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Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JAMES ANDERSON, ESQ. Few men in Clark County have made for themselves a finer record or are held in higher esteem by the people, than he with whose name we introduce this sketch, and whose portrait* is shown on the opposite page. He was for many years Justice of the Peace, and has long been familiarly known as ‘Squire Anderson. As an illustration of the self-made man who worked his way upward from a modest position in life to one of affluence, he forms an example well worthy of emulation. Until the spring of 1889, he occupied his father’s old homestead and then removed to his present farm on section 86, Green Township. His residence was put up in the fall of 1888 at the cost of $2,500. It is built of brick in modern style of architecture and with its surroundings, including a fine octagon-shaped barn and shade and fruit trees, makes a very pleasant and attractive home.

Mr. Anderson is the owner of eight hundred and twenty-five acres of valuable land, mostly under a good state of cultivation and with one hundred and sixty-five acres in timber. Besides that which he occupies, he has three other good farm dwellings, with the necessary outbuildings and these are occupied by tenants. He is considerably interested in stock-raising, making a specialty of Polled-Angus cattle. A leading man in his community and giving his support to all worthy enterprises, Mr. Anderson has been no unimportant factor in bringing it to its present position. For many years he has been an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and for a period of twenty years officiated as Superintendent of the Sunday-school. For the same length of time he was also a member of the Board of Education of Green Township and was Township Clerk and Justice of the Peace twelve years each. He has kept himself posted upon the leading questions of the day, always casting his influence on the side of right and justice. The Grange movement at an early date enlisted his sympathies and he served as Master, Secretary, Lecturer, etc., for a number of years. Since becoming a naturalized citizen, he has given his unqualified support to the Republican party.

The subject of this sketch was born July 2, 1815, in the town of Milnacraig, Forfarshire, Scotland, and was the fourth child of James and Elizabeth (O’Gilvie) Anderson, who were also born in the Land of theThistle and came from a long line of substantial ancestry. James Anderson, Sr., first opened his eyes to the light in 1780, and his good wife was born in 1775. They were married in their native shire in 1806. They emigrated to America in 1820 and making their way directly to Ohio, settled first on Clark’s Run, Greene County. Subsequently they removed to a farm south of Yellow Springs where they lived five years. In 1825 they changed their residence to Green Township, Clark County, where they made their permanent home and spent the remainder of their lives.

The father of our subject was both a miller and a weaver by trade and usually followed the latter. In his native Scotland he was a member of the local militia which had its headquarters in the city of Perth. His brother George was an Orderly Sergeant in the British Army and died in India in 1817.

To the parents of our subject there was born a family of six children and James, Jr., is the only surviving child. He is indeed the only living representative of this branch of the Anderson family. He was a lad of five years when he crossed the Atlantic with his parents and was reared to manhood amid the wild scenes of pioneer life. He grew up strong and healthful in mind and body, imbued with the principles which are peculiar to the Scotch people and which have made them one of the most famous nationalities on the face of the globe. He attended the district schools of Miami Township, the temple of learning being a log cabin with greased paper for window panes, slab benches for seats, puncheon floor, with no door in summer and in winter simply a quilt hung before the doorway for partial protection from the biting blasts. Later he pursued his studies in a more modern log house and attended school for a while at Patterson’s Mill, in Clifton.

Always a faithful and devoted son, Mr. Anderson signalized the depth of his filial affection by remaining with his parents until, passing from earth, they no more needed his affectionate care. He was married August 22, 1889, to Miss Anna, daughter of James Nevius, who came from New Jersey to Ohio during the pioneer days, settling in Yellow Springs, and is now living in this township with his daughter, Mrs. Anderson. Mrs. Anderson was born in Greene County, April 2, 1872, and remained with her parents until her marriage. Mr. Anderson numbers his friends by the score in the community where he has lived so long and made for himself the record of an honest man and good citizen.

*A portrait was included ion the original printed volume.

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This family biography is one of the many biographies included in Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio published by Chapman Bros., in 1890. 

View additional Greene County, Ohio family biographies here: Greene County, Ohio Biographies

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