Sumner County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Album of Sumner County"
Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1890
REUBEN A. ANDERSON. This gentleman
is recognized as one of the largest landowners of this county, holding the warrantee
deed to one thousand and twelve acres, besides a large stock ranch in Barbour County. He
gives considerable attention to the breeding of
graded stock, while a part of his land is devoted
to general agriculture. He is a man in the prime of
life, having been born October 23, 1845, and his
native place was Sullivan County, Ind. He came to
Kansas in 1878, locating on section 31, London
Township, of which he has since been a resident.
The subject of this notice was the eldest child of
Absalom and Cynthia A. (Pierce) Anderson, the
former of whom was born in Kentucky, in 1808.
Six years later he was taken by his parents to
Indiana, of which State he remained a resident
thereafter until his death, at the age of fifty years.
He followed farming successfully and was a man
intelligent and well-informed, keeping himself
posted upon political events and uniformly voting
the Democratic ticket. His father, Robert Anderson, was a native of Scotland, whence he emigrated
to America at an early day, settling in Kentucky
and Anally removing to Indiana where he spent his
last days.
Mrs. Cynthia (Pierce) Anderson, was born in
Ohio and is still living, being about sixty-eight
years old and making her home in Kansas. She is
the daughter of John and Sophia Pierce, who were
likewise natives of the Buckeye State, whence they
subsequently removed to Indiana, where they spent
their last days. Grandfather Pierce was a farmer
by occupation and both he and his good wife were
members of the Baptist Church. To Absalom and
Cynthia Anderson there was born a family of nine
children, viz: Reuben A., Commodore P., Jonathan
M., John P., Sophia, James A., Elizabeth, Robert
C. and Charles. Only four of these are living, viz:
Reuben, Jonathan, Robert and Charles. Reuben
was reared and educated in his native county, living there until coming to this State. He is quite
prominent in local affairs and served one term as
County Treasurer. During the progress of the Civil
War he enlisted October 9, 1864, at Terre Haute,
in Company B, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, and
participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., besides many minor engagements. He
served until the close of the war, being mustered
out October 18, 1865. On the 12th of July, 1866,
he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza J. Nelson. This lady was a native of Indiana and by
her union with our subject became the mother of
nine children, viz: Ellazan, Arminna A., William
A., Joseph, Lemuel L., James W., Reuben H. and
two who died in infancy. Mrs. Eliza J. (Nelson)
Anderson departed this life at her home on May 6,
1883.
Mr. Anderson contracted a second matrimonial
alliance January 28, 1885, with Miss Lucinda Bowdre. This lady was
born March 19, 1849, in Union
County, Ohio, and is the daughter of Samuel and
Nancy (Green) Bowdre, who were likewise born in
the Buckeye State. The mother died in Ohio at the
age of sixty-six years. Mr. Bowdre is still living,
making his home in Ohio and being now seventy
years old. He has been a lifelong farmer and served
as Justice of the Peace. Two children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson � Ruth A., July 4,
1887, and Maude H., April 21, 1889.
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This website created Oct. 29, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
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