HON. ABSALOM ANDERSON

ANDERSON, RILEY, CAMPBELL, MCVAY, BATEMAN, COCHREN, TAYLOR, BOTTS, SCHRAKE, SISSNA, ROBINSON, CLAYPOLE, COLEMAN, CARVER, MANHARD, JACKSON

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 9/25/2021 at 20:01:50

HON. ABSALOM ANDERSON, a prominent and successful farmer of Harrison Township, owns and occupies a fine homestead on section 17. He is a native of Maryland, and was born in Anne Arundel County, Sept. 14, 1809. His parents were Joshua and Sarah Anderson, natives of the same State as their son. The birth of Joshua Anderson occurred on the 29th of March, 1775. When a young child he removed with his parents from his native State to Ohio, which afterward remained his home, and where he departed this life March 5, 1859. Mrs. Sarah Anderson was born March 22, 1785, and died in Ohio, Feb. 1, 1879. She was a most excellent lady, and an active member of the Christian Church. They lived upon a farm their entire life, and became the parents of ten children, of whom the record is as follows: William married Miss Riley; Absalom, our subject, was the second son; Elizabeth, now deceased, became the wife of Uriah Campbell; Henrietta, now Mrs. McVay, lives in Morgan County, Ohio; Robert married Miss Bateman, and they are both deceased; Joshua married Miss Coehren, and they are residents of Missouri; Maria, Mrs. Taylor, also lives in Missouri; John first married Miss Botts, and after her decease married Miss Schrake; Thomas was married in early manhood, and Maranda became Mrs. Campbell.

Absalom Anderson and Miss Flora Sissna were united in marriage Nov. 13, 1834, and became the parents of seven children: Thomas J. married Miss Robinson; William H. was a soldier in Co. B, 3d Iowa Vol. Cav., and died of a congestive chill while in the army, at Helena, Ark.; George N., also a member of the same company, was killed at the battle of Pea Ridge; Robert C, a member of Co. A, 19th Iowa Vol. Inf., served three years in the army, and at the end of that time was honorably discharged, and returned safely home; Oren J. is unmarried ; Mary J. became the wife of Mr. Claypole, of Muskingum County, Ohio; Hugh T. died in infancy. The faithful wife and mother departed this life July 18, 1849.

Mr. Anderson was married the second time, June 23, 1850, to Miss Emeline Coleman. Of this marriage there were born two children : Ira married Miss Carver and lives in Harrison Township; Dorr, while in the employ of Hoyt & Co. of Chicago, died of quick consumption. The mother of these children, Mrs. Emeline Anderson, died Sept. 17. 1869.

The third wife of .Mr. Anderson was Mrs. May N. Manhard, to whom he was married Nov. 16, 1871. She was the widow of Peter Manhard, a native of Maryland, by whom she became the mother of three children: Elinora, who died at the age of eight months; Mary, who died at the age of eleven months, and Eugene, who married Miss Missouri Jackson, and lives in Van Buren County. Iowa. Of the last marriage of our subject there have been no children.

The younger days of Mr. Anderson were passed upon his father's farm. He graduated from the common schools after reaching the Single Rule of III in Pike's Arithmetic. After attaining his majority, he worked in a tobacco factory in Ohio for three years, at the end of which time the man with whom he was in partnership absconded, taking with him the assets of the concern. Mr. Anderson suffered considerable loss from this affair, and resolved to seek his future fortunes in the West. He crossed the Father of Waters in 1841, and coming into Iowa while it was still a Territory, purchased 160 acres of land, to which he has since added until he is now the owner of 440 acres, which constitutes one of the most valuable farm estates in this locality.

From the time of coming here, Mr. Anderson has been prominently identified with public matters, being at once acknowledged as a leader on account of his decided views, force of character, and straightforward methods of doing business. He served eighteen years as Justice of the Peace in Harrison Township, and there was seldom an appeal from his decisions. He was elected to the Iowa Legislature in 1874, has been County Supervisor one term and School Director for a period of twenty-five years. He is a straight Republican in politics and uniformly casts his vote in support of the principles of that party. Mrs. Anderson is prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. They occupy a fine dwelling, and Mr. Anderson has a good barn and all the outhouses necessary for the storing of grain and the shelter of stock. He has a valuable assortment of farm implements and machinery, and the estate is furnished with all the appliances for the carrying on of agriculture and stock-raising in a first-class manner. Mr. Anderson is a Director in the Farmer's and Trader's Bank of Bonaparte, in Van Buren County; also a heavy stockholder of the same.

Source:
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF LEE COUNTY, IOWA
CHICAGO: CHAPMAN BROTHERS, 1887
 
Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1887