Decatur County Journal Leon, Iowa Thursday, March 16, 1911 WILLIAM ANDERSON was born on February 1, 1840, in Glasgow, Scotland, where he remained until he was fifteen years old, leaving Glasgow with his parents April 18, 1855. April 22, 1855, he sailed from Liverpool, England, and landed in New York City on May 22. Traveling partly by land and partly by water, they went via Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, and St. Louis to Atchison, Kansas, and camped at what was known as Mormon Grove, six miles west of town. This journey was accomplished with a company bound for Utah under the leadership of Milo Andrews. At Mormon Grove this company fitted up ox teams for crossing the plains, and on the 16th day of August, 1855, they started on their journey, arriving in Salt Lake City, October 24, 1855. Here WILLIAM found employment with Bishop Peter McCue, whom he had known in Glasgow, and in the spring of 1856, he received an appointment to take his endowments. WILLIAM was inclined to esteem this privilege as quite an honor, but when he reported his good fortune to his father, the father, who had become dissatisfied with the conditions in Utah, positively forbade his receiving this ordinance and told him that he was preparing to leave. This he did, leaving Salt Lake City August 16, 1856, just one year from the time he left Mormon Grove. They returned to Atchison, Kansas, arriving there November 1, 1856, thence on to St. Louis where they arrived on the 9th of the same month. One year later his father died, but WILLIAM remained in St. Louis until 1859, when he left that city and was absent four years, returning in February, 1863. August 6, 1863, he was married to CHRISTABELLE KNIGHT. As the fruit of this marriage there were born two sons and three daughters, JESSIE REESE, JAMES, ELIAS KNIGHT, LOTTIE DERRY and CHRISTABELLE LAMBERT. Two, Mrs. JESSIE REESE and the oldest son, JAMES, are passed over before him; ELIAS, LOTTIE DERRY, and CHRISTABELLE LAMBERT being residents of Lamoni. The same year of his marriage, there came to St. Louis Elders WILLIAM ANDERSON and Henry Cuerdon, of the Reorganized Church, and September 11, 1864, he received baptism at the hands of Charles Hall. A month later he was ordained a teacher, later priest, and on the 10th day of December, 1866, he was ordained an elder by Elder Benjamin S. Jones, and soon after was chosen president of the St. Louis branch. In 1883, he removed to Pleasanton Iowa, where he presided over the Pleasanton branch until he removed to Lamoni in 1889. April 15, 1890, he was ordained a high priest at Lamoni, and ten years later, April 21, 1900, he was ordained a bishop. One year later, at the organization of the Lamoni Stake, he was chosen bishop of the stake, a position he has occupied ever since. He died at his home in Lamoni, Iowa, March 5, 1911, after a very short illness. Mr. ANDERSON's business career was a success, though he started without capital and with very limited acquaintance in the city of St. Louis. He entered the secondhand furniture trade during war times and being proprietor manager, clerk and janitor, and by the assistance of his devoted and loving wife, made steady progress until his health became impaired, and in the early 80's came to Iowa near Pleasanton and engaged in horse and cattle raising. He remained there, between six and seven years, moving to Lamoni in 1889. Since coming to Lamoni he has been engaged in various lines of business, chief among which are the hardware business, now and for fifteen years past known as the Lamoni Hardware Company, and the coal and wood business now owned and operated by Hammer Bros. He assisted in organizing the State Savings Bank of Lamoni, on July 1, 1889, and was one of the original stockholders and has been president of the bank continuously since the death of David Dancer in the fall of 1898. He has also been a member of the auditing committee in this bank for a number of years. Mr. ANDERSON was also one of the original stockholders of the Ringgold County Savings Bank at Kellerton, Iowa, which was organized in 1900, and continued to manage the affairs of that bank for about eight years, when he disposed of his stock. Mr. ANDERSON has been elected by the franchise of the voters of Lamoni at special times to fill various offices, having served as a member of the town council three different terms and as school director two terms. Besides these, he has been frequently selected as guardian administrator of trustee for various persons and business by the district court, and at the time of his death was serving at least three different persons or estates in those capacities. Short funeral services were held at the residence on Tuesday, March 7, Elder John Smith in charge, and brief remarks were offered by Elder Heman C. Smith Music was by several voices from the L.D.S. Local choir. The body was laid to rest in Rosehill Cemetery. The memorial services will be held to the memory of Mr. ANDERSON at the Saints Church, Sunday, March 12, at 11:00 o'clock, a.m. President Elbert A. Smith will deliver an address. --------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seiert December 3, 2009 [email protected] My Notes: His accomplishments and the detail with which this is written, are very impressive...