The Anderson Families of Randolph County, Indiana

Among the men of sterling attributes of character who have impressed their personality upon. the community of their residence and have borne their full share in the upbuilding and development of the locality, mention must not be omitted of Norman Anderson, successful grain and flour dealer of Lynn, and formerly one of Randolph county's enterprising agriculturists. He is not only industrious but a man of upright principles, and aids in the advancement of his town and county in every way possible.

Mr. Anderson was born at Bethel, Wayne county, Indiana, November 25, 1857. He is a son of Wilson and Ann (Ellis) Anderson. The father was also born in Wayne county, January 13, 1836. He was a son of Jonathan and Catherine (Hiatt) Anderson. Jonathan Anderson was born in Kentucky in 1796 and there he spent his boyhood, removing to Indiana when only seventeen years of age and entering a large tract of land from the government in Wayne county, which he cleared and developed and there spent the rest of his life, dying in 1868. His wife died in 1865. They were a fine old pioneer couple, hard working and hospitable. Wilson Anderson was brought up on the old homestead, and in 1860 he moved to Greensfork township, Randolph county where he lived and farmer until 1874, when he purchased one hundred and eighteen acres. As he prospered he added to his original holdings until he owned a fine farm of nearly two hundred and forty acres. He carried on general farming on an extensive scale and also dealt extensively in live stock. He was one of the leading farmers and stock men of his township for a number of years and was also influential in public matters. He was county commissioner for two terms from 1878 to 1884, and was also at one time township assessor. He gave eminent satisfaction in each office. He was a loyal Republican until 1884 when he turned Prohibitionist and did much thereafter for the cause of temperance. Wilson Anderson and Ann Ellis were married January 10, 1857. She was born in Wayne county, Indiana, October 4, 1840, and was a daughter of Peter M. and Lucinda (White) Ellis, who were pioneer settlers of Wayne county. The death of Mrs. Ann Anderson occurred November 1, 1898.

Norman Anderson grew up on the" home farm and he received his education in the common schools and then spent one term in the Valparaiso Normal. He worked on the home farm until 1887 when he went to the village of Crete where he engaged in the grain business until 1901, when he purchased a farm of two hundred and seventy acres in Greensfork township and there carried on general farming and stock raising successfully until 1907 when he moved to Lynn where he resumed the grain business which he has continued to the present time, in partnership with his son-in-law, O. M. Downard. They operate a large elevator and mill, the capacity of the former being ten thousand bushels, and the mill has a capacity of six thousand bushels. They have built up a large, rapidly-growing and lucrative business. All grain except wheat is shipped. They handle the famous brand of "Bob White" flour, which is a great seller owing to its superior quality. They turn out sixty barrels daily and find a very ready market for the same. It is shipped all over the country.

Politically, Mr. Anderson is a Republican. He is a member of the Christian church, and fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand; and also belongs to the Encarnpment of which he is past chief patriarch.

Mr. Anderson was married October 4, 1879, to Belle Chenoweth. She was born in Randolph county, September 19, 1858, and here she grew to womanhood and received her education. She is a daughter of E. M. and Ruth (Bowen) Chenoweth. To our subject and wife five children have been born, namely: Ethel "is the wife of O. M. Downard; Noral is on the home farm; Nione is the wife of Harry Johnson; Denzil M. is engaged in the shoe business in Lynh; Ruth is at home.

Mr. Anderson is at this writing a member of the town council, and was township trustee of Greensfork township for a period of five years.

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

ALONZO MERRILL ANDERSON.

History and biography for the most part record the lives of those only who have attained military, political or literary distinction or who in any other career have passed through extraordinary vicissitudes of fortune. But the names of men who have distinguished themselves in their day and generation for the possession of those qualities of character which mainly contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability — of men who, without brilliant talents, have been exemplary in all their personal and social relations, and enjoyed the esteem, respect and confidence of those around them — ought not to be allowed to perish; for all are benefited by the delineation of those traits of character which find scope and exercise in the common walks of life. Among the individuals of this class of a past generation in Randolph county was the late Alonzo Merrill Anderson, for many years a well-known agriculturist and business man in Lynn and vicinity. He had the interests of his locality at heart and sought to promote the same whenever possible. His life history was distinguished by the most substantial qualities of character and exhibited a long and. virtuous career of private industry, performed with moderation and crowned with success, and his memory will long be revered by the people of this locality.

Mr. Anderson was born February 20, 1859, in Bethel, Wayne county, Indiana. He was a son of Wilson and Ann (Ellis) Anderson, an excellent old family, a complete sketch of which appears on another page of this work, hence will not be repeated here.

Alonzo Anderson received a common school education and at an early age began buying and selling live stock. He lived on the home farm two years after starting out for himself, on the farm east of Spartanburg, then lived eight years on a farm west of that town, and fed large numbers of live stock for the market and at the same time superintended the general work of the farm. Then lived one year in Spartanburg, after which he moved to a farm east of Lynn, where he lived five years, after which he moved to Lynn and spent two years there, then lived in Mooreland two years, where he engaged in the grain and elevator business. In 191 1 he moved back to Lynn. All the while he had been engaged in the stock business, and, being a hustler and an exceptionally good judge of live stock of all kinds, he was very successful; in fact, he made everything pay that he turned his attention to, for he was a man of keen discernment and good management, and, being honest in all his transactions, he had the confidence of the people. His health finally failed in 191 1, and he was summoned to his eternal rest on April 18, 1913.

