"William H. Anderson, proprietor of the Anderson House, at Wabasha, and one of the city's leading citizens, is doing his share toward the general prosperity of the community by conducting an excellent hotel, which by its hospitality and service creates in the minds of strangers a most excellent impression of the whole community. He was born in Rome Township, Oneida Coutny, N. Y., March 12, 1846, son of Levi and Harriett (Carpenter) Anderson. His father dying when he was 12 years, leaving a large family, young William H. went to work when he was 14 and contributed his earnings toward the family support. In 1866 he came west and reached Rochester by rail. From there he set out on foot for Wabasha County, and for several years worked as a farm hand in Zumbro Township. In 1867 he purchased 80 acres of wild land, four miles southeast of Zumbro Falls. He built a small board house, and set to work with a will to clear and develop a good farm. To his original tract he added a 160-acre tract and a 40-acre one, making in all a place of 280 acres. In addition to his farming operations, Mr. Anderson made a specialty for many years of buying and shipping cattle. In 1896 he retired from farm work and bought the old hotel at Mazeppa, in this county ... Mr. Anderson was married in 1885 to Ida Hoffman, of Zumbro Township, and this union has been blessed with four children: Ora, Verna, Belle and Effie. Ora died in childhood. Verna married Joseph McCaffery, and has two children, Jean Elizabeth and Ann. Mr. McCaffery for the past 14 years has been in the railroad mail service on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, between St. Paul and Chicago. He and his wife live two blocks from the hotel ..." [Franklin Curtiss-Wedge, Compiler, "History of Wabasha County, Minnesota" (H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Company, Winona, Minnesota, 1920, pp. 575-576)]. Information provided by Kathryn Hill.