ANDERSON, CHARLES J.

ANDERSON, NELSON, OLESON, ERICKSON, PEARSON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/27/2004 at 15:52:13

Biography reproduced from page 70 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Charles J. Anderson, who is the owner of a thriving furniture business in Swea City, where he has been located since the town was founded, was born in Jamestown, New York, February 18, 1857, a son of A. G. and Caroline (Nelson) Anderson. The parents were born, reared and married in Sweden, whence they emigrated to the United States in 1849, locating in Jamestown, New York. There the father, who was a carpenter by trade, obtained a position as foreman in a sash factory. He withdrew from this in 1862 and together with his wife and family removed to Minnesota, locating on a farm in Goodhue county. There he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits for eleven years, at the expiration of which time he came to Kossuth county. He purchased forty acres of land in Swea township, four miles west of the present site of Swea City, in 1872, and diligently applied himself to its further improvement and cultivation. His efforts were rewarded with such lucrative returns that he subsequently extended the boundaries of his farm and became known as one of the prosperous and successful agriculturists of the township. He withdrew from the work of the fields when the town of Swea City was established, and removing there took the agency for Brewer Brothers, lumber dealers, which he retained until his death in 1901. The mother is still living and now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Oleson, who lives two miles north of Swea City.

Charles J. Anderson attended the district schools of Swea township and worked on the farm with his father until he was twenty-two years of age. He then learned the carpenter’s trade under his father and when Bancroft, Iowa, was founded he located there and engaged in contracting and building. He was awarded the contract for the erection of the churches, schoolhouse and several residences. He also erected a business building for himself and opened a furniture store which he conducted for a year. When the town of Swea City was founded a year later he disposed of his store in Bancroft and came here and engaged in contracting and building and also established a furniture business. He was awarded the contracts for the erection of both the Baptist and Swedish Lutheran churches, the opera house and many of the leading residences. As the population increased and his business developed he withdrew from contracting and building and devoted his entire attention to his furniture store. He carries a good stock of household furniture that he offers at moderate prices, and in connection with this he conducts an undertaking department. His business is in a thriving condition and he is recognized as one of the substantial representatives of the commercial fraternity of Swea City. In addition to his store Mr. Anderson owns a pleasant and attractive residence in the southern part of the town, which he erected in 1911.

Mr. Anderson was married in 1889 to Miss Emma Erickson, a daughter of Erick G. and Ulreka (Pearson) Erickson. The father, who is now deceased, was one of the well known pioneer farmers of Kossuth county. The mother, who is still living and enjoying the best of health at the age of eighty-seven years, now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Anderson. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, as follows: Harriet, a graduate of the Swea City high school, who is now living at home; Milton, who is attending high school and assisting his father in the store; and three who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Baptist church, and he also belongs to the Masonic fraternity of Swea City and the Knights of Pythias of Bancroft, while both he and Mrs. Anderson are affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star of Swea City. He votes the republican ticket and is now serving his fourth term on the school board, while for six years he was a member of the council. Mr. Anderson is one of the pioneers of Kossuth county. There were but three residences in Swea township when his parents located there in 1872, one of which was the company’s house, in which seven families were living, and the other two were the residences of J. B. Johnson and Carl Miller. At that time there was not a single habitation on the present site of Swea City and Harrison township was but sparsely settled. On the 1st of May, 1872, J. B. Johnson came to Swea township and erected a residence and located here with his family. On the 16th of the same month several other settlers, among whom was A. G. Anderson, came here and broke a few acres of land and returned to their homes, but the following year a good many families located here. Mr. Anderson knows every landmark in this section of the county and is thoroughly familiar with the various roads. As a young man he spent many weeks with Clayton Hutchins surveying from Algona. They surveyed all of Swea township and part of Harrison, which had been previously surveyed by the government, but as many of the stakes were down, much of the territory had to be gone over again. Although he is still in his prime, Mr. Anderson has lived to witness the marvelous development that has taken place in Kossuth county, in the progress and upbuilding of which he has substantially contributed.