EDWARD AMERICUS ANDERSON
© Karen McCann Hett All Rights Reserved 2003-2014
Edward Americus Anderson was born on the first of February 1820 in Sumner County, Tennessee. He is said to be the son of James Alexander Anderson and Elizabeth Hudson Nimmo.At some point in his young life, he moved to Fayette County, Tennessee. There he was married on November 12, 1846, to Mary Jane Whitten, daughter of Alfred Whitten and Caroline Matilda Prince. Mary Jane was a first cousin to John W. Barrett, early settler of Madison County, Texas. And she was the half-sister of John D. G. Whitten. She was also the half-sister of Harriett Whitten, who married David Edward Roten.
One of Mary Jane�s cousins wrote the following to her relatives: And now I must tell you of the wedding. We arrived at Uncle Alf�s just in pudding time. The next day after our arrival, Mary Jane was married to Col. Anderson, a young gentleman of great worth and with all a pious Christian...he is a tradesman; makes spinning machines. He appears well informed, intelligent, interesting.Edward and Mary Jane remained in Tennessee when her parents moved to Texas in 1850. Some time between 1850 and 1857, the couple moved to Montgomery County, Texas, and settled in the vicinity of Danville. They were involved in several land transactions between 1857 and 1861.
The couple was still childless at the time of the 1860 census. Mary Jane was alive as late as November of 1861 but apparently died soon afterwards.
In May of 1861, Edward joined the Danville mounted Riflemen under Capt. S. D. Wooldridge. However, he was exempted from further military service because of his occupation of manufacturing spinning machines. Spinning machines were necessary for the production of fabric to be made into clothing for the Confederate army, as well as clothing for those who stayed at home.
A petition submitted to Governor F. R. Lubbock in 1862 states: “Whereas E. A. Anderson, machinist, is now carrying on the manufacture of spinning machines and wool-carding machines in this town, being legally exempted from both Confederate & State military service; that he has, for some months past, been depending on the mechanical labors & assistance of one A. M. McGilvary...we therefore respectfully & earnestly solicit your excellency to exempt A. M. McGilvary from state military service...”
Following the death of Mary Jane, Edward married Lucy A. Hulon on 24 July 1863 in Montgomery County. She was the daughter of William Hulon and his wife, Phoebe; William was also a member of the Riflemen.
At the end of the Civil War, in about 1865, Ed signed the amnesty oath, and his name was copied into the records by the county clerk.
Edward and Lucy had several children. By 1873, E. A. as listed as a Master Mason, a member of San Jacinto Masonic Lodge 106 which had moved from Danville to Willis.
The couple were long-time members of the First Methodist Church of Willis, which was established upon the demise of Danville, and their names appear as memorials on two windows of the church. The pews and chancel rail in the church , still in use in 1970, were built by E. A. Anderson.
He also served as a Justice of the Peace in Precinct 1, being elected in 1890 and apparently serving until his death.
Edward died 11 December 1896 and is buried with Lucy in Willis Cemetery.
Return to History of Co. B 24th Texas Cavalry
For further information and records of all Confederate soldiers of Montgomery County, Texas, as well as histories of the regiments they served in, see Montgomery County, Texas, CSA by Frank M. Johnson. The book may be purchased by visiting Frank's website at frankmjohnson.net or by contacting Frank at [email protected].
© Karen McCann Hett All Rights Reserved 2003-2014
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