Foster Anderson

ANDERSON, JOHNSON, HARDESTY, HACKNEY, ALBERT, WALKER, KETCHEM

Posted By: Fran Hunt, Volunteer
Date: 10/6/2001 at 09:47:52

From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties – 1890
FOSTER ANDERSON
Foster Anderson, living on Section 12, Lick Creek Township, Van Buren County is a pioneer of 1845. He was born in Somerset County Pennsylvania, October 15, 1825, his parents being Stoddard M. and Ellen Johnson Anderson. His father is a native of Ireland, who during the years of his young manhood crossed the Atlantic to America and in Pennsylvania married Miss Johnson, who was descended from good old Revolutionary stock. He was a mechanic by trade, and an expert workman. For many years he did business in Pennsylvania, and in 1831 removed to Holmes County Ohio where his death occurred in 1862. His wife survived him some years, and died near Birmingham Iowa. There were nine children in their family, as follows: Jane, now deceased; James also deceased; Margaret, Nancy, John, Francis, Abigail, Elizabeth and Foster. John, Elizabeth and Foster are residents of this community. Mr. Anderson was a member of the Methodist Church, also belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and was a supporter of the Whig party until the rise of the Republican Party, when he identified himself with that organization.
The first six years of his life our subject spent in Pennsylvania, and from that time until seventeen years of age he lived upon his father’s farm in Ohio, during which time he attended the common schools for about three months in the year, which constituted his entire educational privileges. He then served an apprenticeship of two years to the carpenter’s trade, and in 1845, at the age of twenty, he made his way westward to Van Buren County, in the Territory of Iowa. He chose Birmingham as the scene of his future labors, and then announced that he was ready to receive any patronage, which the public was willing to accord him. Being an expert workman, his services were soon in great demand as emigrants began to pour in quite rapidly, and homes must be built for their accommodation. For a quarter of a century he followed carpentering with good success, and secured a competency which now enables him to live a retired life.
Mr. Anderson has ever been a leading citizen of the community, and one who has never shirked his duty, but with commendable interest has done all in his power for the advancement of Van Buren County’s best interests. He has taken an active part in political affairs, and his opinions carry weight with them in the local conventions of his party. He cast his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierce, but in 1856 he supported the first Republican candidate, and has been a zealous partisan of Republican principles since.
In 1849 Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Hardesty, and unto them were born nine children, as follows: W.W., a resident of Kansas; Flora E., wife of W.F. Hackney of Kansas; Oscar and Annetta, who are living in the same state; James W. and Katie; Henrietta, wife of J.D. Albert of Birmingham; Jennie wife of George G. Walker, and Belle, who is living in Boise City Idaho. The mother of this family died in 1873, and Mr. Anderson wedded Herena Ketchem. Their union is graced by one child, Harry F. who is now, a lad of ten years. Mr. Anderson and his family have a pleasant home conveniently situated about one mile from Birmingham.
I am not related, and am only copying this for the information of those who might find this person in their family.