In a history of the farming community of Whiteside county, mention should be made of James R. Anderson, who, living on section 12, Jordan township, is successfully engaged in farming, being one of the representative agriculturists of the community. He was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, twelve miles from Glasgow, January 5,1842, a son of Robert and Marions Walker Anderson, who were also natives of Scotland and came to America in 1851. They were members of a company of eighteen people who crossed the Atlantic at the time, including the grandparents of our subject, his aunt and uncle, William and Elleson Anderson, James Barry, James Murray, Robert Pollock, James, Robert, Andrew and William Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Miller and Ellen Coates. All of the members of the party located in Whiteside or Ogle county, and of this number only two are now living: Mr. Anderson, of this review, and Ellen Coates, who resides west of the Elkhorn, in Whiteside county. The voyage across the Atlantic and the trip into the interior of the country was a very long one, for the methods of travel in those days were extremely slow as compared to the transportation facilities of the present.
They left Scotland about the middle of May, and were six weeks and three days on the ocean, arriving in New York in the early part of July. From the eastern metropolis they made their way up the Hudson river, then to Buffalo, on to Chicago by way of the Great Lakes, and by rail from Chicago to St. Charles, which was then the western terminus of the line. At that point the party hired teams and proceeded to Buffalo Grove. The grandparents' family numbered eight children: James, John, William, Robert, Elleson, Janette, David and Alexander. The second mentioned died in infancy. Of the others, David is the only one living. Janette died in Scotland, while the remaining members of the family who have passed way were buried on this side of the Atlantic, in the East Jordan cemetery, in this county The grave of the paternal grandfather of our subject was the first one made in that cemetery.
Robert Anderson, with his family, settled near Polo, at Buffalo Grove, but a about a year later located on what became the old family homestead, which is now the place of residence of James R. Anderson. Robert Anderson first purchased a quarter section of land from John H. Page at twenty dollars per acre. At that time it was all wild prairie, but with characteristic energy he placed it under a high state of cultivation, erected substantial buildings, and made other valuable improvements. As time went on he gradually added more land, buying forty acres from R. N. Roberts, eighty acres from Hiram Jenkins, forty acres from the Illinois Central Railroad Company, and thus from time to time adding to his property, he eventually became the owner of four hundred and forty acres in Whiteside and Ogle counties. He was not only a prosperous, but also a most respected citizen of Whiteside county, and one of its worthy pioneers, who assisted materially in the early advancement and growth of this part of the state. He died at the age of sixty-seven years, and his wife passed away when about eighty years of age.
James R. Anderson was about ten years of age when he came with his parents to the United States. In his native country he had the advantages of a common-school education, and after coming to America he remained at home, assisting in the operation of the farm until his father's death, when he assumed the entire management of the place, and has here resided continuously since. He has gradually added improvements, until today he possesses a fine farm, a beautiful home standing in the midst of attractive surroundings, the place being equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences. In his farm work Mr. Anderson has been very energetic and diligent, working on, day after day, in the improvement of a property that now returns to him an excellent financial income as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon the fields.
Mr. Anderson was married March 21, 1867, to Miss Isabella Cross, a daughter of George and Jane Renwick Cross, who were natives of Lanarkshire, Scotland. The father came first to America, in 1855, and the mother followed a year or so later, completing the trip on the first passenger train over the Illinois Central Railroad to Polo. They settled on a farm a short distance north of Polo, where their remaining days were passed, the father dying at the age of forty-four years, and the mother in 1893, at the age of sixty-with years. The father was one of six children: Hugh, Robert, John, George, James and Elizabeth, but George was the only on who ever came to America, the others all dying in Scotland. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Anderson were John and Anna Baird Cross, and the maternal grandparents were Gavin and Isabella Scott Renwick, both natives of Scotland, where they spent their entire lives. Mrs. Anderson had two brothers and four sisters: John, who died in Ogle county; Mrs. Isabella Anderson; Anna, living in Ogle; Gavin and George, who are living near Polo; Janette and Elizabeth, both deceased.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born eight children: Marion Jane, the wife of A. P. Shoemaker, a farmer residing in Ogle county; George Robert, who is living in Jordan township; Janette, the wife of Charles Scholl, a farmer living north of Eagle Point, in Carroll county, Illinois; John, who resided south of Penrose, in Jordan township; Elizabeth, Mabel, Rena and Clarence, all at home. The family are well known in the county, for the Anderson's have been represented here for more than a half century, and the members of the household who now occupy the old homestead are held in high esteem throughout the community.
Mr. Anderson votes with the republican party, and has served as school director for eighteen years, the cause of education finding in him a warm and stalwart friend. He is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church, which has a Union house of worship on a corner of his farm. He has long been a trustee of the church and secretary of its board, and takes a deep and helpful interest in its work. His life has ever been upright and honorable, his actions manly and sincere, and as the years have gone by he has proven his right to be classed with the leading, trustworthy and respected agriculturists of Jordan township.
Contributed by Amy Anderson from the History of Whiteside County 1908
