J.M. Anderson
J. M. Anderson, one of the most progressive, energetic and
successful farmers of Paint Creek township, is operating on
section 4 one hundred and twenty acres of the farm upon which he
has resided since he was three years of age. He was born in
Jefferson township, Allamakee county, on the 24th of November,
1866, and is a son of Martin Anderson, who was born in Nordre
Land, Norway, on the 11th of January, 1836, and as a young man
came to the United States, settling in Allamakee county, Iowa,
June 24, 1857. He was entirely penniless and still owed the money
for his passage across the ocean, but with characteristic energy
he set himself to improve and develop the tract of sixty acres of
wild land in Jefferson township which he took up. There he made
his home for seven years, after which, in 1869, he moved to a
farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section, Paint Creek
township, to which he later added eighty acres adjoining and
another eighty acres in Center township. This property he made in
the course of years one of the finest in this part of Iowa and
upon it he made his home for many years. He wedded Miss Anna
Christoferson, who was born in Norway, September 29, 1837, and
died September 3, 1898. In their family were eleven children:
Mrs. H. J. Busness, of Paint Creek township; Christina, deceased;
Mrs. S. T. Rickensrud, of Fosston, Minnesota; Albert M., of Paint
Creek township; J. M., of this review; Anton, who has passed
away; Olaf, of Center township; Mrs. Edward Busness, also of
Paint Creek township; Nellie, who is a nurse in a hospital at La
Crosse, Wisconsin; Laura, of Sioux City, Iowa; and Mrs. E. T.
Rickensrud, of Jefferson township. After the death of his first
wife Martin Anderson sold his land to his sons and took a trip to
Norway, where he was again married. He and his wife now reside in
Allamakee county, in a house on the farm belonging to his son
Olaf.
J. M. Anderson was three years of age when his parents moved to
Paint Creek township and upon the homestead he grew to manhood,
aiding in its operation and acquiring his education in the
district schools. When he began his independent career he already
understood farming in principle and detail, having been reared to
that occupation, and he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of
the old homestead, which he has since cultivated and developed.
Upon this property he has made substantial improvements, erecting
barns and outbuildings, all modern and in good repair, and
installing the necessary labor-saving machinery to facilitate the
work of the fields. He has met with excellent success in his
farming and stock-raising, both branches of his business proving
under his able management important and profitable.
Mr. Anderson married Miss Martha E. Busness on the 8th of April,
1896, a native of Allamakee county and a daughter of Ole and
Martha Busness, now deceased, who came as early settlers to Paint
Creek township. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have six children, Leonard,
Alfred, Edna, Eveline, Leonora and Rudolph. Mr. Anderson is a
member of the Lutheran church and gives his political allegiance
to the republican party, serving as present as school director.
His life has been such as to merit the respect of the people
among whom it has been to a great extent passed, and by his
honesty, uprightness and industry he has contributed much toward
the upbuilding of the community of which he is a representative
citizen.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Jan Miller
Return to 1913 biographies index