Biography - W. E. P. ANDERSON

W. E. P. Anderson, a prominent attorney-at-law and a representative citizen of Carlinville, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born in Shaw's Point Township, Macoupin County, Illinois, May 31, 1850, and is a son of Erasmus and Mary E. (Hogan) Anderson.

The parents of our subject were both natives of Kentucky and came to Illinois in 1835, settling in Macoupin County. The grandfather, Col. James C. Anderson, also came to this county and became one of its most prosperous farmers. Erasmus and Mary E. Anderson were both taken to their eternal reward during the prevalence of the cholera plague in 1851, both being comparatively young.

W. E. P. Anderson, the only child born to his parents, was deprived of their care at the early age of 15 months, and was thereafter a member of the family of his uncle, Crittenden H. C. Anderson, from whom he received a father's care. He attended the common schools and in the meantime did work upon the farm, herding cattle on the prairie and also working out by the month. During the Civil War when the supply of men at home was greatly depleted by the call to arms, the young men and youths were called upon to do the full work of a man. After completing the prescribed course of study in the common schools, our subject attended Blackburn University two years, and later entered Western University at Bloomington, Illinois. He read law in the office of Gen. John M. Palmer of Carlinville in 1870, and took a special course in Philadelphia in the spring of 1871. He then continued his studies under the direction of the late Judge William R. Welch, and was admitted to the bar of Macoupin County, August 31, 1871. However, he continued reading law until he moved to his present location in Carlinville in 1872, and he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in this city ever since. He has established a large and well paying practice, making a specialty of commercial collections, and probate and chancery law. He has been an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party since reaching his majority, and served as city attorney in 1874 and 1875. In 1877 he served as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Macoupin County and took an active part in funding the Court House debt, his efforts in this capacity meeting with the hearty approval of the public whose interests he had looked after with such zeal. IJe was master in chancery from 1885 to 1897, receiving the appointment from Judges Welch, Phillips, Fouk and Shirley. In 1884 he was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee from his congressional district. He was also a member of the Board of Education for a period of 10 years, during one year of which time he served as president of the board.

Mr. Anderson was joined in marriage, October 23, 1873, to Nellie D. Hamilton of Bloomington, Illinois, a daughter of John and Rebecca Hamilton, prominent citizens of McLain County, Illinois. By this union, Mr. Anderson became the father of three children, namely: William H., an attorney-at-law, located in Chicago, who is general attorney and superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League of Illinois; Crittenden H. C, manager of the Fairview Stock Farm; and Walter S., who is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, and is now aboard the flag-ship "Brooklyn," making a European cruise. Fraternally, our subject is a member of Carlinville Lodge, No. 107, I. O. O. F.; Orient Lodge, No. 95, Knights of Pythias; Court of Honor; and Knights of the Globe. Religiously, he is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Extracted 2018 May 04 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 20-23.