Fergus Lincoln Anderson

ANDERSON, CURRIE, PEEK, NELS, GAGE, GARDNER, ALLEN

Posted By: Carrie Robertson (email)
Date: 10/18/2016 at 16:34:22

The Marion Sentinel Thursday December 27, 1924
F.L. Anderson Passed Away Early Tuesday
Prominent Local Man and Former Judge Ill Some Time
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Early Tuesday morning, while those round about were getting ready for a day of great happiness, death came to one of Linn county's leading citizens. Judge Fergus L. Anderson, passing away at St. Luke's hospital following an illness which has kept him away from his business for the greater part of the past year.
He was born near Ohio, Illinois, March 16, 1865, of sturdy pioneer stock, one of the ten children of Fenwick and Jeanette Peek Anderson, and at the early age of 16 pushed out to take a man's place in the world about him. He was intrigued then by the telegrapher's magic, and early began making himself proficient at that art, and soon was able, though a boy i years, to hold positions at various points on the Milwaukee, and in 1890 was night dispatcher in Marion. With some extra day time on his hands, he took up the study of law and later went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he graduated from the law department in 1894, and thereby earned the right to become a member of the bar.
He returned to Marion after being admitted to the bar, and opened a law office, and during nearly forty years of legal life, won for himself a reputation for skill and integrity second to no other man in his profession in this section of the state. In his earlier years he served as county attorney and in 1921 he was appointed judge of the 18th judicial district, which then as now is comprised of Cedar, Jones and Linn counties, and for over eight years made the district one of the ablest of judges. His decisions were rarely disapproved by the higher courts, and he had a reputation for getting more work done than most any other judge, thereby saving money for the tax-payers.
In 1929, he resigned from the bench and formed a partnership with one of the strongest legal firms in the state, which became known as Donnelly, Lynch, Anderson & Lynch.
Mr. Anderson was married in 1898 to Gertrude Gardner, who died Feb. 6, 1932. As a result of this marriage, there survives him, a daughter, know to Marion as Ruth, now Mrs. Currie, of Kalamazoo, Mich., and her two children, Gardner and Ann Currie. There is also one sister, Mrs. John Nels, and four brothers, Albert, Fenwick, William and Charter Anderson, all of the Ohio, Illinois neighborhood.
Mr. Anderson was closely connected with the social, civil and business life of Marion. He had served as mayor and city attorney during the years, was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge here and belonged to the Congregational church. He had been for many years a director in the affairs of the First National Bank
This afternoon funeral services were held at two o'clock in the Congregational church. Dr. H.M. Gage of Coe college, assisted by Rev. H.O. Allen, the local pastor were in charge of the services. Burial was in Oak Shade.