PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM
pg 729, 730
JAMES ANDERSON, ESQ. Few men in Clark County have made for themselves a finer record or are held in higher esteem by the people, than be with whose name we introduce this sketch and whose portrait is shown on the opposite page. He was for many years Justice of the Peace and has long been familiarly known as Esquire ANDERSON. As an illustration of the self-made man who worked his way upward from a modest position in life to one of affluence, he forms as example well worthy of emulation. Until the spring of 1889 he occupied his father’s old homestead and then removed to his present farm on Section 36, Green Township. His residence was put up in the fall of 1888 at the cost of $2,500. It is built of brick in modern style of architecture and with its surroundings, including a fine octagon shaped barn and shade and fruit trees, makes a very pleasant and attractive home.
Mr. ANDERSON is the owner of eight hundred and twenty-five
acres of valuable land, mostly under a good state of cultivation and with one
hundred and sixty-five acres in timber. Besides that which he occupies, he has
three other good farm dwellings with the necessary outbuildings and these are
occupied by tenants. He is considerably interested in stock-raising, making a
specialty of Polled-Angus cattle. A leading man in his community and giving his
support to all worthy enterprises, Mr. ANDERSON has been no unimportant factor
in bringing it to its present position. For many years he has been an Elder in
the Presbyterian Church and for a period of twenty years officiated as
Superintendent of the Sunday school. For the same length of time he was also a
member of the Board of Education of Green Township and was Township Clerk and
Justice of the Peace twelve years each. He has kept himself posted upon the
leading questions of the day, always casting his influence on the side of right
and justice. The Grange movement at an early date enlisted his sympathies and he
served as Master, Secretary, Lecturer, etc., for a number of years. Since
becoming a naturalized citizen, he has given his unqualified support to the
Republican Party.
The subject of this sketch was born July 2, 1815, in the
town of Milnacraig, Forfarshire, Scotland and was the fourth child of James and
Elizabeth (O’GILVIE) ANDERSON, who were also born in the Land of Thistle and
came from a long line of substantial ancestry. James ANDERSON, SR. first opened
his eyes to the light in 1780 and his good wife was born in 1775. They were
married in their native shire in 1806. They emigrated to America in 1820 and
making their way directly to Ohio, settled first on Clark’s Run, Greene
County. Subsequently they removed to a farm south of Yellow Springs where they
lived five years. In 1825 they changed their residence to Green Township, Clark
County, where they made their permanent home and spent the remainder of their
lives.
The father of our subject was both a miller and a weaver by
trade and usually followed the latter. In his native Scotland he was a member of
the local militia which ad its headquarter in the city of Perth. His brother
George was an Orderly Sergeant in the British Army and died in India in 1817.
To the parents of our subject there was born a family of
six children and James Jr. is the only surviving child. He is indeed the only
living representative of this branch of the ANDERSON family. He was a lad of
five years when he crossed the Atlantic with his parents and was reared to
manhood amid the wild scenes of pioneer life. He grew up strong and healthful in
mind and body, imbued with the principals which are peculiar to the Scotch
people and which have made them on of the most famous nationalities on the face
of the globe. He attended the district schools of Miami Township, the temple of
learning being a log cabin with greased paper for window panes, slab benches for
seats, puncheon floor, with no door in summer and in winter simply a quilt hung
before the doorway for partial protection from the biting blasts. Later he
pursued his studies in a more modern log house and attended school for a while
at PATTERSON’S MILL, in Clifton.
Always a faithful and devoted son, Mr. ANDERSON signalized the depth of his ? affection by remaining with his parents until passing from earth, they no more needed his affectionate care. He was married August 22, 1889 to Miss Anna, daughter of James NEVIUS, who came from New Jersey to Ohio during the pioneer days, settling in Yellow Springs and is now living in this township with his daughter, MRS. ANDERSON. Mrs. ANDERSON was born in Greene County, April 2, 1872 and remained with her parents until her marriage. Mr. ANDERSON numbers his friends by the score in the community where he has lived so long and made for himself the record of an honest man and good citizen.
transcribed by Jean Hehn
25 Mar 2002