Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 612 - 613 

LORENZO ANDERSON, one of the prominent and representative men of Ohio Township, residing on section 26, is one of the original pioneers of that portion of Sedgwick County. He settled there in 1871, and has been a resident of the place ever since. On his arrival, he took up under the pre-emption act the southwest quarter of section 26, Ohio Township, when there were but a few places that dotted the grassy, wilderness in that locality, and has been prominently identified with its entire history. He was largely instrumental in the organization of the township, and has otherwise been connected with its development. 

            The subject of our sketch made his appearance upon the stage of life Oct. 12, 1818, beneath the roof of his parents, Stephen and Patience (Randall) Anderson, in Cumberland County, Me. His father and mother were also natives of the old Pine Tree State, and the former was a blacksmith by trade. The paternal great-uncle of our subject, John Anderson, was a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, and fought gallantly for the independence of his native land. 

            Lorenzo Anderson was reared to manhood in his native State, and received in his boyhood days but a limited education, not having had the facilities for acquiring knowledge possessed by the youth of the present day. Having been a reader all his life, he has, however, made up for the disadvantages of his younger years, and is well posted on all general topics. At an early age he commenced learning the blacksmith's trade with his father, and worked with him some eight or ten years, after which he carried on the business for himself in the same locality until 1854. In that year, feeling a natural desire to seek a place in a new country, where he could enter upon agricultural pursuits with less drawbacks than were to be found the stony soil of New England, he moved to Illinois and settled in Henry County, where he engaged in farming. That locality was then but newly settled, and there he learned, to endure the hardships incident upon a pioneer life, and made it his residence until coming to Sedgwick County, in 1871. 

            While still a resident of Maine, Mr, Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Lucy A. Soule, the ceremony taking place Nov, 26, 1841. She became the mother of four children, as follows: Edwin A., a veteran of the late Civil War, and a resident of Ohio Township; Herbert, deceased; Lorenzo D., who is living in Dakota; and Rufus S., who makes his home at Des Moines, Iowa, Having lost his wife, Mr. Anderson a second time entered into the bonds of matrimony while in Maine, he wedding, July 16, 1854, Miss Mary L. Randall. She is a native of Cumberland County, Me., born May 5, 1831, and the daughter of Isaac and Betsey (Cummings) Randall. She is of Scotch descent, partially, her grandfather on her father's side having been born in Scotland. Three of her brothers, Joseph P., John F. and Albert J., were soldiers in the Federal army during the great Rebellion; and performed their duty gallantly. By this latter union there have been born nine children, six of whom are living, as follows: John; Mary; Kate, the wife of William H. Roll, of Peck, Kan.; Gertrude G., Lucy H. and Charles A. The last named was the first child born in Ohio Township after its organization. The deceased children bore the names of Stephen D., Lucy A. and Frank W. 

            The subject of our sketch has served as Township Clerk for several years, and has been solicited to offer himself as a candidate for other important offices, but would not accept. When he settled on his farm there was not a furrow turned on it, and wild animals were plentiful in the neighborhood. He has, however, by dint of energy, perseverance and industry, made of it a good, cultivated farm, and has put up some very handsome improvements. While a resident of Munson Township, Henry Co., Ill., he filled several of the leading township offices for several years. He is a Republican in politics, and takes considerable interest in all the campaigns of that party. He is entirely a self-made man, having accumulated what property he has by industry and hard work, in which he has the full assistance of his devoted wife. His farm consists of 160 acres of excellent land. 

             Edwin A. Anderson, the son of the subject of this sketch, enlisted, Sept, 1, 1861, in Company B, 9th Illinois Cavalry, under Col. A. G. Brackett. The regiment to which he was attached was assigned for duty to the Army of the Tennessee, and he participated with them in the capture of Nashville, the battles of Iuka, Tupelo, and many other of the contests in the department of the Southwest, including that at Franklin, Tenn. He was in nearly all of the thirty or more engagements in which the regiment was present, and was captured near Selma, Ala., by Gen. Hood's cavalry, but the same evening made his escape and rejoined the Federal lines. While out foraging at Germantown, Tenn., he and three of his comrades, while eating dinner at a farmhouse, were captured by the rebels, but when the shades of evening settled down he and one other boy again escaped. He was discharged in November, 1865, and came with his father to this county in 1871, and pre-empted the southeast quarter of section 26, Ohio Township, where he at present resides. As a result of his service in the army he is considerably broken down in health; he is identified with the society of the G. A. R.

[ Home ]