The Anderson Families of Clay County, Iowa

Denmark has furnished a valuable class of citizens to the new world. They have brought with them from the old country the unremitting energy and perseverance characteristic of that nationality, and in the great majority of cases have attained success in the management of varied business affairs. To this class belongs Andrew Anderson, who is now manager of the Farmers' Elevator at Spencer. He came to America in 1882 when a young man of but twenty-one years, his birth having occurred in Drechele, Denmark, on the 19th of February, 1861. His father, Rasmus Anderson, was a laborer who lived at Orte, Denmark, and was a son of Andrew Rasmussen. Rasmus Anderson served as a soldier in the Danish army in 1864. He wedded Marie Sorensen, also a native of Denmark, and a daughter of Soren Jule. Both Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were members of the Lutheran church, and its teachings proved the guiding rule of their lives. They became parents of nine children, of whom five are now living: Andrew, of this review; Soren, whose home is in Kenmore, North Dakota; Lars, living in Denmark; Kary, also of Denmark; and Rasmus, who still remains in his native land.

On the home farm in Denmark Andrew Anderson spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and attended the common schools. From time to time he heard interesting reports concerning America, its business conditions and its opportunities, and at length these proved to him an irresistible attraction, so that he bade adieu to friends and native country and in January, 1882, came to the United States. For seven months he was a resident of Chicago and on the 4th of September of that year arrived in Spencer, where he was employed in various ways, his course at all times, however, being characterized by progress. For over fifteen years he was in the employ of R. Trundale and this long connection indicated his faithfulness to the interests which he represented. On the expiration of that period he purchased an elevator which he operated for two years, and in connection with grain also handled coal and hogs. He then sold out to the Hunton Elevator Company of McGregor, Iowa, but continued in charge as manager for two years, and also handled coal and hogs on his own account. The Hunton Elevator Company then sold out to the Farmers" Elevator Company, which also purchased Mr. Anderson's business as a dealer in coal and hogs in 1907. He has since acted as manager for the company and in this connection is doing good service, being thoroughly familiar with the trade and handling a large amount of business for the company annually.

On the 4th of lay, 1883. occurred the marriage of Mr. Anderson to Miss Anna Dorothy Peterson, a daughter of Jorgen Peterson. There were six children of that marriage, Emma, Mary, William, Arthur, Clarence and Raymond. The elder daughter is now the wife of Charles Howe, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Spencer, and they have one child, Dorothy. Both Mr. and Mrs. Anderson hold membership in the Danish Lutheran church, are interested in its work and do all in their power to promote its influence. Since becoming a naturalized American citizen Mr. Anderson has voted with the republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to good government. He has now been a resident of America for twenty-seven years and he never feels that he has any reason to regret his determination to seek his fortune on this side of the Atlantic, for he has found a good home here, has met with fair success in his business and has gained many friends whose regard and companionship make life pleasant for him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

G. W. ANDERSON.

G. W. Anderson, of Spencer, is prominently connected with the banking interests of the county, having been one of the organizers of two substantial banks here. A man of great natural ability, his success in business from the beginning of his residence here has been uniform and rapid. As has been truly remarked, after all that may be done for a man in the way of giving him early opportunities for obtaining the requirements that are sought in schools and in books, he must essentially formulate, determine and give shape to his own character, and this is what Mr. Anderson has done. He has persevered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and has gained a most satisfactory reward.

Mr. Anderson is numbered among the worthy citizens that Michigan has furnished to Iowa. He was born in the former state, being a native of St. Joseph county, where he started on life's journey on the nth of August, 1860. On the home farm there he was reared to manhood and he supplemented his early educational privileges by study in the high school at Constantine, Michigan. When he had reached adult age he turned his attention to farming, which he followed for several years in his native state, and through much of his life he continued an active factor in agricultural lines.

In March, 1884, in DeKalb county, Indiana, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie B. Tess, who spent her girlhood days there and pursued her education in the locality in which she was born and reared. Previous to his marriage Mr. Anderson had visited Iowa and had purchased land here, becoming the owner of a tract of wild prairie. With his bride he returned to this state and at once began the cultivation and improvement of a farm which he continued to develop until 1894. His labors were effective factors in transforming the raw prairie into productive fields, from which he annually gathered good crops of wheat, corn and other cereals best adapted to climatic conditions here. In 1894, however, he sold his farm for the purpose of retiring from agricultural life and becoming identified with business pursuits in the city. He therefore removed to Spencer and for five years. was engaged in the real estate business, during which time he, with others, organized the Citizens State Bank of Spencer, which was opened for business March 4. 1897. Said bank was changed to a national bank in 1903. He opened up and took charge of the Fostoria Bank June 1, 1899, and there built up a good business, acting as manager and cashier, while in the conduct of the bank he is ably assisted by his son. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson was blessed with three sons.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

While one of the more recent additions to business circles in Royal, Alfred Anderson has already made for himself an enviable position in public regard and is numbered among the progressive and valued merchants of the town. He is associated with C. P. Jones in a general mercantile store which was established on the 15th of March, 1908, and which they are conducting under the firm name of Jones & Anderson.

The junior partner was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on the 12th of May 1880, and is a son of Olaf and Lottie (Olson) Anderson. The father was also born in Stockholm and in the year 1882 he came to the United States. As he looked over the country and saw the opportunities which it offered he believed that he might wisely establish his home on this side the Atlantic and in 1884 he brought his family to the new world, settling at Peterson, Iowa. In his native country he had learned the carpenter's trade in early life and had become a contractor and builder. After crossing the Atlantic he still continued in that field of labor for a time. His wife was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and they were married there. She still survives and is living at Royal. In their family were seven children: Elmer E., deceased; Charles W., a farmer residing in Montana; Anna. the wife of John Switzer, a butcher and stock buyer of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; Lottie, who is the twin sister of Anna and the widow of Ed Colby, of Sioux Rapids; Alfred, of this review; Ellen, deceased; and Olaf. a farmer of Glendive, Montana.

Alfred Anderson was but four years of age when he came to the United States and has since been a resident of Iowa. He pursued his education in the common schools of Peterson and after leaving school started to work as a farm hand, in which manner he was employed for five years. He was always industrious and determined and his labors were therefore valuable to his employers. After five years devoted to work in the fields he began clerking in a general store in Roval and in that way gained a good knowledge of business methods, so that experience well qualified him to engage in business on his own account when on the 15th of March, 1908, he opened a general store in Royal in partnership with C. P. Jones. They have already secured a good trade and are building up a substantial business. They are young men of well known enterprise and of resolute purpose, who carry forward to successful completion whatever they undertake.

In his political views Mr. Anderson is a democrat and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, as every true.American citizen should do. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and his life is in harmony with his professions. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Yeomen. He is popular with a large circle of friends and the trading public know him as a reliable and enterprising merchant.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.