It is a pleasure to review the acts and some of the incidents in the lives of the older citizens of Peoria, who have in the past contributed to its prosperity and development, and have set an example worthy of imitation. Among these is Mr. Horace G. Anderson, the subject of this brief sketch. He was born in the town of Portland, Chautauqua County, New York, on September 13, 1822. He came to Illinois with his parents, in March, 1833, and settled upon a farm in Will County, near Lockport, where the family remained for seven years, and then removed to a farm near Naperville. Mr. Anderson remained with his father upon the farm, until he was twenty-one years old, attending the country district school, for a part of the year, until he was nineteen years old. He then went to the Rock River Seminary, at Mt. Morris, in Ogle County, where he remained for two years. After leaving school he was engaged as a clerk in various places, for three years, until June, 1848, when he came to Peoria and established himself in the lumber business, which he followed for eleven years. Subsequently, he operated the Peoria Pottery for two years, with more of loss than profit. After quitting the management of the Pottery, he engaged in the foundry business in connection with the old Peoria City Foundry, which he conducted for six years with success, but finally closed it out, near the end of the Civil War, because of a general collapse all over the country in this branch of manufacture. Soon after the great fire in Chicago, he established himself in the wholesale hat, cap and fur business, in the city of Peoria, but learning that it could not be profitably conducted here, finally abandoned it.
Mr. Anderson's active business career was continued for many years; he was a well-known citizen, and one who was interested, at all times, in whatever pertained to the welfare and growth of the city. He always had confidence in the location and future of Peoria. and encouraged, at all times, the bringing in of new brains and money. He was never an office-seeker, but always ready to do his part, officially or otherwise, for the development of Peoria. He served as School Inspector for a number of years, was a member of the City Council, held an appointment as Canal Commissioner for four years, and Gauger in the United States Revenue Service for seven years. He was also a member of the Board of Supervisors that planned and constructed the present Court House, which was quite an evidence of enterprise for the conservative county of Peoria, as many of the people of that time believed that the old structure was sufficient for all needs.
Mr. Anderson married Miss Melinda Arnold, of Collins Center, Erie County, New York, in 1850. Several children have been born to them, some of whom are still at the parental home, while the others reside in the immediate vicinity.
The latter years of Mr. Anderson's life were spent in the society of his wife in the peace and quiet of their beautiful home upon the bluff, overlooking the business portion of the city. Here he died on the 16th day of February, 1902, his wife surviving him. Their life was a serene and happy one, in which they set an example that may be followed with profit by others. Always devoted to each other, to their family and their home, they grew old gracefully, with- out any of that hardness and bitterness that sometimes seems to develop with increasing years.
from Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, Volume II, 1902
Mr. Anderson's active business career was continued for many years; he was a well-known citizen, and one who was interested, at all times, in whatever pertained to the welfare and growth of the city. He always had confidence in the location and future of Peoria. and encouraged, at all times, the bringing in of new brains and money. He was never an office-seeker, but always ready to do his part, officially or otherwise, for the development of Peoria. He served as School Inspector for a number of years, was a member of the City Council, held an appointment as Canal Commissioner for four years, and Gauger in the United States Revenue Service for seven years. He was also a member of the Board of Supervisors that planned and constructed the present Court House, which was quite an evidence of enterprise for the conservative county of Peoria, as many of the people of that time believed that the old structure was sufficient for all needs.
Mr. Anderson married Miss Melinda Arnold, of Collins Center, Erie County, New York, in 1850. Several children have been born to them, some of whom are still at the parental home, while the others reside in the immediate vicinity.
