Henry O. Anderson Biography


	This biography appears on page 1298 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	HENRY 0. ANDERSON is a native of Sweden, born November 15, 1842, 
and in his native land he grew to the age of eighteen and received his 
education. At the age named he moved to Norway, where he remained five 
years and served his apprenticeship at cabinetmaking. In 1866 he 
emigrated to the United States and located for a year at Waupun, 
Wisconsin, then moved to Neenah. in the same state, where he remained 
three years working at his trade. In the spring of 1870 he came to South 
Dakota and took up his residence at Yankton, having made a trip through 
this section in the previous fall for inspection. He took up land near 
Yankton, but while developing it wrought at his trade, living in the 
city. He at once became active in the public affairs of the county in 
which he lived and in 1873 was elected to the lower house of the state 
legislature, and was re-elected at the end of his term, being the 
candidate of the Republican party. During the last two years of his 
residence there he was engaged in conducting a meat market and 
butchering business. In the spring of 1876 he left Yankton for the Black 
Hills, making the trip by way of Pierre and settling at Deadwood where 
he worked at his trade for a year. The next spring he returned to 
Yankton and formed a partnership with three other men for the purpose of 
installing and conducting a planing mill in the Hills. This was known as 
the Gayville Planing Mill and was a profitable undertaking. Mr. Anderson 
was connected with it until 1883, when he sold his interest and in 1884 
he moved to Sturgis, putting up a frame house for business where his 
business block now stands. He formed a partnership with J. G. Wenke and 
together they carried on an extensive hardware trade until 1889, when 
Mr. Anderson bought his partner out and after that until 1891 he 
conducted the business alone. It grew in magnitude and flourished to 
such an extent that in 1893 he was obliged to enlarge the store, which 
he did by erecting a brick store on the adjoining lot and then added a 
stock of furniture to what he already had and also opened high-grade 
undertaking parlors. In the autumn of 1891 he took his son Albert into 
partnership with him and the firm name became H. O. Anderson & Son. The 
establishment is one of the largest and most progressive in this portion 
of the state, and is a popular emporium for everything in its various 
lines of trade. The firm is also extensively engaged in the stock 
industry, having a large and well-developed ranch on Elk creek. He has 
always taken an active and patriotic interest in politics on the 
Republican side, and although averse to public life in every way, 
consented once to serve the town as mayor, but he has here steadfastly 
declined to become a candidate for any other office. On November 15, 
1867, he was married to Miss Inga M. Nordgran, a native of Sweden, the 
marriage occurring at Neenah, Wisconsin, during his residence there They 
have two children, Albert and Edna. Mr. Anderson belongs to the Odd 
Fellows and the United Workmen, holding his membership in the lodges of 
these orders at Sturgis.