The Anderson Families of Nodaway County, Missouri

ANDREW JACKSON ANDERSON was born April 3, 1823, in Pulaski County, Kentucky. His father's name was James Anderson. The latter was born in Montgomery County, Virginia, and there married one Elizabeth Clifton. The twain, after their marriage, moved to Kentucky, where James Anderson died while the subject of this sketch was yet a small boy. Elizabeth Anderson subsequently came to reside with her son in Nodaway County, Missouri, where she died April 13, 1881, in the seventieth year of her age. Andrew J. Anderson removed from Kentucky to Hendricks County, Indiana, in 1829. He resided there until 1840, and in November of that year, came to a place called Jamestown, in Andrew County, Missouri, on the road between Savannah and St. Joseph, where he made his home until 1844. In March of this last year, he came to Nodaway County, and located on a quarter section of land situated about one mile east of what is now called Sweet Home, in Jackson Township. On the 3d of February, 1848, he was united in marriage to Candace Grindstaff, daughter of Jacob and Rebecca Grindstaff. In March, 1849, ne moved to his present place of residence, in Independence Township. He was not the first settler, however, in this township. Samuel Russell was the first white man who took up his residence there. He located upon what afterward was surveyed as the southwest quarter of section 16, in township 65, of range 33. He broke thirty-four acres of the land and built a log cabin upon it. This was in 1845. In 1847, he sold his squatter's claim on this land to one Elisha Brown, for $50, and the latter in turn sold his interest in it in February, 1849, to Andrew J. Anderson. Samuel Russell and Elisha Brown immediately after selling out their interests in this claim, removed to Oregon Territory, where the former shortly afterwards died. Elisha Brown was killed in an encounter with a grizzly bear, but the date of his death is not known. The land was surveyed by the United States about the year 1845. As Mr. Anderson's claim was en the sixteenth section, it belonged to the school lands after the survey, and could not be sold under the then existing law until the Congressional township to which it belonged contained sixteen inhabitants. In 1853, the requisite number of inhabitants having settled in the township, Mr. Anderson caused a petition for the sale of this section to be presented to the County Court, and procured an order to sell it. At the sale he became the purchaser of the southwest quarter, upon which were his improvements, for $1.25 per acre. Mr. Anderson has seven children living — James, Elizabeth, Andrew J., Delicia, Martin, Charles Perry and John. James married Rosanna, daughter of George Hawk, and now lives on his farm, adjoining his father's on the east. Elizabeth married Fielding Thompson, who is a farmer, and lives near his father-in-law. The other children are unmarried, and reside with their father.

At the time Mr. Anderson settled in Independence Township, the Pottawatomie Indians, although they had by treaty relinquished their claim to the Platte Purchase, and been removed to their reservation in Kansas, yet they frequently returned to their old hunting grounds inquest of game, as many as two hundred or three hundred coming in one body. One of their favorite resorts and camping grounds was in the grove of timber skirting the Platte River immediately north of Mr. Anderson's residence. Frequently, however, they encamped higher up the stream, near the site of Vinemiller's mill, now called Defiance. In December, 1849, about two hundred Pottawatomies, including squaws and papooses, made an incursion into the county and constructed their temporary wigwams in a grove near where Simeon Davidson now lives. A white man named Isaac Rice, who had married a squaw, accompanied them. After hunting for a few days, they hired Jacob Grindstaff to go to St. Joseph and purchase of Joseph Robidoux a barrel of whisky, called in the tongue of the Pottawatomies goodnetoss. Grindstaff arrived safely with the whisky at the Indian camp on Christmas eve, accompanied by Andrew J. Anderson and David Spooneman, who fell in with him as he passed their homes. Immediately on the arrival of the firewater the squaws secreted all the knives, guns, and tomahawks, to forestall any effusion of blood. The drinking and carousal began at midnight in the "forest primeval," and was prolonged through the day and night following, when half the whisky being exhausted, the residue was carefully reserved for a subsequent pow-wow. It is scarcely necessary to note the fact that the three sturdy pioneers, Anderson, Spoonemare and Grindstaff, then in the prime of vigorous manhood, imbibed freely of Jire-water, joined in the grotesque dances and lustily imitated the war whoop of their savage hosts. One old Indian who was accompanied by his daughter, a dusky maiden of eighteen summers, having exhausted his proportion of whisky, proposed to sell her to any one of the three white men for a single gallon of goodnetoss.

