Henry B. Anderson Biography This biography appears on pages 428-431 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (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 HENRY B. ANDERSON. South Dakota on the whole has been signally favored in the class of men who have occupied high public offices, in which connection mention should be made of Henry B. Anderson, who served for two terms as state auditor, his second term expiring January 6, 1915. He had previously held various minor positions and in each had given evidence of his worth and capability so that his election to a still higher position followed as a natural sequence. Mr. Anderson is a native of Sweden, born September 15, 1859, at Moheda and was a youth of twelve years when in October, 1871, he was brought to the United States by his parents Andrew and Sarah (slander) Anderson. They were respected and prosperous farming people in their native land, noted for honesty and piety, and they carefully reared their children to appreciate all that is high and ennobling in life. They settled in Jefferson county, Nebraska, and were agriculturists all their lives. Both are deceased. After living in Jefferson county, Nebraska, from October, 1871, until the spring of 1883, Henry B. Anderson came to South Dakota and filed on a homestead in Davison county. His early education had been acquired in the common schools of Sweden and after coming to the new world he had attended the common schools in Nebraska, working nights and mornings for his board while pursuing his early education. His youth was largely a period of toil. He was employed as a farm hand in Nebraska until he came to this state, where he again followed the same occupation, but on his own account, until the fall of 1898. Energy, industry and enterprise characterized him in the control and management of his farm and brought him a fair measure of success. He is still the owner of a valuable farming property in Tobin township, Davison county, and has a fine home in Mitchell, South Dakota. While in Davison county Mr. Anderson was elected county commissioner for the years 1899, 1900 and 1901. He was elected county auditor in 1898 and was reelected in 1901, while from the 1st of March, 1903, until the 1st of March, 190&, he served as deputy county auditor. He was then elected county auditor in 1906 and was reelected in 1908, serving until elected state auditor in 1910. The capability, fairness and promptness with which he discharged his official duties during his first term led to his reelection, and he served until January, 1915. In politics he is a stalwart republican but does not believe in the domination of a machine or political ring, feeling that as a public servant he should treat all people alike regardless of politics. Thus he has proven a most capable official and the excellent record which he has made has led to his frequent selection for office. On his retirement from office the office force presented him with a handsome seal ring. He had retained all of the former employes during his incumbency and it is a pleasing memory to him that during the whole time not a dissension or unpleasantness occurred. On the 12th of November, 1882, at Fairbury, Nebraska, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Ida C. Lindahl, a daughter of John P. and Anna Lindahl, a member of a worthy family of self-respecting and respected people. Her father died in 1908 but Mrs. Lindahl is living and resides most of the time with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, being hale and hearty at the age of eighty-one years. The children of this marriage are: Hilda L., who became the wife of Joseph Vermilyea and died March 23, 1906, leaving a husband and little son, Kenneth; Annie E., who became the wife of Frank J. Walsh in December, 1905, and now has a son; Minnie E., the wife of Joseph B. Walsh, of Pipestone, Minnesota; Arthur A, who died June 3, 1914; Norman H.; Esther E.; Ethel M., who died February 10, 1915; and Carl E., who died May 1, 1914. The family are members of the Methodist church and Mr. Anderson belongs also to Chanka Lodge, I. O. O. F., and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, both at Mitchell, South Dakota. He is truly a self-made man, having depended entirely upon his own labors and resources from an early age. Industry and enterprise have characterized him in every relation of life, and high and honorable purpose is the basic motive of his official career.