J. S. ANDERSON

J. D. Anderson devotes his time to the cultivation of one hundred and fifty acres of land, located on section 1, Rochester township. He is a native of Cedar county, born on a farm in Iowa township, August 20, 1862. His father, John Rutledge Anderson, was born in Leesburg, Loudoun county, Virginia, May 25, 1823. His grandfather served in the war of 1812. About 1841 the latter’s widow, with her two children, John R. and Adaline, removed to Ohio and ten years later came to Iowa, making the journey with ox-teams. Her son was married in this state on the 26th of June, 1860, to Miss Nancy A. Johnston, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1834, and when but two years of age was taken by her parents, David and Catharine (Shires) Johnston, to Ohio. They made their home in the Buckeye state for a few years and then came to Cedar county, Iowa, the daughter being twelve years old at the time of the family’s arrival in this locality. Here she grew to years of maturity and gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Anderson. Her father died in Cedar county but the mother passed away in Linn county, Iowa. They became the parents of three sons and eight daughters.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. John R. Anderson began their domestic life on a farm and in 1866 he purchased two hundred acres of land and from that time to the present this has been in possession of the family. He was identified with farming interests in Cedar county until the time of his death, which occurred on the 10th of August, 1889. His widow is still living and now makes her home with our subject, having reached the age of seventy-six years. By her marriage she became the mother of four children: J. D. of this review; Lee, of Rochester, Iowa; S. P., deceased; and Kate, the wife of C. U. Edwards, of California.

J. D. Anderson was reared to farm life and with the exception of three years spent in South Dakota has always resided in Cedar county. At the usual age he was sent to the district schools, wherein he mastered the common branches of learning and during the periods of vacation he was trained in the work of the fields. In 1882 he went to South Dakota and entered land, spending three years in that state. At the end of that time he disposed of his interests and returned to Cedar county, now owning one hundred and fifty acres of the old homestead, situated on section 1, Rochester township. On the place stands a good brick residence and substantial outbuildings and Mr. Anderson keeps everything in good condition, while he follows systematic methods in the cultivation of his crops so that the best results obtain.

Mr. Anderson has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Winnie Edgeington, their marriage being celebrated in 1879. She was born in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and died in Crawford county, this state. There is one son of that union, Elwood, principal of a high school in Omaha, Nebraska. He is a graduate in law and practiced for two years prior to engaging in teaching. Mr. Anderson was married in 1887 to Jennie Atkinson, a native of Rock Island county, Illinois. There are six children of this marriage, Roscoe, Harold, Veda, Vance, Gladys and Donald. All are at home with the exception of the eldest son, Roscoe, who is married and farms on a tract of land adjoining the homestead. Mr. Anderson is not a man in public life but prefers to spend his time in the pursuit of his private interests and finds his greatest social enjoyment in the companionship of his wife and children at his own fireside.