Representative William Anderson View All Years

HON. WILLIAM ANDERSON

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare suitable resolutions commemorating the life and service of the Honorable William Anderson, late of Hamilton county, Iowa, beg leave to submit the following memorial:

Honorable William Anderson was born on a farm near London, Canada, April 8, 1852. His father’s parents were Scotch, being educated in the schools of Glasgow, while those of his mother were American. An ancestor of his grandmother’s named Farrar came over in the Mayflower. He was one of a family of eighteen children. He attended school at London, Canada, and graduated from the Middlesex Seminary in the class of ‘69. For the next four years he taught school and in 1873 moved to Hamilton county, Iowa, where he began working on a farm and teaching school. In 1874 he purchased a quarter section of land on which he lived for the next ten years. At this time he farmed during the summer months and taught school during the winter.

In November, 1875, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss M. F. Everett who came from Virginia, and to this union were born seven children. In the year 1883 Mr. Anderson was elected county auditor of Hamilton county which position he held for two terms. He was then elected county superintendent of schools which position he also held for two terms. At the expiration of his term of office as county superintendent of schools he returned to his old home in Jewell and helped organize the State Bank of Jewell. From 1896 to 1899 he was cashier of the First National Bank of Webster City. In 1899 he moved to Jewell and assumed active management of the State Bank, becoming its president.

In 1906 he was elected state representative from Hamilton county and re-elected in 1908. Mr. Anderson, besides holding the offices named, has held minor offices in the town of Jewell.

Mr. Anderson was always a public spirited man, a tireless worker and always endeavoring to further the best interests for the people of the local community, the county and the state. Mr. Anderson was a man who was always willing to help an energetic and upright person in the way of receiving an education. To that end he often encouraged and also helped in a financial way some boy or girl who would have been denied the opportunity otherwise to go through school and graduate from college. Mr. Anderson was affiliated with the Congregational church.

Mr. Anderson passed away at the home of his daughter in Ames, Iowa, March 4, 1926. At this time he was on his way to Jewell from Florida where he and Mrs. Anderson had been spending the winter months together. His weakened condition and his sickness at that time prevented his removal from Ames to Jewell, his home, which was only a matter of some twenty miles. Surviving him are Mrs. Anderson, residing at Jewell, Miss Harriet Anderson of Grand Island, Nebraska, Mrs. Cleo A. Minert of Ames, Charlie Anderson of Madrid, Iowa, and C. W. Anderson of Jewell, Iowa.

By the death of Mr. Anderson the state has lost a useful citizen. His life and public services were of high character and he will be remembered as an ideal patriot, citizen, neighbor and friend.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, That in the passing of the Honorable William Anderson the state has lost a valuable and honored citizen whose fidelity to duty, faithfulness in every public and private trust, and splendid character should be an inspiration to all for a higher ideal in life.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House and the Chief Clerk directed to send an enrolled copy to the members of his family.

IRVING H. KNUDSON,

MARTIN H. TROUP,

RAYBURN L. RUTLEDGE,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted April 6, 1927.