Biography of
George H. Anderson
p. 1642
GEORGE H. ANDERSON.
Active and prominent in public life, George H. Anderson has ably filled many county and township offices of trust and responsibility, in
each devoting his time and energies to the duties devolving upon him, and is now
rendering efficient service as sheriff of Wayne county, his home being in
Fairfield. A son of Rice Anderson, he was born on a farm in Wayne county,
Illinois, August 7, 1867, of Virginian ancestry.
Born in Virginia in 1810, Rice
Anderson was a hardy youth of seventeen summers when, in 1827, he followed the
march of civilization westward to Illinois. A pioneer settler of Orchard
township, Wayne county, he lived there for a time, later moving to Garden Hill
township, where in connection with general farming he followed his trade of a
brick mason for many years, building all of the chimneys for miles around. He
outlived the allotted three score and ten years of man’s life, dying on the home
farm December 15, 1882.
Rice Anderson
was twice married.
He married first Patsie Scott, who died in early womanhood, leaving five
children, namely: Jefferson, Robert, James, Rice and Sarah Jane. At the outbreak
of the Civil war the three older boys, Jefferson, Robert and James, enlisted in
the Illinois volunteer infantry, and with their regiment took part in many
important engagements. Jefferson was killed in battle, and
Robert and James died of disease contracted in the army. Rice,
the youngest
P. 1643
son, at. the age of seventeen
years, enlisted for service in the army, but it being near the close of the
conflict was soon honorably discharged. He is now living in Washington.
Sarah
Jane, the only daughter, is dead. Rice Anderson married for his second wife a
widow, Mrs. Judy (Brown) Burkett, and they reared two children, namely: George
Henry, the special subject of this sketch, and William Levi, a farmer of La Mar
township, who at the present writing, in 1912, is serving as superintendent of
the Wayne County Poor Farm.
Spending his childhood days on the
home farm in Orchard township, George H. Anderson acquired his early knowledge
of books in the district schools. Left fatherless at the age of thirteen years,
he was forced to look out for himself thereafter, until his marriage gaining a
livelihood as a farm laborer. He subsequently farmed on rented land for four
years, when, in 1892, he purchased forty acres of land on Garden Hill township,
and in its management was quite successful. As his means increased, Mr. Anderson
invested in more land, and has now three valuable farms in this county. His
brother, William Levi Anderson, is also engaged in agricultural pursuits, his
farm of one hundred and forty acres lying in Elm River township.
An uncompromising Republican in
politics, Mr. Anderson has very frequently been chosen by the people to fill
public positions. He has served as school director two terms; as township
collector one term; as postmaster at Zenith five years; was superintendent of
the County Poor Farm in 1902; was reelected to the same position in 1905; and
again reelected in 1907, and served until 1909. Elected sheriff of Wayne county
in November, 1910, for a term of four years, Mr. Anderson has since filled the
office to the satisfaction of every one interested .in the institution.
Fraternally he is a member of Johnsonville Lodge, No. 863, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, at Johnsonville, Illinois, and of Lodge No. 6932, Modern Woodmen of
America, at Orchardville. Religiously he belongs to the Church of the Latter-Day
Saints.
Mr. Anderson
married, in March,
1888, Frances Arminta Morris, a daughter of I. A. Morris, and of their union six
children have been born, namely: Jesse Leroy, aged twenty-two years, is married; Freddie Ray
died at the age of seven years; Christine lived but two years; Cecil
Owen, thirteen years old; Birdie Claude, ten years of age; and Lelah Arminta,
a
little girl of seven years.
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