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WILLIAM S. ANDERSON


For the past fifteen years Mr. Anderson has occupied the important position of foreman in the Woods Planing Mill and is well qualified for the responsible duties which devolve upon him. He was born in Piqua, in 1856, and is a son of George Anderson, who came to this city prior to 1850. The father was a native of Butler county, Ohio, born in 1802, and his death occurred in 1887, when he had attained the advanced age of eighty-five years. In 1836 he married Miss Elizabeth Mutchmore, of Butler county, and to them were born the following children: Mary Frances, now Mrs. Furnes, of Covington, Ohio; Philip Benson, a salesman of Troy, who for many years has been connected with the Troy Carriage Works Company; Mrs. Jonathan Carr, of Auburn, New York; Mrs. Thomas Burns, of Versailles, Ohio; John Wilbur, who served for three years as a soldier in the First Iowa Cavalry during the civil war and is now deceased; Mrs. John Reiter, of Grinnell, Iowa, and William S., of this review.

The last named is the youngest of the family, and in the public schools of Piqua he acquired his education. At the age of twenty he began learning the carpenter's trade under the direction of T. J. Whitlock, in whose service he remained for nine years, becoming an expert workman. He gained a thorough understanding of the business, both in principle and detail, and was well qualified for his present position when, in 1885 he became foreman of Woods Planing Mill. He has excellent mechanical ability and his thorough understanding of the business enables him to capably direct the large force of workmen under his charge. He is devoted to his employers' interests, but at the same time there is nothing of the overbearing taskmaster in him. He is just to those who are employed in the works, and all know that faithful service means advancement as soon as opportunity offers. Mr. Anderson has the entire confidence and unqualified regard of the owners of the extensive factory and well merits the trust reposed in him.

In 1885 Mr. Anderson was joined in wedlock to Miss Jennie Hardesty, a daughter of James Hardesty, a highly respected pioneer of Piqua. Her father was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, March 6, 1824, a son of Thomas Hardesty, who was also a native of the Old Dominion. The latter married Hannah A. Palmer, who was born in Virginia and died in Piqua. James Hardesty was seven years of age at the time of his father's death. In 1835 he and his older brother, John, made their way westward, coming to Piqua with relatives. The following year, when a ]ad of twelve summers, he carried the mails through the wilderness to Fort Wayne, Indiana, making the journey alone on horseback. The distance was one hundred miles and a week was required to make the trip. He also carried mail to Dayton, Sidney, Urbana and other pioneer places of the time. In Urbana he was obliged to remain for two days each week, and was so industrious and ambitious to secure an education that he spent Monday and Tuesday of each week in attending school at that place. He afterward learned the carpenter's trade and became one of the pioneer contractors and builders of Piqua, being actively identified with the improvement of the city along the line of his chosen work at an early day. Throughout his long business career he enjoyed the confidence of all with whom he came in contact and also won the esteem of all classes. For fourteen years he was township trustee, discharging his duties with marked promptness and fidelity. For many years he has been a member of the board of equalization and still fills that office. Although seventy-three years of age, he is yet active and energetic, feeling a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of the com-munity. His wife bore the maiden name of Lida Jane Nye and at the time of her marriage was a resident of Piqua. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born three children: Marie, George and Clarence. They have a nice home, which is noted for its generous hospitality, and their friends throughout the community are many. Of the Odd Fellows society Mr. Anderson is a valued and exemplary member and is now past grand of Piqua Lodge. He is also a very active worker in the Grace Methodist church, of which he is trustee. Over the record of his life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and through an honorable career he has won the confidence and good will of all with whom be has been associated.

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