Bio of Anderson, William H. (b.1846) Wabasha Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, 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. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge ========================================================================= This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884. Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some of the bios on her pages. Anderson, William H. (page 1144), is a brother of the above (Welcome Wallace Anderson) born in the same place (Rome, New York) March 12, 1846. He received a limited common-school education. All his life has been occupied in farming. When twenty years old he came to Zumbro, and was some time occupied in farm labor for others, and in renting land. In 1867 he bought eighty acres of land on section 19, and has lived thereon since 1869. This land he has cleared of the undergrowth which covered it, and has erected comfortable buildings. He is an independent democrat, and served the town two years as town constable. All his possessions have been accumulated by labor since his arrival here. December 23, 1867, he married Mary Etta Lyman, who was born in North Ferrisburg, Addison county, Vermont. ========================================================================= This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920. Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some of the bios on her pages. Anderson, William H. (page 575), proprietor of the Anderson House, at Wabasha, and one of the city's leading citizens, is doing his share toward the general prosperity of the community by conducting an excellent hotel, which by its hospitality and service creates in the minds of strangers a most excellent impression of the whole community. He was born in Rome Township, Oneida County, N.Y., March 12, 1846, son of Levi and Harriett (Carpenter) Anderson. His father dying when he was 12 years, leaving a large family, young William H. went to work when he was 14 and contributed his earnings toward the family support. In 1866 he came west and reached Rochester by rail. From there he set out on foot for Wabasha County, and for several years worked as a farm hand in Zumbro Township. In 1867 he purchased 80 acres of wild land, four miles southeast of Zumbro Falls. He built a small board house, and set to work with a will to clear and develop a good farm. To his original tract he added a 160-acre tract and a 40-acre one, making in all a place of 280 acres. In addition to his farming operations, Mr. Anderson made a specialty for many years of buying and shipping cattle. In 1896 he retired from farm work and bought the old hotel at Mazeppa, in this county. In 1900 he moved the old building, and on the site erected the present commodious brick-veneered building. In 1913 he sold out, and purchased the old Hurd House, in Wabasha, a pioneer hostelry which had been erected in 1855 by B. F. Hurd, and enlarged and remodeled some years ago by Mr. Hurd's son-in-law, Ziba Goss. This hotel, Mr. Anderson has since conducted, ably assisted by his wife and daughters. He changed the name to the Anderson House, and wrought many improvements and alterations. He is a genial, competent man, of wide acquaintance, and is highly regarded by the traveling public of the Northwest, as well as by the citizens of his own city. In 1915, desiring to establish for his family a home life which even the excellent hotel conditions could not entirely furnish, he erected across from the hotel, one of the most beautiful residences in the city. It is delightfully situated in picturesque grounds on the banks of the Mississippi, and is of much architectural beauty wrought in tile and stucco. The furnishings are tasteful and restful throughout. Here he and his family find peace and contentment away from the strenuous duties of hotel management, and here, in future years, he and his wife plan to spend their declining days. Mr. Anderson was married in 1885 to Ida Hoffman, of Zumbro Township, and this union has been blessed with four children: Ora, Verna, Belle and Effie. Ora died in childhood. Verna married Joseph McCaffery, and has two children, Jean Elizabeth and Ann. Mr. McCaffery for the past 14 years has been in the railroad mail service on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, between St. Paul and Chicago. He and his wife live two blocks from the hotel. The daughters of Mr. Anderson have been given unusual educational advantages, not only in the Wabasha County schools, but also in the College of St. Theresa in Winona. Mr. Anderson has been unusually fortunate in his family life. His wife has been a true helpmeet in all his endeavors, and now takes entire charge of the hotel kitchen. The daughters are competent business managers thoroughly versed in all departments of hotel management, in kitchen, dining room, guest rooms and office. All are interested in church work. Mrs. Anderson and the Misses Belle and Effie are members of the Episcopal church, while Mrs. and Mrs. McCaffery are members of the Catholic church. Levi and Harriett (Carpenter) Anderson, parents of William H. Anderson, were natives of this country, of Scotch descent. They were married in Oneida County, M. Y. There Levi Anderson died in 1858. His widow later came west and died in Wabasha County. In the family were seven children, four sons and three daughters: William H., Abram J., Fairfax and Welcome, Minica, Betsy and Phoebe. Abram J. lives in Wabasha County; Fairfax in Carrington, N. D.; and Welcome in Edgerly, N. D., all being prosperous farmers. Minica died in young womanhood. Betsy lives in Sacred Heart, Minn., and is the wife of D. H. Day. Phoebe is the wife of H. W. McGeorge of Washington, D. C. The Anderson House, in Wabasha, owned and managed by William H. Anderson and his family, is a hotel widely known for its excellence. It is well situated and provides most excellent accommodations in every department. Aside from the office, reception rooms, parlors and dining rooms, it has 45 sleeping rooms, is well equipped in the way of baths and the like, and everything possible is done for the comfort of the guests. Visit the present-day Anderson House site. If you make reservations, don't forget to reserve one of the Anderson House's lovely kitties for company in your room during your stay!