Andrew J. Anderson

As printed in 1916

ANDREW J. ANDERSON.

Born in Moore county, Minnesota, January 30, 1868, Andrew J. Anderson is the son of Johanna and Synneve (Olsen) Anderson, both of whom were born in Norway, the former in 183 1 and the latter in 1842.

Mr. Anderson's parents came to America in 1867 and settled in Moore county, Minnesota. The next year they emigrated to Otter Tail county, making the journey from1 Moore to Otter Tail county with an ox-team. After homesteading one hundred and sixty acres in Aurdal township, where their son, Andrew now lives, they set to work to clear the land and to improve it. At the time the land was obtained it was covered with heavy timber. Here Mr. Anderson's father died in 191 1. His mother had died fifteen years previously, in 1806. They had three children, of whom Andrew J. was the eldest, Gustina and Hannah being the other two children. Mr. Anderson's parents were prominent in the Lutheran church of this community.

Andrew J. Anderson was reared on the old homestead farm and educated in the public schools of this county. His first teacher was Haldor Boen. Mr. anderson attended school in pioneer times, when the educational facilities were considerably more limited than they are at the present time. When the Andersons came to Otter Tail county. Minnesota. Mr. Anderson's father had only two cows, two calves and a half interest in a wagon.

Some years ago.Mr. Anderson purchased his father's farm. He now owns two hundred and sixty acres of land. Tn tqo8 he built a new barn and. after it lias been destroyed by a tornado in ion. it was replaced by another barn.

On October _('. [8q8, Andrew J. Anderson was married tn Louisa Fossen, who was born in Goodhue county in 1867, and who is the daughter of Jens.ind Christina Fossen, who settled in Goodhue county in 1864. after emigrating to this country from Norway. They moved to Otter Tail county about 1870 and took a homestead farm in Dane Prairie township. Both are still living. Mrs. Anderson's father is now eighty-three years old and her mother is eighty-five. They had a large family of children, of whom three. Lawrence, Louise and Hans are deceased. The living children are < He, Louisa, John, Gurena and Mikkel.

-Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Anderson have three children. Julius, horn on October 30. [899; Sophia. October 29, 1901, and Arthur, April 25,

Mr. Anderson has never been active in politics, but he lias always been interested in educational affairs and has been, for a number of years, a member of the local school board.

As printed in History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1916). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.