Worth County, Iowa
Andrew Anderson
The news of the death of Andrew Anderson was received with deep regret throughout Worth county and wherever he was known. He had been closely and prominently associated with farming interests in Barton Township and his genuine personal worth had gained for him many friends. He was born in Newburg township, Mitchell county, Iowa, his parents being Olaf and Stena (Strengenes) Anderson, who were native of Sweden, in which county they remained until after their marriage. It was in 1852 that they came to the new world, making the voyage on a sailing vessel that was sixteen weeks in reaching Quebec. At length they, arrived in Wisconsin, having traveled around the Great Lakes, and after a brief period spent in that state they continued their westward journey to Mitchell country, Iowa. There the father purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and eventually he took up his abode upon the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which was later in possession of his son, Andrew Anderson. He began the erection of necessary buildings and continued the work of developing and improving the farm, upon which both Mr. and Mrs. Olaf Anderson continued to reside until called to their final rest. They had made the journey from Wisconsin to Iowa with ox teams, their arrival antedating the building of railroads into this section. They cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers and shared in the hardships and privations which always constitute features of frontier life. They bore their part in the work of early development and as the years went on lived to witness the many changes which were wrought and which placed Worth county in the front rank among the progressive counties of the state.
In his boyhood days Andrew Anderson remained in Mitchell county, Iowa, sharing in the hardships of frontier life, working in the fields through the summer months and attending the district schools in the winter seasons. He continued in Mitchell county until he reached the age of twenty years and then removed to Worth county, Iowa, where his remaining days were passed upon a farm, his death occurring when he had reached the age of sixty-two years, seven months and twenty-four days. This was in the year 1916. He had added forty acres to his farm and had become the owner of a valuable tract of land of two hundred acres, which he brought under a high state of cultivation and improvement. The farm methods which he followed were at once practical and progressive and his labors were attended with excellent results.
On July 16, 1883, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Dahl, a daughter of Gilbert and Anna (Kgersten) Dahl. Mrs. Anderson was born in Worth county, while her parents were natives of Norway. They came to the United States in 1855, settling in Shellrock, Hartland township, Worth county. The father there purchased a tract of land and began farming, devoting several years to the further development and cultivation of that place. He later removed with his family to Lake Mills, where he lived for a time and then became a resident of Bristol township, Lake county, Iowa, where he and his wife spent their remaining days. His death occurred in 1892, when he had reached the age of sixty-nine years, while his wife reached the notable old age of ninety-three years, passing away in January, 1917. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson ware born ten children, as follows: Christina, who resides at St. Ansgar; Oliver, who is a fireman living in Austin; Gustave, who resides on the home farm; Annie, who makes her home at Brooten, Minnesota; Ida, who is still on the home farm; Clarence, a fireman residing in Austin; and Arthur, Marie, Selmer and Alice, all on the home farm.
Mr. Anderson held membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church, of which he was a loyal follower. He belonged to the republican party, giving stalwart support to its principles and platform. For twenty years he served as township trustee - a fact which indicates his fidelity to the duties of the position and the measure of confidence reposed in him. He was also assessor for a number of years. His genuine personal worth won for him high regard. He was devoted to the welfare of his family, was loyal in friendship and progressive in citizenship. To know him was to esteem and honor him and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.
SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Page 500
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, April 1, 2005
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