GEORGE H. ANDERSON, Gun Plain Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan

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History of Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan, with Illustrations and 
Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Men and Pioneers.
Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co.  1880.  Press of J. B. Lippincott & 
Co., Philadelphia.

The Anderson family are of Scotch origin, Daniel Anderson having been 
born in Scotland, from whence he emigrated soon after his marriage, and 
settled in the town of Mayfield, Fulton Co., N. Y., where he bought a 
tract of wild land, Mayfield being then a newly-settled country.  His 
son, John Anderson, was born in Mayfield, Dec. 29, 1797, and grew to 
manhood on the home-farm.  He was early taught that work was one of 
God's ordinances, and that boys, though small, were no exceptions to 
the rule.  His education was obtained evenings by the light of the 
fireplace, and by a close observance of men and the ways of the world. 
He was a natural mechanic, and could make anything that could be made 
with tools.  Arrived at his majority, he built on his father's farm a 
saw-mill, which he ran until about he time of his marriage to Miss 
Laura Rice, which occurred Feb. 23, 1826.  Miss Rice was born in Fulton 
Co., Feb. 19, 1799.  After his marriage, Mr. Anderson worked at the 
carpenter trade, also as a millwright, which he followed until the 
spring of 1834, when, with his wife and two children, he started for 
Michigan in quest of a home.  He came to Grass Lake, in Jackson County, 
where he left his family and then set out on foot in search of 
government land.  He came to Kalamazoo, but, finding the desirable land 
occupied, he pushed on farther north into Allegan County, which was 
then on the outskirts of civilization, and in what is now Gun Plain 
township he bought of the government four hundred acres of land.  He 
then returned for his family, and at once came on to the new home in 
the wilderness.  Until a long house could be built they lived in a 
deserted house, then moved into their own home, which was built on the 
northwest quarter of section 29, part of which is now the village of 
Plainwell.  He at once commenced to improve his farm, and soon cleared 
fields made beautiful by waving grain took the place of the forest, 
while on every hand the homes of new settlers were springing up.  Mr. 
Anderson cleared up one hundred acres of his farm and erected on it 
good buildings, and upon it he lived until his death, which occurred 
Jan. 17, 1877.  In politics Mr. Anderson was in early life a Whig, and 
joined the Republican party on its organization, and was always one of 
its strongest supporters.  He was for many years postmaster at 
Plainwell, was also justice of the peace, school inspector, supervisor, 
and associate judge.  He is spoken of by his old friends and neighbors 
as one of nature's noblemen, a man whom to know was to love and esteem, 
and against whom no evil could be said.
  George H. Anderson was born in Mayfield, Fulton Co., N. Y., Oct. 22, 
1827.  In 1834 came to Michigan, as set forth in the biography of his 
father, John Anderson.  On the farm in Gun Plain Mr. Anderson grew to 
manhood, going to school with his sister to the log school-house in the 
woods, they being the only scholars from their part of the town.  When 
eighteen years old he attended Dr. Stone's school one term, and four 
years after passed two terms in the college at Olivet.  He then worked 
on his father's farm summers, and taught school winters until his 
marriage, which occurred June 25, 1852, his bride being Miss Elizabeth 
Woodhams, daughter of William H. and Elizabeth (Chart) Woodhams.  She 
was born in Croyden, Surrey Co., England, May 1, 1833.  In September, 
1852, Mr. Anderson and his wife, in company with a party of friends, 
sailed in the clipper ship "Green Point" for California, going around 
the Horn, and being five months on the way.  They arrived in San 
Francisco March 11, 1853, and soon after went into a ranch in Santa 
Clara Valley, near Redwood City.  Remained on the ranch one year, 
engaged in stockraising.  He then returned to San Francisco and bought 
a mill-ranch near the city, on which he remained  until the fall of 
1859, and meeting with marked success.  He then sold out and returned 
home, coming via Panama.  Soon after his return he engaged in the 
mercantile business in Plainwell, also carrying on his farm of two 
hundred acres near the village.  In 1869, Mr. Anderson sold out his 
mercantile business, since which he has managed his farm and attended 
to his property in the village, consisting of tenant-houses and other 
buildings.  He is, and has always been, a Republican, but not a 
politician, never having sought or desired office.
  Mr. Anderson and his wife are consistent members of the Baptist 
Church.  There have been born to them six children, as follows: George 
W., born March 29, 1853; Edward J., born Sept. 9, 1854; Ella E., born 
Jan. 25, 1857; Ida M., born Nov.18, 1858, all born in California; Edith 
A., born Nov. 1, 1860; and Lewis C., born Feb. 21, 1876, the two last 
in Plainwell, Mich.  George W. is a conductor on the Grand Rapids and 
Indiana Railroad, a position he has held six years.  Edward J. enlisted 
in the regular army when fifteen years old, and served for five years. 
After his return he entered the office of Silas Stafford, in Plainwell, 
as a law student, was admitted to the bar in 1876, since when he has 
followed his profession in Plainwell, where he has an office and a good 
practice.  He is at present one of the Circuit Court commissioners for 
Allegan County.  Mrs. Anderson's father, William H. Woodhams, was born 
in the county of Kent, England, Oct. 12, 1801.  He is of Welsh descent, 
his ancestors living in Wales prior to their removal to England.  His 
family were wealthy farmers, he himself having a lease of a farm which 
had been leased by his family for generations.  In his boyhood days he 
was a miller's apprentice, but never followed the business.  In 1827 he 
married Elizabeth Chart, which union was blessed with six sons and two 
daughters.  In 1845, Mr. Woodhams bought ninety-five acres of land in 
Gun Plain, Allegan Co., Mich., and the following year sold his lease, 
and with his family emigrated to America; he at once moved on to his 
farm, which he improved, and on part of which he laid out a portion of 
the village of Plainwell.  The growth and prosperity of this 
flourishing village are due in a measure to Mr. Woodhams, who has done 
much for advancement.  He also bought other tracts of land, and lots in 
Kalamazoo village, a good deal of which is now owned by his sons.  He 
has now in his old age retired from business with more than a 
competency.
  Mrs. Woodhams, who was a lady of fine literary abilities, and noted 
for her generous and noble qualities, died Dec. 15, 1873, in 
California, whither she had gone for her health, mourned by a large 
circle of friends and relatives.