A.J. Anderson

ANDERSON, PAULSON

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 1/22/2011 at 19:50:54

A.J. Anderson actively and successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in High Lake township, Emmet county, his home being on section 14, has resided within the borders of this county for forty-six years or since 1871, at which time he arrived here with his parents when a lad of ten summers. He was born in Norway, March 16, 1861, a son of Ole and Haldir (Paulson) Anderson, who were also natives of the same country. They continued in the land of the midnight sun until 1871, when they bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed with their family to America. Making their way into the interior of the country, they settled upon a farm in Emmet county, Iowa, where the father built a log cabin which they occupied for a number of years. It was in this county that the mother passed away, but the father is still living and has long been one of the honored and respected agriculturists of this section of the state.

A. J. Anderson was reared in the usual manner of farm boys, dividing his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of a public school education. He remained at home up to the time of his marriage, which occurred in 1888, Miss Julia Paulson becoming his wife. She was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of Paul and Kart (Ellingson) Paulson, who were natives of Norway but came to America in the latter '50s and in 1864 removed to Emmet county, Iowa, taking up their abode upon a farm which continued to be their home throughout their remaining days. They had a family of eight children, of whom three are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson became the parents of four children, but Ada J., the eldest, and Hilma Odella, the youngest, are the only ones now living. They lost two daughters, Hazel O. and Petra C.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Anderson took up their abode upon the farm which is now their home, at first renting the property but later purchasing it. The place comprises one hundred and ninety-six acres on section 14, High Lake township, and constitutes today one of the best improved farms of the locality, equipped with every modern convenience and accessory found upon a model farm of the twentieth century. His attention is devoted to the cultivation of those cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also to stock raising, and his labors are attended with a gratifying measure of success.

Mr. Anderson gives his political allegiance to the republican party but has never sought nor desired office. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and their well-spent lives have gained for them the warm and enduring regard of many friends. Mr. Anderson is a thoroughly reliable and progressive business man, and his well-directed efforts as an agriculturist have brought him substantial success.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917.