The descendants of the early settlers take just pride in the noble
work accomplished by their parents and there are some families in
Macoupin county that can claim several generations of residence in this
section. In the number is the Anderson family, the early members of
which arrived in this region in the opening years of the nineteenth
century and during all the period that has elapsed men and women of this
worthy pioneer stock have contributed their share toward the development
of the county.
John Crittenden Anderson, who represents the
third generation of the family in Macoupin county, was born in Shaws
Point township July 1, 1867. He is a son of William C. and Mary A.
(Anderson) Anderson, both of whom were born in Carlinville township. The
grandfathers of our subject were William C. Anderson and James C.
Anderson, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. The father was born in
1828 on a farm where Carlinville now stands and his father, who also
bore the name of William C. Anderson, was the first blacksmith of
Macoupin county and also one of the first settlers. The father was left
an orphan at the age of fourteen and was reared by an uncle, H. E.
Edwards, with whom he continued until nineteen years of age. He was
married to Mary A. Anderson in 1855 and they took up their home in Shaws
Point township where the father engaged in farming for forty-five years.
He died in 1900, having attained a position as one of the substantial
men of the township. In politics he was an adherent of the democratic
party. He never aspired to public office but served very acceptably as
school director in his district.
John C. Anderson attended the
district schools of Shaws Point township and continued under the
parental roof until after arriving at manhood. He assisted his father on
the home farm from 1886 to 1888 and then associated with his brother,
Henry M., in cultivating land in Nilwood township. In 1890 he returned
to the home place but a year later moved to South Otter township and
established his home on a farm of one hundred and eighty-one and
one-half acres, which is now one of the well cultivated and highly
productive properties of the township. He has made a specialty of
feeding cattle for the market and sells a number each year, thus adding
to his income. He is also interested in the banking business and is vice
president of the Nilwood State Bank, one of the well established
institutions of this part of the county.
On December 3, 1891,
Mr. Anderson was married in Nilwood township to Miss Melissa A. Fite, a
native of Montgomery county, Illinois. She is a daughter of William C.
and Rebecca (Kountz) Fite, the former of whom was born in Tennessee and
the latter in Virginia. Her grandfathers, Alius Fite and Elias Kountz,
were both born in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of
three children, William Coy, Almyr Orin and Estelle Crittenden.
Mr. Anderson is identified with Nilwood Lodge, No. 3600, M. W. A., and
has served as its advisor. He is also a member of the local branch, No.
223, of the United Horse Thief Association, and the confidence in which
he is held by his neighbors and friends is indicated by the fact that he
has served as secretary of this organization ever since it was
established. Politically he adheres to the democratic party and has
served as highway commissioner for six years, also for three years as a
member of the school board. He is a man of high character and, starting
in life with worthy ideals, has lived to witness their realization. He
possesses the respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances who
admire him for his attractive personal qualities.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 701-702.
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