Anderson, William

ANDERSON, CORSANT, EVERETT, SWEENEY, MINERT

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/20/2009 at 22:36:19

History of Hamilton County Iowa,1912, Vol.II, p.74

WILLIAM ANDERSON

William Anderson, now serving as mayor of Jewell, has long been recognized as one of the leading and influential citizens of the town. He twice represented this county in the state legislature and was a prominent factor in financial circles as president of the State Bank of Jewell, resigning that position on the 1st of January, 1912. His birth occurred near London, Ontario, on the 8th of April, 1852, his parents being Duncan and Catherine (Corsant) Anderson. The paternal grandfather of our subject was born and educated in Glasgow, Scotland, but the maternal grandfather was born in America, Mrs. Anderson's ancestors coming to this country in the Mayflower. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Anderson had eighteen children, all of whom were born and reared in Ontario.

William Anderson obtained his early education in the public schools of London, Ontario, and at Middlesex Seminary of Komoka, Ontario, being graduated from that institution in 1869. During the following four years he taught school in London, Ontario, and in 1873 crossed the border into the United States, coming direct to Hamilton County, Iowa. Settling in Lyon township, he there worked on a farm during the summer months and in the winter followed the profession of teaching. In 1874 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 26, Lyon township, and has since extended the boundaries of his farm until at the present time it embraces five hundred acres. He devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits and also taught school until 1883, when he was elected auditor of Hamilton County, being reelected two years later and serving a second term. In 1887 he was elected county superintendent of the Hamilton County schools and, owing to the fact that he was reelected in 1889, served in that capacity until 1892. The following year he assisted in the organization of the State Bank of Jewell and acted as its vice president until 1899, when he was made president of the institution. On the 1st of January, 1912, however, he resigned his position as chief executive officer. From 1896 until 1899 he also served as cashier of the First National Bank of Webster City, ably discharging his duties in this connection and thus promoting the growth and success of the institution. He is a director and treasurer of the Jewell Telephone Company and likewise a director of the Jewell Electric Light Company.

In November, 1875, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Morisini F. Everett, of Virginia, by whom he had seven children, four of whom still survive. Cecil, a veterinary surgeon residing at Jewell, married Miss Minnie Sweeney, by whom he has two children. Charles E., also married, is a practicing dentist of Madrid, Iowa. Hattie is a teacher in the high school at Boone, Iowa. Keo A., the mother of one daughter, is the wife of Willard Minert, a grain and coal dealer of Waukon, Iowa. Merle, who was a student in the Chicago Veterinary College at Chicago, Illinois, passed away September 19, 1912.

Politically Mr. Anderson has always been a stanch republican. In 1906 he was elected state representative from Hamilton County and two years later was reelected, having won the enthusiastic approval and renewed support of his constituents. In March, 1912, he was chosen mayor of Jewell for a term of two years and is therefore the present incumbent in the office, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many measures of reform and improvement. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of Jewell than Mr. Anderson. He has been an important factor in business circles and his prosperity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and industry that never flags. Both he and his estimable wife have a host of warm friends throughout the community and justly merit the regard and esteem which is uniformly accorded them.