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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Biographical Souvenir of the Counties of Buffalo, Kearney, Phelps, Harlan and Franklin, Nebraska published in 1890 by F. A. Battey & Company.  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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W. H. ANDERSON, one of the representative farmers of Buffalo county, Nebraska, was born in New York City, October 10, 1852. His father, James Anderson, also a native of New York City, was born in 1812, and there he was raised, following the carpenter trade for many years. He moved to Lake county, Indiana, however, and remained there a short time; he then returned to New York; then moved again to Indiana, and in October, 1862, came to Nebraska, settling on Wood river, near what is now known as Wood River Station, remaining three years. He then went East, living at Woodford county, Illinois. Returning to Nebraska in March, 1879, he settled in Center township four miles east of Kearney. Subsequently growing old and infirm, his son, William H., brought him to his own residence, where he died August 8, 1886, at the age of seventy-four years — a prominent member of the Evangelical church. His wife, Isabella, was a daughter of William Hodge, a native of Scotland, a blind musician, who came to this country, settling on Long Island, N. Y. There he died in 1884 at the age of ninety-nine. Mrs. Isabella Anderson is still living. This marriage was blessed with seven children, viz. — Isabella(deceased), Robert (deceased), James, Mary Ann, David, Alexander and William H. James Anderson, Junior, served in the late war in the union ranks and now lives at Newton, Kansas. Sarah is the wife of A. B. Cherry; Mary is the wife of V. B. Smith, of David City, Nebr. David was, for several terms, sheriff of Buffalo county, Nebr, and died but a few years ago; Alexander was killed by Indians at Wood River Station, February 3, 1862, when he was fourteen years of age. William H. Anderson first saw Nebraska in 1862, his parents having moved here when he was but ten years of age. He was raised mainly in Illinois, to which state he was taken by his father. He again came to Nebraska in March, 1879, and has lived in Buffalo county ever since. He owns two hundred and sixty-five acres of land lying on the Platte river, in Center township, six miles southeast of Kearney, most of which is in grass. In 1873 he married Mary A., daughter of Peter Berg, of El Paso, Illinois. She was born in Pennsylvania, near Johnstown, in Cambria county. To this union have been born three children — Walter, Guy and Estella May. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Evangelical church, a stanch republican, and has served as township treasurer. He has also served on the school board. His integrity and faithfulness while in those positions have fully won him the regard and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the book, Biographical Souvenir of the Counties of Buffalo, Kearney, Phelps, Harlan and Franklin, Nebraska published in 1890 by F. A. Battey & Company. 

View additional Buffalo County, Nebraska family biographies here: Buffalo County, Nebraska Biographies

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