Samuel Anderson

As printed in 1909

SAMUEL ANDERSON.

Samuel Anderson is now living retired in Washington but for fifty-one years was a resident of Highland township and for a long period was counted one of the foremost and representative farmers of this county. His careful management of business affairs and his wise expenditure at length brought to him a substantial competence so that he is now enabled to enjoy life without further recourse to labor, his investments bringing him sufficient income for all of the needs and some of the luxuries of life.

Mr. Anderson was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1845, a son of John T. and Sarah (Baxter) Anderson, natives of Pennsylvania and Wirginia respectively. The paternal grandfather was a miller and followed that pursuit in the Keystone state. He died in middle life and his wife afterward became the wife of Craig Taylor. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Anderson, was Absalom Baxter, a native of Maryland, who made many surveys in that state. He married a Miss Butler and both died when past middle age, having reared a family of several sons and daughters.

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Samuel.Anderson was reared in Highland township from the age of twelve and there lived for fifty-one years. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority and during that period pursued his early education in the district schools, while later he attended a school in Ainsworth, Iowa, taught by Professor Doig and his daughter. At the time of his marriage Mr. Anderson had forty acres of land, which he at once began to till and improve and to which he added from time to time until he owned three hundred and thirty-five acres, constituting a valuable property. He continued the cultivation of his fields until January. 1908, when he removed to the county seat and erected a beautiful home at the end of East Washington street. He still derives a substantial income from farming property, owning two hundred and forty acres in Spink county. South Dakota.

On the 31st of December, 1868, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Mary Davidson, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Majors) Davidson. Mrs. Anderson was born in N'enango county, Pennsylvania, and her parents were also natives of that state and were of Scotch descent. Her grandfather in the paternal line was Archibald Davidson, a native of Pennsylvania, who made farming his life work. He died in N'enango county, Pennsylvania, when about seventy-five years of age, having for a long time survived his wife. There were three children of that marriage: Patrick; Thomas; and Jane, who became the wife of a Mr. McElfatric. After losing his first wife Mr. Davidson married again and by the.second union had four children, Martha, Mary, Margaret and John. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Anderson was also a Pennsylvania farmer and his children were: Sarah, who became the wife of Peter Walter; Mary, the wife of Mathias McGarbey; Jane, who married John Elder; Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Davidson; Nancy, the wife of Joseph McWright; Richard; and William.

Thomas Davidson was reared to the occupation of farming m his native state, where he resided until the fall of 1864, when he came westward to Washington county, Iowa, purchasing two hundred acres of laml in Highland towiKhi] Year by year he carefully tilled the.soil and developed one of the fine farms of the locality) He died at the age of seventy-nine years and his wife, who.survived him for two years, also reached the age of seventy-nine. Thcv were the parents of the following children:.Archibald, Elizabeth. Jane, Major, Sarah, Mary, Matilda and Frank P.

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The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Anderson is a republican in politics, loyal to the party and thoroughly conversant with the vital questions and issues of the day. He served for seven years as a member of the board of supervisors and is a man of fine character who, in political life and in business relations, has proven worthy of the trust and confidence reposed in him and of the high regard in which he is uniformly held. His salient qualities are those of upright, honorable manhood and progressive citizenship and his life record constitutes a valuable asset in the agricultural progress of the county.

W. A. CLlRL.

W. A. Curl, who ow-ns, occupies and operates a good farm in Lime Creek township, where he is also well known as a successful dealer in live stock, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, March ii, 1860. His parents were R. H. and Emeline (Anderson) Curl, both of whom were natives of Greene county, Pennsylvania. In early life they became residents of Illinois and R. H. Curl purchased a tract of land in Peoria county, where he followed general agricultural pursuits for a long period. In 1880, however, he sold his property in that county and removed to Washington county, Iowa. Here he invested in land which he cultivated and improved until 189 1 when he again sold out and removed to Clarke county, Iowa. There his death occurred August 3, IQOO, while his widow still survives at the age of eighty-nine years. She now makes her home with her daughter Mrs. Rachel Frits, in Lime Creek township.

W. A. Curl, who was one of a family of eleven children, spent the first two decades of his life in the county of his nativity, working with his father on the home farm and pursuing his education in the common schools. In 1880 he accompanied his parents to Iowa and remained at home until twenty-nine years of age when he started out upon an independent business career and rented land which he cultivated for twelve years. He then bought the farm thereon he now resides in Lime Creek township, having saved the money from his earnings with which to invest in this property. To its further cultivation and improvement he has since given his attention and his practical and progressive labors are manifest in the fine appearance of his place. He has always made a specialty of raising and feeding stock and keeps on his place good grades of cattle and hogs. He pays close attention to the conditions existing on his farm that his stock may ever be healthy and in good condition when shipped to the market. He practices the rotation of crops in tilling the fields and gathers harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestow upon his land.

In February, 1889,.Mr. Curl was united in marriage to Miss Allie M. Dodds, who was born December 17, 1869. She is a daughter of James M. and Katherine (Tatman) Dodds, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They arrived in Iowa in 1869 and first located in Highlaand township, Washington county, where for a considerable period the father engaged in general agricultural pursuits. At length, however, he put aside active work on the farm and retired to private life. He is now living in the village of Wellman in the enjoyment of well earned rest. His family numbered four children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Curl have been born six children: J. Everett, who was born July 15, 1892: Hugh M., deceased; W. Irvin, born September 15. 1895; Clifford R., born November 29, 1901: Myrtle J., born July 25, 190(1: and Rachel Bessie, whose birth occurred February 16. 1909. The parents are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active and helpful interest in its work. Mr. Curl is a republican in his political vews. He believes in well kept highways and advocates substantial improvements of this character. For six years he has served as school director, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. His entire life record is a commendable one, winning for him the unqualified regard of all who know him. Industry and integrity stand as salient features in his record and he is widely known as a citizen whose influence and aid have always been given in behalf of material, political, social, intellectual and moral progress.

As printed in History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.