A. L. Anderson

ANDERSON, BRANN, KEITER, TRACEY

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/9/2011 at 16:09:50

A. L. ANDERSON is the editor and proprietor of the Grundy County Republican, the organ of the Republican party in Grundy County, Iowa. He is the eldest son of Col. Daniel Anderson, who was born in Monroe County, Ind., April 5, 1821, and was of Scotch extraction. His boyhood years were passed upon a farm, where he acquired a thorough knowledge of agriculture, and he also had the advantage, at the proper age, of three months' attendance during the winter season at the old log schoolhouse taught by the "Hoosier schoolmaster." After he grew to man's estate, he enjoyed other and better advantages, and through diligent application became well informed.

As a farmer, teacher and student of law, Colonel Anderson passed the time until the fall of 1847, when he was admitted to the Bar. Coming to Iowa in March of the ensuing year, he sojourned for a time in Keokuk, and in May, 1849, located in Albia, Iowa, where he now resides. Honored by his fellow-citizens, he has by them been chosen to occupy various official positions of trust. In 1854 he was elected to the State Senate, and three years later was re-elected, serving during four regular and two special sessions.

From the Senate, Hon. Mr. Anderson entered the Union army as Captain of Company H, First Iowa Cavalry, and for three years served as Captain, Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel, retiring at the expiration of his term of service with the proud distinction of having aided in the preservation of the Union as a faithful and efficient officer. In 1864, at the time of Abraham Lincoln's re-election to the Presidency, he was Presidential Elector. He was register in bankruptcy from 1867 until the law was repealed some years afterward. As his life occupation he has practiced law when not interrupted by official or military duty. A man of large public spirit, he is deeply interested in every enterprise promising to advance the well-being of society. His leading moral qualities are fidelity to duty, unflinching integrity and active benevolence. He is one of those men, of whom the number is none too large, who have given their time, almost without reservation, to promote public interests and private happiness.

Born in Monroe County, Iowa, June 9, 1854, the subject of this sketch was reared in Albia, receiving his education in the public schools and academy of that city. He learned the printer's trade in the office of the Albia Union, of which he was foreman for sixteen years. October 20, 1878, he married Miss Louisa M. Brann, of Drakeville, Davis County, Iowa. After resigning his situation in the Union office, he purchased a half-interest in the Grundy County Republican, December 18, 1889, and on the 1st of January, 1893, purchased the undivided half-interest of Charles I. Keiter, since which time he has been sole owner of the publication.

Having always been a stanch supporter of Republican principles, Mr. Anderson brings into his editorial work a large fund of information upon political questions, and his vigor, knowledge and enthusiasm have brought to the party a large measure of its present success in the county. His paper is an eight-page weekly, and has a circulation of about twelve hundred at the present time, the number of its subscribers having steadily increased from its establishment. Aside from publishing the paper, he does a general job printing business, and is the official printer for the county. The Grundy County Republican enjoys the distinction of being the successor of the first paper published in the county, the Grundy County Atlas, founded by L. E. Tracey. Socially, Mr. Anderson is an active member of Telulah Lodge No. 285, I. O. O. F., of Grundy Centre.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894