ANDREW ANDERSON 1821-1888

ANDERSON, MCDONALD, DRUMMOND

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/6/2005 at 07:53:55

Andrew Anderson was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, Dec. 27, 1821. In early life he lost both his parents. In his youth he was apprenticed to a carpenter, and followed that trade for many years, in Glasgow and Edinburgh. In 1849 he married Catharine McDonald, and soon afterward came to America. He lived for a short time at Milwaukee, Wis., and afterward at McGregor, Monona and Postville, Iowa. At this place his wife died in 1871. They were the parents of six children, 5 of whom are now living. In 1875 Mr. Anderson married Miss Jessie Drummond, who survives him. Soon after his second marriage he removed to Franklin Co., Iowa, and settled on a farm near Sheffield, where his death occurred on Friday, March 23rd, 1888. While residing at Postville he became a member of the Free Will Baptist church, but after his removal to Sheffield was not connected with any church. Owing to the fact of his having lost his parents so early in life, Mr. Anderson's educational advantages were limited; yet he became a studious reader of many books and thoroughly investigated many subjects. He was interested in all reforms. Before the civil war he was an ardent abolitionist, and since then has been the friend of all causes that tended to advance the interests of the people. In business matters he was a man of sterling integrity, and a hater of all shams and frauds. As a parent he was kind but not indulgent, and required implicit obedience. Wherever he lived he made many friends, and always had the good-will of his neighbors. Physically, he was always rugged and healthy, until about a year ago. Since then he has rapidly declined, yet was able to do some work right along to the time of his death, which was very sudden. On Thursday evening, March 22nd, he retired with no indications of special illness; in fact, he expressed himself as feeling specially well. Friday morning he was found to be unconscious, and from this unconsciousness he never rallied, and passed away, apparently without pain, at 7:30 a.m.

"How swiftly the torrent rolls,
That bears us to the sea,
The tide that hurries all our souls,
To vast eternity."

Postville Review, 3/31/1888 - contributed by Sharyl Ferrall