Politically, Mr. Anderson was a Republican, but was not ambitious to become a political leader. On August 1, 1891, he married Mary Welsh, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, July 16, 1872. She is a daughter of John and Ellen (Cavanaugh) Welsh. They came to Randolph county about 1875 and settled in Greensfork township. John Welsh was born in Ireland in 1841 and he emigrated to America in 1858. He devoted his life successfully to farming, dying in 1890. His wife, Ellen Cavanaugh, was also a native of the Emerald Isle, born in 1842. Her death occurred in 1894. They were industrious, honest and highly-respected people.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, namely: Ursulla M., who married G. S. Bowen, lives in Fountain City, Indiana; and Theresa, who is at home.

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

DENZIL MERLE ANDERSON.

One must not expect to succeed in the mercantile business in a short time, neither do rewards come in this field of endeavor to the indolent and careless, but to those who plan well and are honest and persistent in the execution of their tasks neither can lai-ge returns be expected with no-reverses. It takes years, as a rule, to do big things in any line, and one cannot build Up an extensive and lucrative business in a few months. Realizing that it meant hard and consecutive ende- 13 lo ver to become a successful shoe dealer,, Denzil Merle Anderson, of Lynn, Randolph county, has sought to utiHze every moment and every opportunity in his chosen vocation and is therefore succeeding admirably and ranks among our most progressive young business men, and, judging from his splendid success so early, one must necessarily predict for him a bright future in the world of industry.

Mr. Anderson was born at Crete, Randolph county, October 18, 1892. He is a son of Norman *and Belle (Chenoweth) Anderson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

Denzil M. Anderson received a common school education and spent one year in the Valparaiso Normal, after which he formed a partnership with E. M. Clark in the shoe business in Lynn, January 15, 1911. He bought his partner out and has since been conducting the store alone, enjoying a constantly growing and extensive business. He has the only exclusive shoe store in Lynn, and carries a large and up-to-date stock of footwear at all seasons; in fact, his store would be a credit to towns larger than Lynn. He draws his many customers from all over this section of the county, many coming from remote parts of the same, for they know that here they will receive fair and courteous treatment.

Pohtically, Mr. Anderson is a Progressive, and in religious matters is a member of the Christian church.

Mr. Anderson was married December 31, 1910, to Marie Hopkins, who was partly reared and educated at Lynn,, and is a daughter of a highly respected family here. She was born at Portland, Indiana, October 8, 1891. She is a young lady of many charming characteristics.

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

EDMUND L. ANDERSON, dry goods merchant (son of Harrison Anderson), was born in Greensfork Township in 1844. He married Lvdia P. Paxson June, 1865, and moved to Union City in 1873. He enlisted in the Seventh Indiana Cavalry, July, 1863, and was discharged January, 1865. They have had four children. He was for three years a farmer, five years he sold goods at Spartansburg, in the firm of Anderson & Hill, for three years, in the boot and shoe business at Union City, under the firm of Paxson & Anderson, and has been four years doing business alone in dry goods, clothing, hats and caps, boots and shoes, carpets, etc. Mr. Anderson was for fourteen years a Deacon in the Disciple Church, but some time ago, for reasons of his own, resigned the position. He has been on active temperance worker, and was a zealous church member. In 1879, he purchased Oak Grove, N. Howard, upon which he built an elegant residence. There are now standing upon the premises about three hundred trees of various kinds, from fifteen to twenty-five feet high, forming already a grateful shade, and promising in future a high degree of beauty and comfort. Mr. Anderson is still a young man (thirty-six years), but he has already achieved a flattering success, and may hope, through the Divine blessing, for many years of activity and usefulness. In the summer of 1880, he sold out his stock of goods, and spent some time in traveling through Nebraska, Dakota, Texas, etc. In February, 1881, Mr. -anderson purchase I of Mr. G. Fowler his stock of groceries, and resumed business, this time as a grocer. In March, 1882, Mr. Andet-son sold out his establishment to Stephen Ladd, long a resident of Union City, and later removed his business to Bloomingtoii, Ill. He is at present spending time upon his farm in the vicinity of.Sparlansburg, having built and furnished there a fine residence.

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

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

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

WILLIAM H. ANDERSON, lumber dealer, was born near Bethel, Wayne Co., Ind.; was brought up a farmer, and became a clerk at Richmond, Ind.; after three years, coming to Union City. He began business as a grocer, with W. H. Swain, continuing for several years, then becoming a dealer in dry goods, still afterward being engaged in the Citizens' Bank, and now in the lumber and hardware business (under the style of Witham, Anderson & Co., which see). Their business is quite large and increasingly successful. Mr. Anderson has been for many years an active member of the Disciple Church of Union City, as also his worthy and exemplary wife, and he is Trustee and Eldur in that society. Mr. Anderson is an upright and public-spirited citizen, and interested to promote the general welfare, in political connection, he is Republican. He enjoys a high and well deserved reputation for business talent and integrity, and reliability in general. He has erected for his residence a tasteful and commodious mansion on North Howard street, which for architectural beauty and chaste elegance cannot easily be surpassed. Mr. Anderson presents another in,stance among the class so common in our county, and throughout the entire land, of youth born and reared upon a farm, trained to industry, economy and thrift.

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