Andrew Anderson

On August 27, 1905. sorrow settled over one of the residences of South Washington street, Bloomfield, on account of the decease of one of the city’s most highly respected citizens, Andrew Anderson. This gentleman, of stanch Scotch-Irish fiber, was born in Greene county, Indiana, on May 5, 1835, and was the son of George and Ann (Kethcart) Anderson, Scotch- Irish emigrants to this country, who made their way to Greene county through the usual route of travel common to that class of liberty-loving settlers. They arrived in 1818, before Indiana had been clothed with the powers of statehood, and took up two hundred and forty acres of congressional land, which still remains under the family control, in the person of the wife of the deceased.

Seven children were born into this family, consisting of Jane, widow of James Elder, and now living in Iowa ; George, father of our subject, deceased; Mary Ann, widow of Samuel Elder, also of Iowa; James, deceased; Lavina, deceased, became the wife of Ellswick Ledgerwood, of Oklahoma; John, deceased, was a soldier in the Union Army during the Rebellion. The members of this family were adherents to the old-style Presbyterian faith. Andrew was reared on the home farm, receiving his education in the primitive form offered in that early day, the details of which it is unnecessary to elaborate upon here. He remained upon the home place, which he ultimately inherited, until 1902, and then removed to his residence in Bloomfield, where he finished his days in well deserved retirement.

On November 3, 1865, he was married to Mary Ann Quillen, a native of Greene county, and daughter of Jesse and Sallie (Huffman) Quillen, the former being a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Indiana. The Quillen family constituted one of the pioneer families of the county and ranked among the leading citizens of the community. The children consisted of Mary Ann, widow of our subject; William, whose present home is in Knox county, this state; Sarah, deceased wife of Lysander Hayes; Susan, deceased wife of John Geddes; Richard, Jesse and Emily, all deceased, and Francis, who is following farming in Missouri.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson devoted themselves vigorously to the devebopment of their farm, and took a keen interest in facing the problems encountered in the progress of the work. They not only proved excellent managers, but gathered about them that most delightful of adornments of the home, viz., a family of happy children. These were five in number, made up of Melissa J., the wife of James Bailey, a farmer, of Cass township, Greene county, who in turn are the parents of four hearty children, Everett, Lelia, Lola and Merle. Following &LIelissa was James, who is making his home at present with his mother. The third child met with an untimely death, which proved a most severe blow to his parents and cast a shadow of gloom over the family which time could not entirely efface. At the age of sixteen years, while bathing with a number of companions in White river, he fell a victim to the cleeper waters and life was estinguished ere rescue could be made. The next daughter, Georgia, became the wife of Peter A. Hassler, a farmer, of Taylor township and she is the mother of five children, viz., Mary, Earl, Grace, Jasper and Guy. The fifth of the family was Grace, who is the wife of Langdon Lester, also a farmer, of Taylor township.

Mr. Anderson was not only a pious gentleman, but affiliated with the Methodist church, as does also his widow, and they both contributed liberally of their time and means to its support. He also served as trustee of Taylor township, and in many ways won the confidence and esteem of all of his friends and acquaintances.

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"Biographical Memoirs of Greene County, Ind. with Reminiscences of Pioneer Days", B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, IN, 1908, Vol. 3 pg. 1198-200

Last updated 10.11.2009