Bert B. Anderson 1860-1933

ANDERSON, HARRINGTON, HALSTENSEN, HEWLETT, ROGERS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/21/2012 at 22:51:12

B.B. Anderson, Former Mayor, Passes Sat.
Funeral Services Held at Presbyterian Church Today
Bert B. Anderson, 73 years old, and former mayor of Estherville, died at 4:00 P.M. Saturday in the Birney hospital of cerebral hemorrhage, after a lingering illness.

Mr. Anderson was born October 2, 1860 in Genessee county, New York, the son of George J. Anderson and Nancy Lamkins Anderson. His mother was a direct descendent of John Alden and Priscilla. He came with his parents to eastern Iowa when he was 17 years old. In 1879 his parents moved to Lyon county, he following them a few years later. He worked with his father on his farm until 1885 when he went into the grain business with his brother Mort in Inwood, Lyon county. On the 16th of March, 1886, he was united in marriage with Lydia J. Harrington of Farmington, Ill. Later, Mr. Anderson moved with his wife and two sons to Minneapolis, where with E.J. Skeriois and E.T. Moen he bought a line of 44 elevators. After a few years, not liking the city he with Mr. Moen moved to Estherville, purchasing a line of elevators on the Rock Island with headquarters at Estherville. On account of ill health Mr. Moen left the firm and Mr. Anderson and two sons continued the business until ill health compelled him to retire.

Mr. Anderson was always prominent in civic affairs and in the work of the church, being an elder in the Presbyterian church since he was nineteen years of age.

In Estherville, Mr. Anderson took a very active part in the affairs of the town, not only as an official but as a citizen. He served on the city council from 1911 to 1912, and in 1913 was elected to the office of mayor. After a period of years he was elected in 1919 to another term. During Mr. Anderson’s years of mayor, the first big improvement was made in Estherville’s water system, and the wells dug on the west side of the river, to replace the former system of taking water directly from the river.

Surviving the passing of this most kindly and upright man are his widow, two sons George of Estherville and Mort of Spirit Lake.

Funeral services are being held this afternoon at one forty-five from the Mahlum and Anderson funeral chapel and at two o’clock from the Presbyterian church, with Dr. A.G. Baily, pastor of the church in charge. All business houses will be closed in his honor during the hour of service.

Among those from out of town here for the services are Mr. Anderson’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Carrie Anderson and his niece Mrs. Geo. Halstensen, E.T. Moen, his former partner of Inwood, Mrs. Anderson’s sister, Mrs. Adah Hewlett, he daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. N.C. Rogers of Rock Rapids. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, August 22, 1933)