Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-John H. Anderson
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
JOHN H. ANDERSON was born in Pittsburg. Pa., the date of his birth having been Sept. 16, 1818. His father, James Anderson, was born in New York State, of Scotch parents, who brought him to Pittsburg at an early day. There he learned the trade of making spinning wheels, and there remained until 1826, when with a wife and three children, he went to Randolph County, Ill. The journey was made by water down the Ohio and up the Mississippi rivers, to a country that was new and unbroken. Mr. Andersen began life in that State as a farmer, improving an estate there to some extent, prior to his death, which occurred two years after the removal, the cause being consumption. He was somewhat past middle life. In politics, he was a Whig, and in religion a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
The mother of our subject was in her maidenhood, Miss Mary Beattie, and was a daughter of Francis Beattie, a gentleman of Irish birth but of Scotch ancestry. Mr. Beattie came with his family (his daughter Mary having been born in the Empire State) from New York to Western Pennsylvania over the mountains. He located near Pittsburg when that place was but a small hamlet, and engaged in farming. Mrs. Anderson survived her husband many years, dying in 1875, when past eighty-five years of age. She was a devoted member of the United Presbyterian Church.
The parental family of our subject consisted of three sons and three daughters, he being the second son and child. But three of the family group are now living, all sons: Francis B. is an attorney-at-law in Wyandotte, Kan.; James B. lives at Sparta, Ill.
J. H. Anderson, of whom we write, was but a lad of twelve years when he lost his father. Some time later he accompanied his mother back to Pittsburg, where he was educated and learned the trade of carpenter. Subsequently with his mother and her other children, he returned again to their old home in Randolph County, Ill., where he followed his trade until 1873, when he came to Kansas, locating in Clay County. He took up as a homestead a quarter of section 23, in Bloom Township, find for some time continued working at his trade in connection with the business of farming. In 1880 Mr. Anderson obtained another 160 acres of land, and now has the whole well-improved and stocked, and furnished with a most excellent class of buildings. The estate is well watered and adapted to the raising of both grain and livestock, and Mr. Anderson has been quite successful in the occupation which he undertook after years of life at a trade. His powers of observation and discrimination have stood him in good stead, and he is classed among the progressive agriculturists of the county.
In Randolph County, Ill., Mr. Anderson was united in marriage, Nov. 25, 1856, with Mrs. Sarah A. Wilson, nee McMillan. She was born and reared in that county, her birth having taken place Aug. 16, 1826. She departed this life in Bloom Township March 9, 1874, deeply regretted by all who knew her. She had been an active member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and useful in her day and generation. She had borne her husband live children.
Her parents were early settlers in the county where she was born, dying there years after. They were natives of South Carolina, of Irish parentage and Scotch and Irish ancestry. They belonged to the Presbyterian Church, and were much opposed to slavery, hence their removal to the free State of Illinois.
Mr. Anderson both during and before the late war, was an Abolitionist, and was one of the chief engineers of the "underground railway" in Randolph County Ill., before the emancipation of the slaves made it a thing of the past. He assisted many a poor man on the road to freedom, even at the risk of his own liberty and the destruction of his property. During the Rebellion Mr. Anderson took part with the 100 day's men from his county and did guard duty, they being in no active engagement. He belongs to the Republican party and is an advocate of prohibition, though believing it should come through the party to which he belongs. He is the Central Committee member from his township. The offices of Township Clerk and Treasurer have been filled by him to the satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. Anderson belongs to the United Presbyterian Church, and is an Elder in the congregation in his township, which he organized. He is a man of warm hearted nature and enthusiasm in any work which he undertakes, and deservedly receives the respect of his neighbors and fellow-citizens.