conference of the Methodist Church. He was later an officer in the Salvation Army, a Scout Master, and a Nature Student.
His pen name is Terrence Sylvester Glennamaddy. This name is found attached to verse which has been set to music and included in the hymn books of the L.D.S. church.