John was born in Fairview, Sanpete County, Utah, July 16, 1865.

His mother was Carolina Johnson. In Sweden the name was Jonsson. John's father, Archibald Adamson Anderson, was born in Scotland. John had eight half sisters before a half brother, Thomas Reese, was born. John worked on the farm daily with his father and had great respect and love for him. There were ten years between his full brother, James W. and himself. His full sisters were Mary and Janet.

John married Lucinda Sanderson December 17, 1890 in Manti, Utah. Their first child, a beautiful little girl named Ora Lucinda Anderson, died very suddenly with pneumonia; then came John Clifton Anderson, William Calvin Anderson and Buena May Anderson.

The family went to the sheep camp with their father to spend a few days in October. The men were working with the sheep some distance away from the wagon and tent. The children were playing close by. Mother noticed something was wrong. Soon Clifton and Calvin began having convulsions. Mother would question them between convulsions. They said they had found a bottle which they thought contained sugar, and they ate some of it. The bottle had fallen out of one of the herder's pockets. Mother screamed for help, but the men were too far away. Some time later a man on horseback heard mother's screams and responded, but it was too late. Calvin was dead. Clifton gradually got better. Buena must have been napping. She, at two and half years of age remembers playing around the sheep wagon with her brothers, John Clifton and William Calvin, six and four years of age.

In due time Eva Allowee Anderson was born; later David Lyle Anderson; then shortly before they moved from our red brick home (preparatory to tearing it down) Owen Leslie Anderson arrived—a cute little black-headed boy. We called him our Indian. I think Ethan Olaf Anderson was born before we moved into a rented house. Lucinda's mother was near death, but before she died she had mother promise that we would move into her house until ours was completed.

John, Lucinda, and baby Ethan and Eva went to Salt Lake to attend Conference. The day they arrived home, Buena came down with the measles. Ethan, on his one-year birthday, became very sick with the measles. A new doctor had come to town. When Ethan died, the doctor was told that Lyle had recovered from diphtheria only a short time before. The doctor immediately went after antitoxin for diphtheria and gave every one in the house shots. Owen, now the baby (28 months) got several times the required dosage. Mother and Eva got more than they should have had. All were bedfast and very ill—eyes swollen shut—bodies black and blue. Not knowing the new doctor at the time, we soon learned that he used dope. When he found what he had done he quickly left Fairview, no one knowing his whereabouts until years later. During Ethan's illness we had Aunt Delia Bonnie, a well-known family nurse, with us.

Edwin Max Anderson was born January 26, 1909, and for six years they had our sweet smiling son with us. He died March 17, 1915. Next our little daughter, Jessie Matilda Anderson, was born March 17, 1911. She and Robert Allen Anderson were a joy to our family. Especially Lucinda and John enjoyed them through the years. It was while John was in Lucern Valley the first time that he met a lost cousin named Robert Allen. Their Robert Allen Anderson was born July 14, 1915. John returned and told Lucinda that he would like to name the boy Robert Allen. Lucinda already had the name Robert in mind. Before Bob, Von Archibald Anderson came to them—on February 22, 1913. While still a very young baby he caught whooping cough, and many times they thought that he was gone. He would choke, turn blue, and before they could bring him to the kids would have time to run to the field for John. John would douse him under the cold water tap and then under the warm, toss him in the air, roll him on the lawn; by that time the doctor would arrive.

Lucinda with the chore boy, would drive the home stock about two blocks to the creek for water. As Clifton grew big enough, much was expected of him. Later, John hired regular sheepherders who went to the west desert in the winter. Clifton, Hyrum, Albert Peterson (perhaps Otto Peterson) and others, besides John's regular sheepherders, spent short periods with the sheep.

John was a man who put trust in people. Sometimes they would take advantage of him. Such was the case when John was shown beautiful pictures of Lucern Valley. The growth on the land looked so inviting that father and Clifton took a trip to Wyoming. John thought that he was leaving his sheep in charge of two reliable herders—one who had worked for years for John. However, on his return home he discovered that between six and eight hundred sheep were missing. The camp was situated between Fairview and the mining towns around Price, Utah. It would have been an easy matter to sell the sheep and drive them to the railroad for shipment to eastern cities, or butcher them and sell to the markets. This was a discouraging experience. John decided to discontinue the business in which he had spent most of his life. He sold the sheep that were left and bought cattle.

John bought the Birch Springs ranch from Joe Duncan in what is now called McKinnon, Wyoming. The cattle were shipped to the ranch. The first winter proved to be a hard one for the stock. Deep snow, cold winds, wet weather, and the lack of feed (which was very costly) proved disastrous to the animals.

Our Fairview home was sold to the station agent, Harry Rasmusson. Later Mr. Rasmusson moved away from Fairview and it was sold to Cleon Anderson, a nephew of Lucinda's. The dry farm was sold to Albert Madison. Their farm land was sold, and in early spring of 1921 the family moved from Fairview to McKinnon, leaving many relatives and life-long friends. John and Lucinda did much, as did their parents and grandparents before them, in building up the Fairview community. John served in many different capacities, business and otherwise, such as city councilman. He was extremely generous with donations and helped whenever and wherever help was needed. John was chosen to be a counselor in the McKinnon Ward bishopric, where he served faithfully with three different bishops for many years. He completed a stake mission in Lyman and Mountain View, Wyoming. He served on the school board and was a member of the irrigation and reservoir company, using men and teams to build and keep reservoirs and irrigation ditches in repair. He was instrumental in the erection of the McKinnon Ward chapel, and be was one member who stayed on the job until he saw its completion and dedication.

John, Lucinda, and all their children appreciate the friendship, love, and help given to their family. Our McKinnon friends and those nearby have been many staunch and true leaders and friends. There have been times when true friendship has been needed in the John A. Anderson family, and neighbors and friends have always responded. One such time was when after years of toil, their house burned to the ground. This was a time when we really appreciated true and loyal friends. There are also many other instances.

-Anderson, Buena. History of John A Anderson & Lucinda Sanderson. Courtesy of www.mckinnonwyoming.com

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John A. Anderson

EVANSTON, WYO. — John A Anderson, 83, McKennon, Wyo., died here Tuesday evening of causes incident to age.

Born July 16, 1865, Fairvlew, Sanpete County, to Archibald and Caroline Johnson Anderson. Married Lucinda Sanderson, Dec. 17, 18S9, Manti Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Moved to McKinnon 1921. Rancher. Member, LDS Church.

Survivors: widow, Mr. Anderson, sons, dauchters. J. Clifton, David Lyle, Owen L., Von A., Mrs. Crystal W. (Jessie) Youngberg, all McKinnon: Hobert A., Mrs. Porter S. (Buenal Tillotson. both Salt Lake City: Mrs. James (Eva) Watson, Spring City: 28 grandchildren: two brothers: two sisters. Funeral Friday 2 p.m.. 26O E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, where friends call Thursday 6-8 p.m., Friday prior. Burial, Salt City Cemetery.

-Salt Lake Tribune, June 11, 1959, transcribed by Rhonda Holton