In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1915) is folded below the first. A few names of people born after 1905 are withheld for privacy. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1857
From Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905), History of Des Moines County, Iowa (1915)
CARL AUGUST ANDERSON.
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Mr. Anderson was very successful in his native country, but feeling that better opportunities for self-development and advancement awaited him on this side the Atlantic, he came to America in 1881, landing at Boston on November 10 of that year and coming direct to Burlington, where he has since resided without interruption. Here he began work for the ChicagtJ, Uurlington & Quincy Railroad Company in the construction of their shops. On the completion of that engagement he was in the employ of various contractors for a number of years while familiarizing himself with.American conditions.
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Mr. Anderson has been twice married, first on June 9, 1882, to Miss Emma Louise Larson, daughter of Peter and Anna Charlotte Larson, by whom he had three children: Hulda, now Mrs. Gugenheimer, of Burlington; David G., now an apprentice to his father in the carpenter's trade; and Ruth, a student in Elliott's Business College of Burlington. Mrs., Anderson died Dec. 3, 1890, when a young woman, she having been born Dec. 31,
June 17, 1896, Mr. Anderson wedded Miss Tillie Johnson, daughter of John and Inga (Bengtson) Johnson, and to them have been born two children: Lydia, aged seven years; and Eva, aged three.
As a man of enlightened intelligence and education, Mr. Anderson has always taken a lively interest in public questions, and in matters of national politics supports the Republican party, although in local affairs he preserves an independent attitude. He has never aspired to public preferment, but during the two years from 1900 to 1902 acted as building commissioner for the city of
Burlington, a position in which he rendered efficient service.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and in his religious relations is identified with the First Swedish Baptist church, and has been for many years one of its deacons and trustees, which offices he now holds. A man of high personal character, his record is one of honor, integrity, and unfailing uprightness; and while he has achieved a pronounced success in business, he has ever held to the highest principles and rules of conduct, so that his is a reputation unsurpassed.
As printed in Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
CARL AUGUST ANDERSON.
For a third of a century Carl August Anderson has been a resident of Burlington and in the intervening years has gradually worked his way upward until he stands as one of the leading general contractors of the city. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished by reason of his close application, his thorough reliability and the intelligent direction of his activities.
He was born in Westergotland, Sweden, January 1 1;, 1857, a son of A. Johnson and Johanna (Anderson) Anderson. His father, also a native of Westergotland. born in 1821, was a cabinetmaker by trade and spent his entire life in Sweden, where he passed away in 1909. His wife, who was born in Westergotland in 1823, died in 1906. They were the parents of four children: Amelia, who came to America in 1893 id is now the wife of C. J. Ostrin, of Salem, Oregon; John, who died in Sweden; and Carl August and A. Anderson, who both came to the new world, the former in 188 1 and the latter in 1883, and live in Burlington.
Carl A. Anderson attended the public schools of his native place until he had graduated and later was a student in a polytechnic school in Stockholm, in which city he lived for seven years. When his textbooks were put aside he took up the trade of cabinetmaking under his father and afterward was employed in various factories and on different buildings in Stockholm. In addition to cabinetmaking he learned carpentering and became an expert workman in both lines. He also occupied a position in Sweden which afforded him a great deal of mill experience, which he has since found to be exceedingly valuable to him.
While Mr. Anderson advanced steadily in business in his native country he felt that there were still better advantages to be enjoyed in the United States and accordingly in 1881 he sailed for the new world, arriving at Boston in November of that year. He at once crossed the country to Burlington and during the intervening period, covering a third of a century, has made his home in this city, where he is today known as one of the leading contractors. He entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company in the construction of their shops and later was employed by various contractors, during which period he was gaining a knowledge of conditions in relation to the builder's trade in /America. He began contracting on his own account in 1891 and stands today in a prominent position among the builders and contractors of the city. He has received contracts for the erection of a number of notable public buildings as well as others of individual ownership. He erected the county poor farm building at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars for the contract work, the county furnishing the material, and later, when it burned down, he erected the present building at a cost of seventeen thousand dollars. He built the Lincoln school at a cost of sixteen thousand dollars and has built churches and many other important edifices in the city. He was also the builder of large churches in Monmouth and Galesburg, Illinois, and a school in LaHarpe, Illinois, and has also erected a large number of the fine homes in Burlington. Me erected his own residence in 1894 " '"" owns a number of other buildings, which he rents.
On the 9th of June, 1882, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Emma Louise Larson, who was born in Sweden in 1860 and died in 1890. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were born three children, all born in Burlington. Hulda is now the wife of Anthony C. lugenheimer, of Burlington, and they have a daughter, Virginia Louise Charlotte, seven years of age. David Gordon, a contractor and builder of Burlington, married Hortense Richter and they have a son, Gordon Richter, four years of age. Ruth is the wife of Albert J. Grulke, who is engaged in the clothing business in Atlantic, Iowa. They have a son, Carl Albert, a year old. Mrs. Anderson was a member of the Swedish Baptist church and a lady of many good qualities, so that her death was deeply regretted.
On the 17th of June, 1896, Mr. Anderson married again, his second union being with Miss Bothilda Johnson, who was born at Skone, Sweden, January 27, 1868, a daughter of Bengt and Inga (Bengtson) Johnson. Her father was born in Sweden about 1831 and died in 1871. The mother's birth occurred in Sweden in 183 1 and she passed away in the same country in 1910. They were the parents of five children, of whom Mrs. Anderson came to America in 1893 and her sister, Sigrid, in 1896. The latter married Charles Helander, of Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson three children have been born. Anna Lydia, who was born October 1 1, 1897, is attending high school. Eva Virginia, born April 4, 1902, and [name withheld], born July 18, 1906, are also in school.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Anderson hold membership in the Swedish Baptist church and are much interested in its work and upbuilding. Mr. Anderson is now serving as church treasurer, is deacon of the church and for a number of years has been a teacher in the Sunday school and is now superintendent, doing all in his power to further the cause and advance the interests of the organization. They have a beautiful home in Burlington and although Mr. Anderson came to America in very moderate financial circumstances, he has steadily worked his way upward and through his industry, capability and fidelity to his contracts has won a liberal patronage that now supplies him with all of the comforts of life. He no longer finds it necessary to do actual work in the execution of his contracts but still gives personal direction to the labors of those in his employ. In 1912 he and his wife returned to Sweden, spending three months in the land of their birth, renewing the acquaintances of youth and winning many new friends. Their Burlington home is a hospitable one whose good cheer is greatly enjoyed by those who know them. Mr. Anderson is genial, cordial and always approachable, and his social qualities have won him personal popularity.
As printed in History of Des Moines County, Iowa (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1905. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.