David H. Anderson, b. 24 Aug 1843

BLAINE, GOODENOW, WRIGHT

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/21/2004 at 11:21:20

The birthplace of this gentleman, who is the leading grocer of Maquoketa, was Rockingham County, Va., and he first opened his eyes to the light Aug. 24, 1843. His father, Eugene Anderson, was a native of the same county. His paternal grandfather, James Anderson, was a carpenter by trade, which he followed considerably, and also carried on farming. He spent his last days in Rockingham County. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Blaine.

The father of our subject during his early manood occupied himself as a carpenter with grandfather Anderson, and also assisted in the farm work, remaining in the Old Dominion until 1852. That year he started with his wife and seven children for the farther West, his destination being Iowa Township, this county. The journey was made overland with four horses attached to a large covered wagon. They took with them their household goods besides an extra horse and a carriage, together with a large tent and cooking utensils. They camped by the wayside, and arrived in Clinton County on the 4th of June. Mr. Anderson purchased 240 acres of land in Brookfield Township, and also entered eighty acres in that township besides 480 acres in Bloomfield Township.

Upon this land there were no buildings, and the family the first year, occupied a rented house. In the meantime the father put up a dwelling on his own land. This was before the days of railroads and grain was hauled to Lyons and Davenport, to market. Deer and prairie chickens were plentiful besides other wild game. The father of our subject lived to improve a large farm, and to see the country well developed, and many of its people wealthy. He departed hence in May, 1881.

The subject of this sketch acquired his early education in the district school, and later attended Cornell College at Mt. Vernon. In January, 1865, he started out to see something of the world and proceeding to New York City, boarded an ocean vessel, and we next find him on the island of Cuba. Thence he went to the Rio Grande River, spent a few days at Bagdad, and from there journeyed to Matamoras, where he engaged in the lumber business until the fall of the year. He now returned to Iowa, and embarked in the grocery business at Maquoketa, in which he was engaged until 1874. That year he became connected with the firm of Boice, Fay & Conkey, wholesale grocers of Chicago, and traveled in the interests of this firm until 1880, when he resumed the grocery trade at Maquoketa, and has been very successful. He is the owner of the building in which he does business. This is a three-story brick, 37x100 feet in dimensions. The entire lower floor is used as a store-room, and filled with an ample stock of groceries, china and glassware.

Our subject was married Aug. 15, 1871, to Miss Mary L. Goodenow, who was born in Maquoketa, and is the daughter of John E. and Eliza (Wright) Goodenow, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Of this union there are two children, Alice and Bertha. Mr. Anderson has always been a Democrat in politics, and has served as a member of the City Council. He is at present a member of the Jackson County Agricultural Society in which he has served three years as Treasurer, and is the present Secretary. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Helion Lodge, No. 32, and Jackson Lodge I.O.O.F. He owns a farm adjoining the city limits, and is largely interested in fine horses, having twenty-one head at present, many of them standard-bred Hambletonians.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)