Anderson, James M.

ANDERSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/26/2021 at 14:46:20

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.771

JAMES M. ANDERSON
James M. Anderson, the junior partner of the firm of Anderson Brothers, owners and publishers of the Indianola Herald, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, November 22, 1846 and, as stated, the family came to Iowa in 1854, he being then a youth of eight years. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days. He worked in the fields, aiding in plowing, planting and harvesting the crops, but thinking to find other pursuits more congenial, he learned the trade of saddlery and harnessmaking, and followed it continuously until 1882, when he again went upon the farm. Four years later he joined his brother, Thomas T. Anderson, in the purchase of the Indianola Herald from the firm of Baker & Knotts, and since that time they have continuously conducted this journal. They have a well appointed printing establishment and the Herald, neat and attractive in appearance, bright and newsy in its conduct and thoroughly up-to-date in every particular, is now enjoying an extensive circulation and an excellent advertising patronage.
James M. Anderson was married in 1868 to Miss Sarah E. Harper, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Harper. Mrs. Anderson was born in Ohio and died on the 27th of August 1897, at the age of fifty-three years. There were five children of that marriage, of whom three are living; Andrew C. the eldest, is the owner and publisher of the Fort Collins (Colorado) Courier, in partnership with Charles D. Miller, present foreman of the Indianola Herald. Maude E, is associated with her brother Andrew on the Courier, and Mary Pearl is now a teacher in the schools of Fort Collins. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Anderson afterward married Mrs. Viola Blodgett, nee Hoaglan, of Indianola, formerly of Clarke County, Iowa. Both Mr. and Mrs. James M. Anderson hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His political allegiance is given to the Republican Party and upon its ticket he was elected to represent his district in the legislature in 1899 and again in 1901. He is the author of the famous road law of Iowa, which caused considerable comment throughout the state, and during his two terms as a member of the house he was connected with much important constructive legislation as accomplished in the committee rooms. In professional lines he is associated with the Southern Iowa Press Association. In his attitude everywhere is manifested the true spirit of altruism and although aggressive in every sense of the word, he has always avoided even the semblance of that popular tendency so detrimental to humanity, namely the sacrifice of friendship or principle for the promulgation of selfish interests.