Anderson, Thomas T.

ANDERSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/26/2021 at 14:47:39

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.768

THOMAS T. ANDERSON
Thomas T. Anderson, senior editor of the Indianola Herald since 1886, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio March 25, 1844 and came to Iowa with his parents, Andrew and Mary (Findley) Anderson, both of whom were natives of Washington County, Pennsylvania. The father, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, was born in 1812 and departed this life in March 1878. He was a saddler by trade. In his boyhood days he removed with his mother to Ohio, the father having previously died, and there the family opened up a farm, cutting the timber from a tract of land preparatory to developing the fields. Andrew Anderson was thus identified with the agricultural interests of Ohio until 1854, when he removed westward to Iowa and settled in Davenport.
There he remained for a short time and was also for a brief period a resident of Mahaska County, but in the fall of 1857 he came to Warren County and took up his abode in the log cabin known as the Greenfield cabin. It had been built by Elisha Perkins and a picture of it is shown in this work. The family occupied that primitive dwelling for about a year and were closely associated with the pioneer improvement of the county. Andrew Anderson lived an industrious and frugal life, remaining a resident of Greenfield Township until within a year of his death. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church and was universally esteemed by his neighbors as a man of the strictest integrity and of unswerving honor.
His political allegiance was given to the Republic party. His wife, who was born July 29, 1816, died in 1857 in the little cabin home previously alluded to. She, too, was of Scotch-Irish lineage and was the eldest daughter of the Rev. Samuel Findley, a well known divine of Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Anderson were born nine sons: William M., who was a physician of St. Charles, Iowa, but is now deceased; Samuel Findley, who was a member of Company G, Third Iowa Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Shiloh; Hugh, who died at the age of fourteen years; Thomas T., of this review; James M., associated with his brother in the publication and ownership of the Indianola Herald; John T., a merchant of Seward, Nebraska; Andrew P., deceased; Ross P., an attorney of Seward, Nebraska; and an infant.
Thomas T. Anderson accompanied his parents to Iowa and in his boyhood acquired a country-school education. He afterward learned the harness-making trade, which he followed until 1882, when he was elected clerk of the court and served for four years. In 1886 he and his brother James purchased the Indianola Herald and since that time he has been senior editor of this popular paper. It is one of the most successful journals published in the state, most progressive methods being followed; while at all time the paper is kept abreast of the advancement that is being continually made in the journalistic profession.
At the time of the Civil War, Thomas Anderson loyally espoused the cause of the Union, enlisting as a member of Company D, second Iowa Cavalry, at Des Moines. He was but seventeen years of age when he joined the army and was made chief bugler, remaining at the front until the close of hostilities. He participated in many important engagements, including the battles of Corinth, Iuka, Farmington, Franklin, Nashville, and about forty other battles and skirmishes. When the war was over, he returned home in November 1865, and resumed work at the harness-maker’s trade. His life has always been one of intense and well directed activity and his success is attributed entirely to his own labors.
Mr. Anderson was married in 1866 to Miss Clara Liston, a daughter of Jesse and Rebecca Liston and a native of Gallia County, Ohio, who came to Warren County about 1849. Mrs. Anderson’s parents were among the eight people who organized the Methodist church in 1850. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were born four children: Nellie, deceased; Edgar L., publisher of the Atlantic (Iowa) Telegraph, a daily and weekly paper; Eva R., the wife of Ed. T. Hatfield, a real-estate dealer of Chicago; and Thomas T., who died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away January 29, 1890, at the age of forty-six years. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and her many excellent traits of heart and mind endeared her to those with whom she was associated. IN 1895 Mr. Anderson was again married, his second union being with Lyde A. McCool, who was born in Scott County, Iowa. Both Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is serving as an official.
He also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to James Randolph Post, No.116, G.A.R. [Grand Army of the Republic], of which he is a past commander. He is likewise connected with the Southern Iowa Press Association. His political allegiance is given to Republican Party and he was postmaster of Indianola for four years under President Harrison. Both as a private citizen and through the columns of his paper he advocates needed reform and progress in municipal affairs and his labors in behalf of Indianola’s welfare have been effective and far-reaching.