Hemming Anderson Biography This biography appears on pages 650-651 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm HEMMING ANDERSON is a native of Sweden, where he was born on the 18th of October, 1854, and where he was reared to manhood, having received a common-school education and having lived there until 1882, when he set forth to seek his fortunes in America. He landed in New York and thence came west to what is now the state of South Dakota, arriving in Vermilion, Clay county, in the spring of that year and there remaining about one month He secured a team of oxen and with the same came to Charles Mix county where he took up homestead claim in Rhoda township. Settlers were few and far removed from one another, and the stretching prairies lay waiting the plowshare. Mr. Anderson forthwith set himself vigorously to the task of improving his land and bringing it under profitable cultivation. He and his family lived for a time in a tent, and thereafter resided in a sod house, twelve feet square. This rude domicile in time gave place to his present comfortable and attractive farm residence, while all about the place are further evidences of enterprise and good management. He has a nice grove of trees on his farm, having raised the same from seed secured along the Missouri river, while all the buildings on the farm are of substantial order. About seventy acres are maintained under effective cultivation, while the remainder is utilized in connection with the raising of live stock, in which department of his enterprise the subject has met with gratifying success. Mr. Anderson has ever shown a deep interest in the cause of education and in all else that makes for the best interests of the community, and he is a staunch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, while both he and his wife are devoted members of the Lutheran church. They are highly esteemed in the community and all view with pleasure the prosperity which has attended the efforts of this sterling pioneer from the far Norseland. In 1880, in his native land, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Maria Johnson, who accompanied him on his emigration to America. They have had three children, Ella, Andrew and Harold, the two sons being deceased, while the only daughter still remains at the parental home, having received good educational advantages and being one of the popular young ladies of the community.