The latter years of Mr. Anderson's life were spent in the society of his wife in the peace and quiet of their beautiful home upon the bluff, overlooking the business portion of the city. Here he died on the 16th day of February, 1902, his wife surviving him. Their life was a serene and happy one, in which they set an example that may be followed with profit by others. Always devoted to each other, to their family and their home, they grew old gracefully, with- out any of that hardness and bitterness that sometimes seems to develop with increasing years.
from Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, Volume II, 1902
It is a pleasure to review the acts and some of the incidents in the lives of the older citizens of Peoria, who have in the past contributed to its prosperity and development, and have set an example worthy of imitation. Among these is Mr. Horace G. Anderson, the subject of this brief sketch. He was born in the town of Portland, Chautauqua County, New York, on September 13, 1822. He came to Illinois with his parents, in March, 1833, and settled upon a farm in Will County, near Lockport, where the family remained for seven years, and then removed to a farm near Naperville. Mr. Anderson remained with his father upon the farm, until he was twenty-one years old, attending the country district school, for a part of the year, until he was nineteen years old. He then went to the Rock River Seminary, at Mt. Morris, in Ogle County, where he remained for two years. After leaving school he was engaged as a clerk in various places, for three years, until June, 1848, when he came to Peoria and established himself in the lumber business, which he followed for eleven years. Subsequently, he operated the Peoria Pottery for two years, with more of loss than profit. After quitting the management of the Pottery, he engaged in the foundry business in connection with the old Peoria City Foundry, which he conducted for six years with success, but finally closed it out, near the end of the Civil War, because of a general collapse all over the country in this branch of manufacture. Soon after the great fire in Chicago, he established himself in the wholesale hat, cap and fur business, in the city of Peoria, but learning that it could not be profitably conducted here, finally abandoned it.
Mr. Anderson's active business career was continued for many years; he was a well-known citizen, and one who was interested, at all times, in whatever pertained to the welfare and growth of the city. He always had confidence in the location and future of Peoria. and encouraged, at all times, the bringing in of new brains and money. He was never an office-seeker, but always ready to do his part, officially or otherwise, for the development of Peoria. He served as School Inspector for a number of years, was a member of the City Council, held an appointment as Canal Commissioner for four years, and Gauger in the United States Revenue Service for seven years. He was also a member of the Board of Supervisors that planned and constructed the present Court House, which was quite an evidence of enterprise for the conservative county of Peoria, as many of the people of that time believed that the old structure was sufficient for all needs.
Mr. Anderson married Miss Melinda Arnold, of Collins Center, Erie County, New York, in 1850. Several children have been born to them, some of whom are still at the parental home, while the others reside in the immediate vicinity.
The latter years of Mr. Anderson's life were spent in the society of his wife in the peace and quiet of their beautiful home upon the bluff, overlooking the business portion of the city. Here he died on the 16th day of February, 1902, his wife surviving him. Their life was a serene and happy one, in which they set an example that may be followed with profit by others. Always devoted to each other, to their family and their home, they grew old gracefully, with- out any of that hardness and bitterness that sometimes seems to develop with increasing years.
from Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, Volume II, 1902
Mr. Anderson's active business career was continued for many years; he was a well-known citizen, and one who was interested, at all times, in whatever pertained to the welfare and growth of the city. He always had confidence in the location and future of Peoria. and encouraged, at all times, the bringing in of new brains and money. He was never an office-seeker, but always ready to do his part, officially or otherwise, for the development of Peoria. He served as School Inspector for a number of years, was a member of the City Council, held an appointment as Canal Commissioner for four years, and Gauger in the United States Revenue Service for seven years. He was also a member of the Board of Supervisors that planned and constructed the present Court House, which was quite an evidence of enterprise for the conservative county of Peoria, as many of the people of that time believed that the old structure was sufficient for all needs.
Mr. Anderson married Miss Melinda Arnold, of Collins Center, Erie County, New York, in 1850. Several children have been born to them, some of whom are still at the parental home, while the others reside in the immediate vicinity.
The latter years of Mr. Anderson's life were spent in the society of his wife in the peace and quiet of their beautiful home upon the bluff, overlooking the business portion of the city. Here he died on the 16th day of February, 1902, his wife surviving him. Their life was a serene and happy one, in which they set an example that may be followed with profit by others. Always devoted to each other, to their family and their home, they grew old gracefully, with- out any of that hardness and bitterness that sometimes seems to develop with increasing years.
from Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, Volume II, 1902
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