William Anderson, one of the successful farmers,
prominent citizens and self made men of Macoupin County, residing on his
finely improved farm of 240 acres, situated in section 5, Cahokia township,
was born February 14, 1832, in Putnam County, Indiana, and is a son of
Thomas and Mary (Scott) Anderson.
Thomas Anderson was the oldest son
of James Anderson, a native of Virginia, who removed to Indiana, took part
in the Black Hawk War, followed farming and died aged 80 years. Thomas was
born in Tennessee, accompanied his parents to Indiana in boyhood, lived
there until 1834, when he came among the pioneers to Macoupin County, where
he died aged 35 years, having entered 160 acres of land in Honey Point
township. He married Mary Scott, who was a daughter of Robert Scott, a
pioneer of 1833, and their four children were: William; James M., of Terre
Haute, Indiana; Jesse F., of Portland, Oregon; and Joseph M., who died three
years since in Missouri.
William Anderson became a resident of
Macoupin County at the age of two years, coming here with his parents in the
spring of 1834, and has resided on his present farm since 1874. Mr.
Anderson's earliest recollections of the neighborhood are of miles of
uncultivated prairie land, lonely and unsettled, with few roads, school
houses or churches, and with almost no chances for a boy, orphaned at the
age of 10 years, to make his way except through the hardest kind of farm
work. He found employment first on farms and later in sawmills, working for
nine years in mills on Honey Creek. He then bought 80 acres of land which
was the beginning of a very successful agricultural career, soon after
becoming the owner of 100 acres in section 35, Brushy Mound township. This
farm he improved and occupied 19 years. He now owns 240 acres in Cahokia
township, and 40 acres in section 20, Honey Point township. This property
has been finely improved, substantial buildings erected and orchards set
out, all by Mr. Anderson's own thrift and industry. He has devoted much
attention to the raising of high grade cattle and stock and has realized an
ample fortune by his good management. Although practically retired, he still
enjoys overlooking the various improvements under way and in recalling the
changes which have taken place as the result of his enterprise and
perseverance.
In 1856 Mr. Anderson married Lydia J. Huddleston, who
was born in Brushy Mound township, Macoupin County, Illinois, and they have
six children, viz: John, of Honey Point township, Macoupin County, who has
one child — Edna; Samuel, of Cahokia township, who has four children— Hazel,
Audrey, George and Owen; Clara, who is the home housekeeper; William Luther,
of Montgomery County, Illinois, who has seven children; Mrs. Ida McReynolds,
of Honey Point township, Macoupin County, who has three children — William
H., John M. and May; and Charles, the home farmer, who married Tena
Walschleger.
Politically Mr. Anderson upholds the principles of the
Populist party. He has most capably held a number of township offices and
for 25 years was a school director. He was a friend of the Grange movement
and for a number of years was master of the local body. He is a member of
the United Baptist Church.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 460-462.
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