Biography of Robert M. Anderson, Plant City, Hillsborough County, FL File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Rayburn (naev@earthlink.net). USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or publication by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ****************************************************************************************** Transcribed from: The History of Florida: Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. III, page 88, 1923. ANDERSON, ROBERT M., the vital and progressive secretary of the Plant City Orange Growers Association, at Plant City, Hillsborough County, was born in Dale County, Alabama, May 8, 1870. And is the son of F. F. and M. E. (SMYTH) ANDERSON, the former of whom was born in South Carolina and the latter in Alabama. The parents continued their residence in Alabama until 1904, when they came to Florida and established their residence in Lake County, where the father became a successful truck farmer and where he passed the remainder of his life, his widow being still a resident of that county, and six children who likewise survive the honored father. ROBERT M. of this review is the eldest of the children. The public schools of Alabama afforded ROBERT M. ANDERSON his youthful education, and he remained at the parental home in that state until his marriage, in 1898, to Miss JESSIE EDWARDS, who was reared and educated in Elmore County, Alabama. After his marriage Mr. ANDERSON resided at Prattville, Alabama, until 1904, when he came to Lake County, Florida. In that county he was engaged in truck farming three years, and he then returned to Alabama, where he remained six years and was manager of the Pratt Gin & Milling Company. At the expiration of the period noted he returned to Florida, where he continued his active association with the ginning and milling business six years. In 1917 he removed to Plant City and took a position with the Plant City Growers Association. After having held for some time the position of manager for this important industrial concern he was elected its secretary and treasurer, of which dual office he has since continued the popular and efficient incumbent, with prestige as one of the representative business men of Plant City. The concern of which he is secretary and treasurer controls a large wholesale and retail business, and conducts a large well equipped store and also a grist and feed mill at Plant City. Mr. ANDERSON is a loyal supporter of the principles of the democratic party, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity the Woodmen of the World, and is a zealous member of the Baptist Church, in which he is serving as superintendent of the Sunday school at the Knight Church, four miles distant from Plant City and one of the prosperous rural churches of the county.