Biography - RANDOLPH P. ANDERSON

Randolph P. Anderson, a well known and honored citizen of Carlinville, Macoupin County, now living retired from active business, comes of Irish and Scotch ancestry. He was born February 25, 1832, on a farm near Newark, New Jersey, the son of Robert and Nancy (Moore) Anderson.

Robert Anderson was born in Ireland, of which country, so far as known, his father, James Anderson, was also a native and a lifelong resident. Robert Anderson was reared in his native land, and when a young man, with three of his brothers, came to America, locating in New Jersey, while his brothers settled in the Southern States. He was a brick molder by trade and followed that business in New Jersey for 15 years. He then bought a farm near Newark upon which he resided until 1838 when he removed to Indiana and settled in Randolph County where he was a pioneer. He bought a tract of timber land near the Ohio State line and built a log house on the place. He split boards for the roof and puncheons for the floor; the chimney was built of earth and sticks. At that early day there was an abundance of game — deer and turkeys were very plentiful. For some years there were no railways and Piqua, 37 miles distant, was the nearest market. The merchants would pay for grain and hay in merchandise only. At that time but little value was placed upon lumber, and when clearing land huge logs were rolled together in heaps and burned. The father of our subject developed a farm from the wilderness, which he sold at an advance, and bought another tract of timber land, a mile distant from his first purchase. This he also built upon and cleared the land but finally sold it. He then purchased a small piece of land, erected a comfortable home and there dwelt until his death. His wife, who was a native of Scotland, came to this country with her father, Isaac Moore. Her death took place upon the home place in Randolph County. Both she and her husband were devoted Christians and members of the Baptist Church. They reared a family of 13 children to useful lives.

Randolph P. Anderson was but six years old when his parents removed to Indiana, and in that State he was reared and educated. He early attended school in a primitive log school house, and as soon as he was able commenced to assist in the duties of the farm, residing with his parents until he was 14 years old, when he began to do farm work by the day or month for others. He received 10 cents a day for his labor, and by the month was paid $4 or $5, and had to work hard from daylight until dark. He continued working out until he was 17, and then served three and one-half years in Union City, Indiana, to learn the trade of blacksmith. After that he did "jour" work in that State until 1855, when he came to Carlinville, Macoupin County, commencing here as a journeyman and finally opening a carriage and general blacksmith shop, in which he continued until 1884, when he retired from active business. He was very much prospered, and succeeded in accumulating a valuable property, the possession of which places him among the moneyed men of Macoupin County. He has purchased farm land from time to time, some of which he has sold but he still owns upward of 500 acres, all of which is located within a convenient distance of Carlinville.

On October 30, 1862, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to L. Helena McGinnis. She was born in North Otter township, Macoupin County, and is a daughter of G. Martin McGinnis, who was born in Wayne County, Missouri. Mrs. Anderson's great-grandfather was born in Ireland, and immigrated to this country. His son James, the next in line of descent, was a pioneer farmer of Missouri; from that State he came to Illinois, and his death took place in Madison County. The father of Mrs. Anderson was quite young when his parents took up their residence in this State. After his marriage with Elizabeth B. Haines, a daughter of James Haines, he located in Macoupin County and was an active pioneer of Bird township. He purchased a tract of land, partially improved, and engaged in agriculture, and there he spent his last days, his death taking place August 19, 1895. His wife's death took place April 26, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of two children. Anna A. Anderson, the daughter, married Lee Dusenberry, and has three children — Earl R., Fenton E. and Myrtle H. Robert R. Anderson, the son, who is a prominent farmer of Macoupin County, married Nettie Hunter, who was born in Greene County, Illinois, and they have one child, Martha E., who was born in February, 1900. The term "self-made" may most properly be applied to Mr. Anderson, for through life he has had to depend entirely on his own exertions, but with a determination to succeed he worked earnestly and constantly, and now at his advanced age can rest from all care and anxiety, with the consciousness that his present prosperity is due to his own industry and ability, ably seconded by the cooperation of his faithful wife.

Extracted 2018 May 06 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 104-106.