THE ANDERSON FAMILY are among the most prominent and esteemed citizens of Cross Creek township. They trace their ancestry to one Francis Anderson, of Butler county, Penn. He was of Scotch parentage, and when a young man came west to try the hard and perilous life of a hunter. In this vocation he soon achieved a reputation as one of the most skilled and successful hunters of the day. In a short time, he had saved a portion of his earnings, and buying a small farm, combined agricultural pursuits with his former vocation. As old age drew near, the excitement and danger of life among the forests lost its power to charm, and he longed for the more quiet, if less eventful, life of the home. He retired from the ranks of Nimrod's followers, being at that time the owner of over 1,000 acres of land, and devoted the remnant of life to agricultural pursuits. With his children and grandchildren around him, the old hero would then relate exciting tales of adventures with panthers, bears and other wild animals of the forest. Thus living again the hunter life, he would for the time forget his surroundings, and with flashing eye and panting breath describe some fierce contest with savage beasts. In peace and comfort the old man passed his declining days, and died at a good old age, leaving children as follows: John, Francis, Robert, James, Samuel, Elizabeth, Jane and Sarah, of whom Elizabeth and Sarah are living. Robert Anderson was born June 17, 1809, in Butler county, Penn., where he grew to manhood on the farm. At the age of nineteen years he began working on the Pennsylvania Canal, thus earning enough money to enter an academy, which he attended for some time. He then entered the Jefferson College, of Canonsburg, Penn., graduated in 1832, and began the study of medicine under the celebrated Dr. Jonathan Leatherman, of Canonsburg. While pursuing his medical studies, the young man frequently taught short terms of school, finally graduating from the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. He began to practice his profession in the town of Hickory, Washington county, but soon after came to Cross Creek village, remaining there until his death. Robert Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Cochran, a native of Canonsburg, a daughter of the late Henry Cochran, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of that place. The children born to this union were: Henry C., Jane, Lizzie, Francis, James E., Robert and Joseph. Mr. Anderson was a member of the Cross Creek Presbyterian Church. In politics he was a stanch, Republican, being one of the leaders of that party. In the year 1860 he was elected to the State Legislature, holding that office two years, meanwhile winning a reputation for strict integrity and honor as well as intellectual power. Of his children there are yet living: Henry C., Robert and Joseph. Henry C. Anderson (the eldest son) was born November 9, 1834, at Canonsburg, and when but two years of age was brought to Cross Creek vil1age by his parents. He passed his youth on the farm which his father purchased soon after arriving in Cross Creek, and attended the academy at that place for several terms, thus laying the foundation for the extensive literary work in which he has been employed. After leaving school he selected as his life companion, Margaret J. McFarland, daughter of Andrew McFarland, a tailor of Grant City, Mo. Their children are as follows: Flora, Francis, Emma, Charles E., Cassius B., Hattie May, Laura Jeanette, James L., Sarah Isadore and Robert Harold. Henry C. Anderson is an ardent Republican, is connected with Grange, and for many years has been a correspondent of the Farmers' Friend, of Mechanicsburgh, also of the Presbyterian Banner, of Pittsburgh. He has written much valuable history for the county papers, and in church work has been superintendent of the Presbyterian Sabbath-school four years. ROBERT ANDERSON was born October 8, 1846, in Cross Creek village. He remained on the farm during boyhood, assisting in agricultural work, and receiving a common-school education. He afterward attended the Duff Business College, from which he graduated in 1865. He married Sarah N. Stephenson, of Smith township, Washington county, daughter of Mark Stephenson, a prominent farmer of that neighborhood. They have three children: Nannie I., Robert S. and Edna O., all living at home. After his marriage Mr. Anderson settled on the place in Cross Creek where he has since resided, with the exception of three years, during which time he kept store in Cross Creek village. The farm consists of 120 acres of good land. Robert Anderson is a member of the Cross Roads Presbyterian Church, to which he gives liberally. In politics he is a Republican, being an active and influential member of that party, having served his township as road supervisor and census enumerator. Mr. Anderson is one of the most respected citizens of the community, and a successful, honorable business man.

Text taken from page 412 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Dawn Marie Madsen of Boise, ID as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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