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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN F. ANDERSON was born August 23, 1836, in Ardmore, Montgomery county, and grew to manhood in that vicinity. He is the son of James and Mary (Wilson) Anderson. He acquired his education at the public schools of the neighborhood. When the Rebellion broke out, he enlisted in Company B, First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry, under the command of Captain Owen Jones, of Lower Merion. The date of Mr. Anderson’s enlistment was August 8, 1861. He served two months, being mustered out of the United States service October 9, with a surgeon’s certificate. At the time of the Gettysburg campaign, Mr. Anderson again went to the front, re-enlisting in Colonel Moser’s Regiment, and serving three months.

On his return from the scene of war, and until two years before his marriage, Mr. Anderson was associated with his brother in mining iron ore in Upper Merion township. He bought his farm in Upper Merion in the year 1869.

On June 15, 1876, John F. Anderson married Miss Catharine C., daughter of Josiah B. and Catharine (Christman) Missimer. Mrs. Anderson is a native of the upper section of the county, having been born near Pottstown on February 18, 1849.

Mrs. Anderson’s father, Josiah B. Missimer, was born April 4, 1808, and lived in the vicinity of Pottstown nearly all his life. He was the owner of a farm in Pottsgrove township, on which he lived thirty-three years. He died there in September, 1870. His wife survived him eighteen years, dying in July, 1888. Husband and wife were buried in Limerick churchyard. Both were members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Missimer was a Republican in politics, but never sought or held public office. Mr. and Mrs. Missimer had eight children: (1) Elizabeth married John G. Powell. (2) Rebecca married R. Brooke Evans. (3) John (deceased) married Miss Maltby. He served three years in Company H, Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel A. H. Tippin’s command. He was promoted to quartermaster’s sergeant, August 1, 1863, having enlisted nearly a year previous as a corporal. He was discharged June 9, 1865. (4) Warren (deceased) married Amanda Shaner. He enlisted in Company A, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, commanded by Colonel John R. Brooke, now General Brooke. He enlisted September 18, 1861, and was discharged November 7, 1864, his term of enlistment having expired some time previously. He was wounded at the second battle of Fredericksburg. (5) Catharine C. is the next of the family. (6) Henry Clay, married Miss Mahaffy, and resides in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Yale College, and is superintendent of the city schools of Erie, Pennsylvania. (7) Montgomery married Elizabeth Yost. (8) Mary died in childhood.

After Mr. Anderson’s marriage he engaged in the occupation of farming at his present location in Upper Merion. He is a Democrat in politics. In religious faith he is an Episcopalian, being a member of All Saint’s church, Norristown, as is his wife and family.

John F. and Catharine Anderson have three children. Joseph Wilson, born November 2, 1877, was graduated at the Norristown high school, and then entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in the class of 1899. He is practicing medicine at Fifteenth and Ontario streets, Philadelphia. He enjoys a large and successful practice. Dr. Anderson married Elizabeth Jarrett, who is a graduate of the Woman’s Medical College, of Philadelphia, and they have one child, Elizabeth, born July 15, 1902.

John Aubrey, born September 14, 1882, was graduated from the Norristown high school in the class of 1900, and then became a student in the University of Pennsylvania, and is taking the law course.

Mary C., born January 29, 1886, attended the Norristown high school, graduating with the class of June, 1903, and is now attending Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

Isaac Anderson (grandfather) was born at the Anderson homestead in Schuylkill township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1760. He married Mary Lane, and their children are James, Sarah, Edward, Samuel, Elizabear, Wesley, Simon M., Isaac, Mary, Joseph E., and Mary. In politics Isaac Anderson was a Jeffersonian Democrat. He was long a justice of the peace by appointment of the governor. He was elected to a seat in the assembly of Pennsylvania to fill a vacancy occurring in 1802. His term expiring, he was elected a member of the house of representatives at Washington and supported President Jefferson in all his measures. He was opposed to the system of slavery and voted to free all slaves born in the District of Columbia after a certain date. He also supported the proposition to impose a penalty of ten dollars a head on all slaves imported into the country and to prohibit all importations of this kind after a specified time. He was a presidential elector in the Monroe campaign in 1816. He was prominently suggested as a candidate for governor, and stood high in popular esteem. He and his wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and services were frequently held at his house, he occasionally preaching and exhorting. He was a man of fine presence, being six feet, four inches in height and well proportioned. He was first lieutenant of the Sixth Company, Fifth Battalion, Chester county militia. His commission was dated May 24, 1779. He died October 27, 1838. His widow, who was born May 22, 1762, died August 27, 1843. Both were buried in the Anderson family burying-ground near Valley Forge. She was a Methodist for sixty years.

James Anderson (father) was born on the Anderson homestead where he was reared. He studied medicine and located in Ardmore, where he acquired a large and lucrative practice and became a very wealthy man. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

James Anderson married (first wife) Sarah Thomas. Their children were: Mary, Dr. Isaac, Naomi, Sarah, Dr. James R., Kueiah, Patrick, and Drusilla.

James Anderson married (second wife) Mary Wilson. Their children were: Dr. Joseph, John, Cerona, Matthias, Jackson and Ultimus Adjutor, Dr. Joseph resides at the homestead, Ardmond. Matthias died in infancy. Andrew Jackson, deceased, was an attorney of Norristown. Ultimus Adjutor is deceased. Cerona is unmarried.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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