G. S. Anderson

G. S. ANDERSON, a prominent and progressive real estate dealer of Parsons, Kansas, ranks among the pioneer settlers of Labette county, and claims the distinction of having been the first settler in School District No. 79, in Osage township. Mr. Anderson is a son of G. W. and Lavina (Clark) Anderson.

G. W. Anderson was born in Virginia and died in Illinois. His wife was born in Ohio, and died in Kansas in 1871. Of his ancestors, Mr. Anderson knows little, except that they were extensive stock raisers and traders in the East. One brother, James T., was killed during the siege of Vicksburg. He also had two sisters, Matilda and Cynthia, both of whom are deceased. His only living relatives with whom he has any personal acquaintance, are two nieces, one of whom resides in Oklahoma, and the other in Des Moines, Iowa.

Mr. Anderson was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, October 15, 1839. He obtained but a meager education in the district schools, after which he was engaged in farming pursuits until the Civil War broke out. Responding to his country's call for men, he enlisted in Company E, 14th Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf., and served from 1862 until the successful termination of that bitter conflict. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg, and participated in Sherman's famous march to the sea. Although comrades fell thick about him and his brother was killed at his side, Mr. Anderson was not even wounded, and was mustered out of service at Beaufort, North Carolina, at the close of the war.

In 1868, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Elizabeth Purvines, who was born in Illinois, in 1847, and who died in the fall of 1871, in her native state. In 1868, Mr. Anderson came west, and in 1869, moved to Labette county, Kansas. On February 10, 1869, he located on the northwest quarter of section 31, township 31, range 18, in Osage township, having preempted 160 acres. The journey westward from Menard county, Illinois, was made in true emigrant style, in a covered wagon, with his companion by his side. After farming for twelve years in Osage township, he removed to Parsons, where he conducted a grocery store for several years and finally engaged in the real estate business in 1884. Since then he has devoted his entire time to buying and selling real estate. The first three years, J. Willard Walker was a partner in the business. Since then Mr. Anderson has conducted it alone, assisted only by his daughter, Helen. In 1889, his office was removed to its present location, over No. 1902 Johnson avenue. His home, however, is at 1930 Appleton avenue, where he built a fine, large residence.

Some time after removing to Labette county, Mr. Anderson contracted a second matrimonial alliance, Julia Glossop, an Ohioan by birth, but an Illinoisan, by adoption, became his wife. Six children were born to them, namely: Cora D., William T., Gertrude, Jessie E., Helen M., and Claude R. The last named two still brighten the home fireside. Cora D. married a Mr. Parsons, a railroad engineer at Parsons, Kansas; they have three children, - Carl, Hazel, and Eugene. William T. has been a pressman in Chicago for the past five years. Gertrude married a Mr. Beever, of Joplin, Missouri, and Jessie E. is now the wife of Mr. Cosatt, a prominent grocer of Parsons.

Mr. Anderson cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, but his sympathies are now with the Populists. He is a valued member of the Order of Select Friends, and of the G. A. R., Post No. 81, both of Parsons. Being a man of enterprise, he has always evinced a fitting interest in the welfare of his adopted home, and has held various positions of trust. He is largely interested in educational matters, and, has served on the school board for several years. He enjoys the society of his family, around his own fireside, and unites with them in worshipping at the M. E. church, of which all are devout members. Altogether, he is a good and progressive citizen, and one whom Parsons could ill afford to lose.