Martin Anderson Biography This biography appears on pages 1161-1162 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) 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://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm MARTIN ANDERSON. Martin Anderson, who owns a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Minnehaha county which he operates with the assistance of his sons, has resided on section 29, Valley Springs township, throughout the past thirty-five years. His birth occurred in Norway on the 20th of September, 1859, his parents being Jens and Karn Anderson, who emigrated to the United States in 1868, establishing their home in Iowa. In that state they remained for about eighteen years, the father devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jens Anderson still survive and now make their home in Valley Springs township, Minnehaha county, South Dakota, the former having reached the age of eighty-four years, while the latter is ninety-two years old. Martin Anderson, who was a lad of nine years when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to America, attended the public schools of Iowa in the acquirement of an education. His youth was spent like that of most boys of the place and period, being divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the home farm. When a young man of nineteen years he came to South Dakota, arriving in Minnehaha county in 1879 and later purchasing and locating upon a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, Valley Springs township. Subsequently he bought another quarter section and therefore owns three hundred and twenty acres at the present time, which he now cultivates with the assistance of his sons. He made all of the improvements on the property and has met with excellent results in his agricultural labors, always utilizing the latest farm machinery and following the most practical methods in the cultivation of his fields. Mr. Anderson also keeps thirty head of cattle and one hundred head of hogs, his live stock interests adding materially to his annual income. He is likewise a stockholder in the Hills Cooperative Creamery and has long been numbered among the substantial and representative citizens of his community. In 1888 Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Quam, a daughter of Hans and Rendi Quam. To them have been born the following children: Clara, who is deceased; Ralph, Florence and Melvin, all at home; and Pearl, who has also passed away. Mr. Anderson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served in the capacity of road supervisor, while for a number of years he acted as chairman of the school board. His son Ralph now holds the position of clerk of the school board. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, the teachings of which he exemplifies in his daily life. Well known in the community where he has resided for more than a third of a century, Mr. Anderson has a wide acquaintance here and has won uniform trust and good-will by reason of a life which in all of its phases has been straightforward and honorable.