Gust Peter Anderson

As printed in 1910

GUST PETER ANDERSON.

Gust Peter Anderson, one of the thrifty Swedish farmers of Geneseo township, was born in Porter county, Indiana, September 30, 1867, and is a son of Peter and Charlotte (Swanson) Anderson, both natives of Sweden. The father was born March 17, 1831, and came to America in July, 1854, locating in Indiana, near Lake Station, which was then about forty miles from Chicago. There he moved grass and hay for his oxen in fields which have now been included within the limits of that great city or are on the outskirts of its suburbs. After about fifteen years' residence in Indiana he came to Illinois, settling upon the farm in Geneseo township, where his son now lives. While he was in the former state he was drafted into the army during the Civil war, but before he was ready to enlist hostilities had ceased and no service was exacted of him. In 1898 he passed away. He had been a republican in political matters and had served as school director, while he was a devout member of the Swedish Mission church. Within four or five weeks of his death his wife also passed away. She was born February 3, 1835, shared with her husband the many privations of their early life here, and like him was buried in the cemetery of the Swedish Mission. Eleven children were born to the couple, four of whom are now living. Among them were: Hattie, who is the wife of J. L. Johnson, of Gowrie, Webster county, Iowa; Gust Peter, of this review; Charles O., of Stavely, Alberta, Canada; Annie, who was the wife of Charles Lyden, of Denver, Colorado, and died July 31, 1903; Minnie, who died November 1, 1895, unmarried; and Theodore W., of Cambridge, Illinois.

Gust Peter Anderson received his education in the Jackson school of Geneseo township and worked with his father on the home place during vacations and through his school period until he became of age, when he embarked in farming for himself. For about seven or eight years he rented land and then, in 1900, he and his brother Charles O. bought the place on which he now lives and* which they both own. Here Mr. Anderson follows general farming and has also engaged extensively in the raising of stock for the market. Thrifty and intelligent, unsparing of hard work when necessary, he has found that good harvests have made a rich return for his toil and that his cattle are readily disposed of, thus netting him a substantial return.

On the 26th of March, 1895, Mr. Anderson wedded Miss Amanda Blomquist, who was born in Loraine township, July 18, 1872. Her parents, August and Christine (Erickson) Blomquist, were natives of Sweden, the father having been born March 22, 1835, the mother June 18, 1828. In 1869 they came to America, and after living for one year with Mr. Erickson in Geneseo township, they bought land in Loraine township, which they still own, although Mrs. Blomquist makes her home with Mr. Anderson. Three children were born to them, the two living being Mrs. Anderson and Helma, who, unmarried, lives in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have had five children, all born upon the home farm where Mr. Anderson's parents lived for so long. They are Helen Charlotte, born June 25, 1896, who attends school; Inez Florine and Irene Frances, twins, born September 28, 1900; Willard Peter, born July 26, 1902; and [name withheld], born January 12, 1909.

In his political views Mr. Anderson is a republican and has served as school director for a number of years, while his religious allegiance is given to the Swedish Mission church, of which he is treasurer. Frugal and hard working, a man whose honorable relations with his fellowmen have been put to the test, he enjoys the sincere respect of all who know him, and like his wife has made many stanch friends.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.