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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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REV. WILLIAM S. ANDERS, pastor of the Worcester Schwenkfelder church, is a son of Abraham and Rebecca (Schultz) Anders. He was born in Worcester township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, August 30, 1840. His great-great-grandfather, Balthasar Anders, was one of the little band of Schwenkfelder immigrants, who came from Silesia to Pennsylvania, and landed in Philadelphia, September 12, (old style) 1734. They nearly all located in what is now Montgomery county, where many of their descendants remain to the present day.

Abraham Anders (father) was a farmer by occupation. .He served for many years as a school director in Worcester township, being a friend of educational progress and a public-spirited citizen. He was a director of the Bank of Montgomery County at Norristown, later the Montgomery National Bank, for twenty-five years, and held important positions in several other corporations. He was active in business affairs but never aspired to public office, although political positions were frequently tendered him and invariably declined. In politics he was a Republican. In his religious belief he was a Schwenkfelder, like his ancestors. He was a member of that church for more than fifty years prior to his death, and for a number of years served as secretary. He was a man of sound judgment and in every respect a valuable citizen. He died December 28, 1887, at the age of eighty-one years. He married Rebecca Schultz, daughter of George Schultz, the ceremony being performed May 14, 1839. George Schultz died October 29, 1851. Abraham and Rebecca Anders had the following children, seven in all, being five sons and two daughters: Rev. William S., subject of this sketch; Joseph S., died July, 1895; Susan, wife of Josiah D. Heebner, of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania; Charles S.; Abraham S., who died November 23, 1862; Mary S., who married Jeremiah K. Anders, and Amos S.

Rev. William S. Anders received his education in the public schools of Worcester, spending also two years as a student at Mount Kirk Seminary, in Lower Providence township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, which was conducted for many years by Rev. Henry S. Rodenbough. Rev. William S. Anders taught school in early manhood for eight terms, one year in Towamencin township, three years in Worcester, and four in Norriton township. At the end of that time he removed to the farm previously bought by his father in Worcester township and engaged in farming. On June 3, 1871, he was called as a probationer to the ministry in the Schwenkfelder church. In October, 1873, he was installed as one of the pastors of the Worcester, Towamencin and Salford churches. He married, February 1, 1868, Susan H. Krause, who was a daughter of Aaron and Lydia (Heebner) Krause, of Worcester township.

In politics, Mr. Anders is a Republican. He served for some years as a school director, being well qualified for that position by his previous experience as a teacher. Since 1889 he has been a director of Ursinus College. He is also a director of the Montgomery National Bank at Norristown. He is identified with the management of several industrial companies. From 1871 to 1893 he farmed extensively, but since the latter year has given his time entirely to his pastoral labors. Although serving in an official capacity in several business enterprises he allows nothing in connection with them to interfere with his church work. During the last year he has suffered much from illness, greatly affecting his usefulness in his ministerial calling. In this affliction, due to heart trouble, he has the sincere sympathy of all who know him. Rev. William S. Anders has been a very faithful worker, not only in the church but also in the Sunday school. For forty-two years he has been a worker in the latter, either as superintendent or as teacher.

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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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