Joel M. Anderson

A PIONEER IS DEAD

Judge J.M. Anderson Died at Home This Morning

Was One of the Earliest Settlers of Reno County, Coming Here in 1873

He Held Many Offices

Was a Life-Time Member of the Church

Was County Commissioner, County Treasurer, Police Judge During His Life

Joel M. Anderson, one of the oldest pioneers of Reno county, died at his home at 517 Third avenue east this morning at 8:30 o’clock. Kidney disease was the cause. He had been confined to his house for about ten days. Mr. Anderson was born near Greensboro, in Guilford county, North Carolina, April 16, 1841. His father William D. Anderson, was a minister in the Wesleyan Methodist church.  About 1850 the family moved to Indiana and in 1853 moved again to Decatur county, Iowa. Joel Anderson was one of eight children. 

Those who survive him are: W.S. Anderson, of Ringold County, Ia.; Mrs. Rosa Stanford, of Leon, Ia.; Mrs. John Dunn, of Abbyville; and Mrs. Peter Deck, of Abbyville. He was married July 31, 1862 to Miss Sarah Chambers, of Decatur county, Iowa. They would have celebrated their golden wedding next July. The children who survive are: W.A. Anderson, of Abbyville; Mrs. John F. Dauber, of Lindsborg; and Mrs. Bertha Meade of Abbyville. 

Mr. Anderson was one of the earliest settlers in this county. He came here with his wife and three children in a covered wagon, arriving on October 5, 1873. He planted forty acres in corn the following spring but lost it all as that was the year of the grasshopper scourge. As all of his crops were destroyed, he loaded his family into the wagon and returned to Iowa, earning a living for his family that winter by working with his team for a dollar a day. In the spring of 1875 he returned to Kansas and began farming. He remained on the farm until 1888 when he moved to Hutchinson to assume the duties of the office of county treasurer. He had lived here ever since. 

In 1885 Mr. Anderson was elected to the office of county commissioner. He was re-elected to the office but resigned to take the position of county treasurer. He served in this office two terms. In 1895 he served two terms as police judge of the city of Hutchinson. He was also township trustee and was one of the organizers of school district No. 58 and served as treasurer of the school board for nine years. He was always a member of the Republican party. Since his retirement from public office he had been in the real estate and insurance business. Mr. Anderson enlisted in Company C of the Ninth Iowa cavalry and served until the end of the Civil war. He was mustered out as a corporal. He has been an active member of the Joe Hooker post of the G.A.R. Mr. Anderson has been a member of the First Methodist church for a number of years. The funeral arrangements have not been made but the funeral will probably be held at the home some time Wednesday.

The Hutchinson News     

Dec 18, 1911, pg 8

Submitted by Kathleen Dankanyin

........................................................

Lot 234