NORTHWESTERN IOWA ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION VOLUME III 1804-1926 T. A. ANDERSON The life history of Thomas A. Anderson was closely identified with the history of Ida county, Iowa, which was long his home. He began his career here in the pioneer epoch and through the years which followed was closely allied with its interests and upbuilding. He was of the finest type of progressive citizen and was held in the highest measure of appreciation by his fellowmen. Mr. Anderson was born in Belfast, Ireland, on the 4th of January, 1873, and was a son of James and Mary (Fair) Anderson, both of whom were natives of the north of Ireland. The family came to the United States in 1873, locating first in Delaware county, Iowa, where they remained about five years, and then came to Ida county, where the father engaged in farming. To him and his wife were born the following children: Margaret Jane, who is the widow of the late Robert Hall, of this county; Mary Eliza, who is the wife of Robert Lipton, of Ida Grove; William J., of Ida Grove, and Thomas A., the immediate subject of this memoir. Thomas A. Anderson was reared to the life of a farmer and secured his education in the public schools of his home neighborhood. He followed farming throughout his active life, being enterprising and progressive in his methods, and achieved notable success, being numbered among the wideawake and up-to-date agriculturists of his locality. He made many good improvements on his farm and developed it into a valuable and productive property. His death occurred May 26, 1911. On March 4, 1896, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Anspach, daughter of Milton and Ella (Dickson) Anspach, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Illinois. They came to Ida county in 1874 and the father here engaged in farming for many years. During the period of his residence in this locality he passed through varied experiences, one of which was the terrible scourge of grasshoppers which in early days completely devastated the crops. Mr. and Mrs. Anspach are now retired and live at Long Beach, California. To them were born seven children, namely: Gertrude, Mrs. Anderson; Royal Glenwood, of Colfax, Iowa; Edith, the wife of Albert Kuhlman, of Lake Benton, Minnesota; William E., of Colfax, Iowa; Raymond, of Long Beach, California; Cuma, the wife of Ross Heck, of Brookings, South Dakota; and Vivian, of Long Beach, California. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were born five children, as follows: Burdette, of Sioux City, Iowa, Vera, the wife of Veirl McClow, of Ida Grove; and Hobert G., Theda and James, who are at home with their mother. Politically Mr. Anderson was a lifelong supporter of the republican party and took an active interest in local public affairs, having served as a member of the city council. He belonged to the Knights of Pythias. He was eminently public-spirited, contributing of his efforts to the prosperity and upbuilding of the community and held an enviable place in public confidence and esteem. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County _http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/_ (http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/) IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: _http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/_ (http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/)