George Harvey Anderson, b.1819

ANDERSON, BLAINE, DUNLAP

Posted By: LuAnn (Wentworth) Goeke (email)
Date: 11/14/2010 at 21:15:49

GEORGE HARVEY ANDERSON is an extensive farmer in Brookfield Twp., and was born in Rockingham County Virginia, July 29, 1819. His father, James Anderson, born August 11, 1777, was a native of Pennsylvania and removed to Virginia when a young man. He was a carpenter by trade, and worked for several years, then purchased a farm in Rockingham County, spending the last years of his life on a farm. He died there in 1827. The maiden name of his mother was Mary Blaine, born October 29, 1783, a native of Rockingham County, who died at the home of our subject, in Clinton County, October 5, 1870. They were married January 3, 1806, and were the parents of five children, of whom George H. was the youngest.
Our subject was but eight years of age when his father died. His mother kept the family together with all a woman's devotion, and spent her time solely for the benefit of her little family. They grew up gradually and established homes of their own. Our subject grew to manhood on the homestead, making his home with his mother until 1856. In the fall of that year he came to Iowa, accompanied by her. They journeyed overland with a four-horse team and one horse attached to a buggy, and bringing their household goods along, and after seven weeks’ travel, landed in Clinton County. His brother, Eugene, was at that time living in Brookfield Twp. He and his mother went to his home, where they remained for two years. He next bought the farm he now owns and occupies. It was wild prairie land at the time, and in 1858 he broke the first furrow on the land. In 1859 he built the house, and at the present writing has a good set of buildings situated on an eminence commanding an extensive view, and his homestead ranks high among the beautiful homes in the county.
He married, March 27, 1860, Mary E. Dunlap, who was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, March 27, 1836. She was the daughter of John W. and Agnes Dunlap, who were old residents of Clinton County. Their family relations have been of the most amicable character, and about their hearthstone have grown up four children - James W., who is now Township Clerk of Brookfield Twp., John W., Mary A. and Martha J. John W. died at the age of three years; the other children reside at home.
In politics Mr. Anderson is a Democrat. He has held several township offices, among which were those of Township Collector for two years, and Township Trustee for two years. He is quick and keen in intelligence and logical in his opinions. He is also well-informed and something of a politician in the county. He makes stock-raising a special feature of his agricultural pursuits, and for many years was engaged in raising Short- horns. A short time since he added a thoroughbred Hereford bull to his herd, and he expects to make that breed a specialty. His hogs are of the pure Chester-white breed. The home farm comprises 256 acres, besides 160 acres in Woodbury County and 280 in Taylor County, making a total of his landed estate 696 acres.
A fine lithograph view of Mr. Anderson's and handsome farm buildings and thoroughbred stock is shown on another page of this work. - 1886 Portrait & Biographical Album of Clinton County, Iowa, pg 417-418.