When Mr. Anderson first settled in Independence, wheaten flour was not used, and even corn meal was esteemed a luxury. The settlers got their grinding done at Hughes' Mill, on the One Hundred and Two River. Money was extremely scarce. Mr. Anderson and Jacob Grindstaff, in 1845, assisted the United States surveying party in their work for a short time, the former carrying the chain and the latter the flag. In this way they earned three or four dollars apiece. With this money they both made a trip to a mill north of St. Joseph, where they each purchased a sack of corn meal, which they brought home on horseback. On their return they swam both the Platte and One Hundred and Two Rivers. Usually they made their corn meal by following out the top of a stump, in which as a mortar, they placed the corn, and with an iron wedge inserted in a sweep, or beam fastened to a pivot, they pounded the kernels of corn into meal. Few bears were ever seen in the county. One was killed by David Spoonemare on the Platte River, near Caleb Conway's. This was in 1846. Deer, prairie chickens, and quails abounded everywhere. The early settlers enjoyed lives of health and comfort, if not of luxury. Little attention was paid to agriculture, and most of their time was consumed in the pleasures of hunting.

Isaac Davis emigrated from Kentucky in 185 1, and settled one-half mile east of Honey Creek. He made a good farm of 160 acres, and was a good citizen. He died about two years since.

Allen Stephenson emigrated from Kentucky, and remained for a time in Buchanan County. In 1853, he came and settled on Honey Creek, building a log house on the east side of the creek, and opening a farm in the bottoms on the west side. He became a justice of the peace.

In 1855, Christopher C. Horn came from Indiana and settled on the west side of Honey Creek, on the south side of a grove, which contains about forty acres. His claim is the northeast quarter of section 24, township 66, range 34. He still lives on the same farm.

John York emigrated from North Carolina in 1855, and took a claim on Honey Creek, on the east side, and built a cabin on the bank of the creek. His farm consisted of a 160 acres. He was a Nimrod in his tastes, and a splendid shot. All kinds of wild game were in abundance. He made his living by hunting.

In 1856 Alexander Wilson came from Indiana and took a claim on the west side of Honey Creek, and built a house one-half mile from the creek. His farm lay in the bottom where there was no timber. He has a fine farm — the southwest quarter of section 29, township 66, range 33. His son, William Wilson, has a farm adjoining on the west.

John Wilson, a brother of Alexander, emigrated from Indiana in the year 1856, and located on the east side of Honey Creek about one mile from the creek. He had a farm of 200 acres on the high prairie. He died several years ago.

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

The many friends of the estimable young lady whose biography is herewith briefly set forth will doubtless be glad to learn more of her individuality than they have hitherto been able to glean from a passing acquaintance, and to ascertain that she is the creditable representative of one of the highly honored and sterling pioneer families of Nodaway county, members of which have for several generations been especially active in the development of the vicinity adjacent to Parnell, and Independence township.

Goldia Anderson was born April 9, 1888, near the town of Parnell, and she has made this place her home, being reared and educated here, having passed through the common schools, and later graduating with an excellent record from the normal school at Maryville. She is the daughter of James and Margaret R. (Hawk) Anderson. Her father, James Anderson, was elected sheriff of Nodaway county, serving two terms in a very praiseworthy manner, and her grandfather, A. J. Anderson, was one of the pioneer settlers of Nodaway county, having moved here as early as 1842 and located near the present site of Parnell, there being only three other white settlers in this part of the county. The maternal grandfather, George W. Hawk, moved from the state of Illinois to Nodaway county, Missouri, in the year

Miss Anderson is at present assistant postmistress at Parnell, a position which she has filled with credit to herself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned for three years to the time of this publication. Owing to her educational attainments, her pleasing and affable manners and her uniform kindness and culture, she is entitled to rank among the popular and worthy daughters of Nodaway county.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOSEPH T. ANDERSON, proprietor of Park Livery Stable and dealer in stock, was born in Marion County, Missouri, November 24, 1844, and, when eleven years old, with his parents, he moved to Lewis County. His father being a miller, Joseph was brought up to learn that business, which he followed, till the beginning of the war, in Lewis County, at the point now known as Hall's Mill. In 1862, he enlisted in the Federal cause, in Company F, Sixty-ninth Missouri Mounted Infantry, remaining in service till the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. He then went west, to the mountains, visiting a number of the territories, and spending the greater part of his time in Utah, where he was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad Company to oversee in the work on the road for two years. He returned to Lewis County, Missouri, in the fall of 1870, and in the following spring he came to Nodaway County, locating on a farm, where he was for some time engaged in agricultural pursuits and dealing in stock. In the summer of 1879, he erected his present livery barn, which was opened to the public in June of the same year. It is so arranged as to accommodate the stabling of eighty horses, and is considered one of the best liveries in Northwest Missouri. Mr. Anderson's main pride is in keeping fine horses and the best of buggies. He was, for some time in the early history of the town, engaged in business as one of the firm of Hotaling & Co. During the past year he erected a fine residence, which is unsurpassed by any within the township. He is the owner and founder of Anderson's Mineral Well, the water of which is very pure, yet possessing all the essential minerals. An analysis and notice of this is made elsewhere. Mr. A. is a member of the Masonic, I. O. O. F., I. O. G. T. and A. O. U. W. orders. He was married April 4, 1865, to Miss Margeret J. McGee, of Lewis County, Missouri. She was born in February, 1850, and died in March, 1868. They had two children, one of whom is now living, William E., born May 2, [866. He was married, the second time, March 29, 1870, to Miss Mary L. Fisher, who was born in Lewis County, Missouri, February 8, 185 1. They have had seven children, but four of whom survive: Verdie M., John F., George N. and an infant.

