Mr. Morris votes with the republican party and was a member of the city council for six years, capably discharging the duties of the office in the interest of municipal progress and upbuilding. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has many substantial qualities that make him a valued citizen as well as an enterprising and successful business man.
M. O. ANDERSON.
M. O. Anderson, imbued with a progressive spirit, has made steady advancement in his business life, winning substantial success as a farmer, while he is now conducting profitable operations in real estate, making his home in Roland. His birth occurred about three and a half miles south-west of this city in Howard township, on the 3d of November, 1872, his parents being Ove and Aggie (Orton) Anderson, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they were reared and married. On crossing the Atlantic to the new world in 1870, they made their way direct to Story county where they spent their remaining days, the father devoting his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits. As the years passed he prospered and was the owner of a half section of land at the time of his demise, which occurred in 1894 when he was sixty-three years of age. His wife survived him for a decade and died in Roland in 1904. His life history illustrates clearly what may be accomplished by determined purpose and unfaltering industry, and his reliable business methods gained him the confidence and good will of all. Mr. Anderson was the father of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters. The first five were natives of Norway and the others were born in Story county. O. B., a resident of Richland township, and A. B., of Fernald, were children of the father's first marriage. The other members of the family are: T. O., living in Sioux Rapids, Iowa; Barbara, the wife of O. M. Ryerson, of Roland; O. O., who is located near Roland; J. O., of Hamilton county, Iowa; M. O.; Martha and J. T., who are residents of Roland; Axel, who died at the age of fourteen years; and Nellie O. and Allen O., twins, who are residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The youthful days of M. O. Anderson were spent in the usual manner of farm lads. He worked in the fields during the summer months and attended school during the winter seasons. He continued to give his father the benefit of his services until 1897, when at the age of twenty-five years he removed to Roland and for two and a half years thereafter conducted a livery stable. He then worked again for a year upon the home place, at the end of which time he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining the corporation limits of Roland on the south. This property he still owns and to its cultivation and development he devoted his energies