When in the shop where Frank L. Andersen does furniture repairing and upholstering, seeing him quietly at work in making old look like new, one would scarcely imagine that there were many exciting chapters in his life record, but his experiences on many whaling vessels and as ship carpenter in sailing many seas have been most varied and ofttimes thrilling. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, February 8, 1864, a son of Lars Christian Andersen, who was also a native of that country and was a hatter by trade. The father was very successful in business and became the foreman for the hatter for the royal family of Denmark, spending his entire life in Copenhagen, where he passed away in April, 1895. His wife, Maria Andersen, was also a native of Denmark and came with a daughter to America, making her way directly to New Haven, where she resided until her death, which occurred in 1890, when she was abotit fifty-two years of age. She was the mother of eleven children, of whom four died in infancy, while four sons and three daughters are yet living and all are residents of New Haven.
     Frank L. Andersen was the second eldest of the family. He was educated in Germany, he and an elder brother attending a Catholic convent in the province of Hanover, where he studied from the age of eight to fourteen years. He was then apprenticed to learn the trade of cabinetmaker at Bersenbrueck, Hanover, serving a five years' term of indenture. He not only received no wages in that position but on the contrary had to pay for the privilege of being instructed in the trade.
     On the 30th of March, 1882, Mr. Andersen landed in New York in company with his brother, Edward Andersen. His lack of a knowledge of the English language proved a somewhat serious handicap, forcing him to follow various pursuits in order to earn a livelihood. After being employed in New York for three years he was one day strolling along the docks of the East river with several companions when one of the party suggested they all go to sea. The others assented and they proceeded to a nearby shipping office. The shipping agent sent the party to New Bedford, Massachusetts, to ship on a whaler but only Mr. Andersen and two of his companions reported. On the 14th of October, 1886, they sailed on the James Arnold of three hundred and eighty tons with a crew of fifty and an equipment of four whale boats. His experiences on whaling vessels carried him to all parts of the world. Then Mr. Andersen spent some time in Atlantic waters near the Azores and afterward sailed further south and doubled the Horn. At times the men would go ashore for pequin eggs which furnished a welcome relief from the salt food of the ship. At length the captain discovered that Mr. Andersen was handy with tools and set him to work about the ship, which relieved him of much of the routine work and he gradually acquired the knowledge, experience and skill of a ship carpenter. It was on this voyage that a monstrous whale was sighted and Mr. Andersen, as one of the crew of the second mate's boat, gave chase. The mate threw the harpoon fairly into the monster which showed fight for some time but at length came to the surface where it floated motionless. The boat then pulled up slowly and silently through the water and when almost within an oar's length the mate grasped his second harpoon ready for another thrust. Just then the whale gave a last vindictive flap which caught the boat amidship and smashed it into a thousand pieces. Mr. Andersen and his mates were tossed into the air but landed with a splash and coming once more to the surface Mr. Andersen struck out for the remains of the boat and at length climbed on to the keel whence he was rescued. He left the ship at Talcahuana, Chile, and there became engaged in a fight aiding the men from American and British warships who were attacked by the natives, the battle raging for hours. It was after this that Mr. Andersen secured work on the railroad which was controlled by Englishmen who were glad to find anyone who could speak English. He was given charge of a gang of coolies and proved capable in his work, but desirous of returning to sea he shipped on the iron bark Kenton for Falmouth, England, as ship carpenter. On that voyage a severe storm was encountered when huge waves shook the ship from stem to stern but they at last safely reached Hull, England. In order to get back to New York Mr. Andersen shipped on the Vandalia and at length again reached this country. He afterward made several voyages and for a time was ship carpenter on the American ship, I. L. Scofield, bound for Calcutta, India. He afterward cruised in the far east and visited Java and Japan. He also went to Sydney, Australia, to Ceylon and India, and his mind is not only stored with many interesting reminiscences of many oriental lands and people, but he also has a most complete diary of his various voyages. For a time he was on ships bound for the West Indies and later went to Barcelona, Spain. He spent a considerable period on Mediterranean fruit steamers and not only visited many places of historical interest along the Italian coast but also visited Mount Etna and Portugal.  He visited the east and at intervals for twelve years was in many places in China and Japan.
     On the 19th of April. 1893, Mr. Andersen was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Marie Mortensen, a native of Kolding, Denmark. About this time he was with the Sargent Company of New Haven, as a pattern maker and continued with them until 1896, when he engaged in business on his own account as a furniture repairer and upholsterer. He has since continued in that line and has won a very creditable measure of success. From 1902 until 1912 he was in business in Northampton, Massachusetts, but his present location is at No. 304 Elm street. New Haven, where he is building up a substantial and growing trade.
     To Mr. and Mrs. Andersen have been born seven children, five of whom are living, all sons. The eldest, Frank George, is an electrician of New Haven. He married Ethel Mordecai and they have one child, Elsie Mary. The second son, Charles M., also an electrician, married Georgiana Socia and has one daughter, Evaline. Edward L. is also an electrician, residing in New Haven. William Robert is associated with his father in business. Henry Clifford, the youngest of the family, is thirteen years old and weighs one hundred and eighty-six pounds.
     Mr. and Mrs. Andersen hold membership in the Congregational church. Mr. Andersen is connected with the Broadway Business Men's Association. While his early experiences carried him into many lands he is loyal to his adopted country and is anxious in every way to further the upbuilding and progress of the community in which he resides.