Anderson, James

JAMES ANDERSON, farmer, was born June 30, 1825, upon the old homestead where he now resides. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Pollock) Anderson, the latter a daughter of Charles Pollock (A), who came from Ireland to Westmoreland county, and thence to Venango township, Butler county, about 1800, where he was killed by the fall of a tree about 1806, at a wood chopping on the farm of Robert Leason. They were married May 25, 1820, and were the parents of six children: Jane, wife of J.P. Riddle; Elizabeth, deceased; Mary; Sarah, deceased wife of Shadrach Simeox; Lucinda, who married D.C. McKee, and our subject. James Anderson, Sr., died November 21, 1872. The paternal grandfather, James Anderson, was a descendant of John Anderson, who married Margaret Cook, removed from Tuscarora valley, Pennsylvania, and settled in Butler county in 1801. James, grandfather of our subject, purchased from David Irvine a tract of four hundred acres of land in 1814, situated on Little Scrubgrass creek, in this township, for which he paid two thousand one hundred dollars— three hundred dollars in cash, two hundred gallons of whiskey, and the balance in designated installments. He was largely interested in grist, saw, carding, and woolen mills. He was born in 1761, married Janet Bailey, and died January 19, 1842. Their children were: Sarah; Thomas; Mrs. Margaret Gibson; James; Mrs. Nancy Perry; Samuel; John, and Elizabeth. James Anderson, Jr., was reared a farmer, and educated in the schools of the township. He has followed farming all his life, and has been largely interested in the breeding and purchasing of stock. He married Uretta, daughter of Samuel Phipps, who has borne him six children: J.S.P.; Edwin; Samuel P.; James L., deceased; Shadrach A., and Charles, deceased. Mr. Anderson is an ardent Democrat, and was once the Democratic candidate for the legislature. He has always taken an active interest in the schools of his township, and is one of the most enterprising citizens of the community.