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

F. M. ANDERSON, farmer, speculator and cattle feeder, section 6, is a native of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and was born on the 28th day of May, 1842. He moved with his parents to Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska, in 1856, and settled on a farm, where he remained till 1862, when he went to Ohio and enlisted in the First Cavalry. He participated in the engagements at Jonesburg, Atlanta, Georgia, Nashville, Tennessee, was on the Wilson raid, and at Ebenezer Church. He was mustered out in

October, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio. Mr. A. then moved to Andrew County, Missouri, and, in 1866, returned to his native home, spending one summer, when he again went to Andrew County, Missouri, and from there to Caldwell County. He then located where he now resides. His farm consists of 320 acres of improved land, well watered. Mr. Anderson was married December 7, 1867, to Miss Mary J. Moffitt, a native of Morgan County, Indiana, born on the 20th day of April, 1846. Their family consists of three children: Lavina, born October 13, 1868; Joseph W., born June 23, 1872, and Oris C, August 31, 1876. Mr. A. is a member in good standing of Hesperian Lodge, No. 189, I. O. O. F.

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

A happy combination of characteristics is possessed by the gentleman of whom the biographer now essays to write, for he has shown during his long residence in Nodaway county, Missouri, that he is a man of sound business ability, foresight and sagacity, at the same time possessing laudable traits of character, such as integrity, industry, sobriety and kindliness; these, combined with his public spirit and model home life, have resulted in win ning for Mr. Anderson the unqualified esteem of all who know him.

Thaddeus Anderson was born in Genesee county. New York, on March 30, 1837, the son of Squire and Emeline (Folliott) Anderson. The subject's paternal grandparents were natives of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States and settled in New York state, where their deaths occurred. Emeline Folliott was born in Massachusetts, and in young womanhood moved to New York state, where she met and married Squire Anderson. About 1838 or 1839 they moved to Ohio, where they remained until 1846, when they moved to Peoria county, Illinois, spending the rest of their days in that part of the state, their deaths occurring at Galva.

Thaddeus Anderson was reared on the farm in Illinois and was educated in the public schools. He was married in 1863, and in the spring of the following year he and his wife came to Missouri, locating first in Andrew county. Soon afterwards they went to Holt county, then to Gentry county, and in the spring of 1867 they returned to Holt county, where he bought a farm near Maitland. After living there about three years, he bought a farm near Albany, Gentry county, and spent a like period there. He then came to Nodaway county, but about 1880 he bought another farm about nine miles northwest of Maitland in Holt county, where he made his home about fifteen years, and at the end of that time he bought the farm in Green township, Nodaway county, where he now lives. This farm, which comprises three hundred and twenty acres, is eligibly located in the south western part of the township, and he also owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land southwest of Hopkins. He is thus the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of as good land as can be found in the county, and it has all been acquired by his own efforts. Persistent and well-applied industry has been the keynote to his success, and today no man in his section of county is held in higher regard by those who know him. He is of a wholesouled and hospitable disposition, the latch-string of his home ever hanging on the outside, and an inviting and cheerful spirit pervades his home which makes the guest there feel doubly welcome.

Politically, Mr. Anderson is a Republican and he takes a true citizen’s proper interest in public affairs, especially as relating to his own community, though in no sense is he a seeker after public office.

In 1863 Mr. Anderson married Lecy F. Lane, the daughter of Lemuel B. and Nancy (Bird) Lane, the former a native of southern Illinois and the latter of Kentucky.. Mrs. Anderson was born in Peoria county, Illinois, and subsequently came with her husband to Nodaway county, her father be coming a successful and well-known citizen of Maryville, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born four children, two of whom died in infancy, those living being Ulysses A. and L. C. Ulysses married Georgia Stults and lives southwest of Hopkins, where he is engaged in the operation of a quarter section of land. He has four children, Earl Marion, Ralph Norman, Opal and J. Thaddeus. L. C. is unmarried and lives at home with his parents.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.