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JOHN E. ANDERSON John E. Anderson, who is filling the position of county commissioner of Miami county and resides in Piqua, was born near Bethany, in Butler county, Ohio, January 28, 1844. He represents one of the oldest families of the Buckeye state, his grandfather, John Anderson, having emigrated from New Jersey to Ohio about the time the state was admitted to the Union. He took up his abode in Butler county and was numbered among its pioneer families. He there lived to be about eighty years of age. The family is probably of Scotch extraction. He married Miss Mary Hageman, who was born in this country but was of Dutch lineage. She, too, lived to be about eighty years of age. Adrian Anderson, John's father, was born in Butler county, in 1818, and there resided until 1847, when he came to Miami county, taking up his residence near Piqua, where he has since followed agricultural and horticultural pursuits, conducting a prosperous business. He is a Republican in his political views and a United Presbyterian in his religions faith. He married Jane Peterson, a native of Warren county, Ohio, and a daughter of Samuel Peterson, who resided in Adams county, Pennsylvania, whence he came to the Buckeye state at an early period in its development. Mrs. Anderson, who was a member of the United Presbyterian church, is now deceased. She had three children: John, of this review; Emma, wife of J. A. Robison, of Piqua; and Laura B. John E. Anderson of this record was only three years old when brought to Piqua by his parents. He remained upon the home farm, assisting in its cultivation and improvement through the summer months, while in the winter season he attended the Piqua schools, pursuing his studies until the breaking out of the civil war. On the 1st of August, 1862, he loyally responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in Company B, Fiftieth Ohio Infantry, in which he served as a private until July, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge and returned home. His regiment was with the army under Sherman and participated in all the battles of the Atlanta campaign and the engagements of Franklin and Nashville. Mr. Anderson was always found at the post of duty and with true patriotism valiantly aided in the defense of the Union. When the war was over, he returned to Piqua and completed his course in the high school, where he was graduated in 1866. Subsequently he learned the carpenter's trade and for several years was engaged in contracting and building, during which time he erected many of the substantial residences of the city. These stand as monuments of thrift and industry and are an excellent indication of his ability. He, however, abandoned his chosen occupation July 1, 1897, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of county commissioner. Mr. Anderson was married to Mrs. Lucretia H. Gillespie, a native of Miami county and a daughter of William Patterson, of Piqua. They are both members of the Presbyterian church and are people of the highest respectability, enjoying the warm regard of many friends. Mr. Anderson is a stanch Republican in his political affiliations and has been quite active in the work of his party. He served for six years on the school board of Piqua, and by appointment became a director of the infirmary. In his present capacity as county commissioner, he has jurisdiction over a territory thirty miles in length and thirty miles in width. This includes six hundred miles of turnpike and the supervision of all the roads and bridges in Miami county. He now devotes his entire time to his official duties, and their discharge is characterized by marked promptness and fidelity. Socially, he is connected with Alexander Mitchell Post, No. 157, G. A. R., of Piqua, and served as vice-commander for a year. As a citizen he is as true to-day as when he loyally followed the banners of the Union on the battlefields of the south. Return to the Biography Index Copyright
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