J. H. ANDERSON, of Bloomington, is engaged with Tillotson & Fell in the abstract and loan business, and possesses a good understanding of business matters in general. He was born in Greenfield, Highland Co., Ohio, Nov. 20, 1826, being the son of John and Sarah (Brooks) Anderson, of York County, Pa. John Anderson was a manufacturer of furniture, and was also an undertaker, besides being engaged in farming pursuits. He removed from his native State to Ohio in 1820, located in Greenfield, and remained there until his death in 1866. The mother died in Lawrence, Kan., in 1873, at the home of her son, Dr. S. B. Anderson. Both parents were members of the Presbyterian Church for many years. They had three sons, two now living, our subject and his brother, the latter being a graduate of the Medical College at Cincinnati.

Young Anderson remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, and then went to Pickaway County, where he remained three years engaged in farming. From there he went to Frankfort, Ross Co., Ohio, and engaged in general merchandising for two years, and soon afterward entered the Commercial College of Columbus, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1856. He afterward remained at the college one year, during which he had charge of its office affairs.

After leaving the college Mr. Anderson engaged in farming in Pickaway County, Ohio, until September, 1860, when he came to Illinois and engaged in the dry-goods business at Bloomington, at which he continued three years. He then purchased a farm of 420 acres in Will County, which he occupied and cultivated for seven years, and then sold eighty acres of it, having now 340 acres. Upon retiring from his farm Mr. Anderson returned to Bloomington, and engaged in the abstract and loan business on North Main street. In 1873 he moved into the court-house, where he has been since that time.

In 1851 our subject married Miss Nancy F. Baker, who was born March 5, 1831, and is the daughter of Solomon M. and Elizabeth (Horsey) Baker, natives of New York and Ohio. Her father was an extensive farmer and stock-raiser, owning from 6,000 to 8,000 acres of land, and shipping large numbers of animals to market annually. Six only of their ten children are now living: Nancy F., Mrs. Anderson; Lizzie, Mrs. J. N. Larimore, of Bloomington; John, of St. Louis; Minnie. Mrs. Baker, of Bloomington; Florence, Mrs. J. J. Hiddelston, of Eudora, Kan.; Phillip F., of North Carolina.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson became the parents of six children -- Sallie B., William M., Harry A., Adelbert, Samuel and Florence M. Politically our subject is Democratic, and with his wife is a member of the Independent Church of Bloomington. Their handsome and attractive residence is located at the corner of Douglas and McLean streets, and they are held in high esteem by a large number of friends.