Joshua Anderson

    Joshua Anderson was born August 16th, 1813, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and is the eldest of eight children born to William and Keziah (Smith) Anderson. The family moved to Warren County, Ohio, in 1818. Joshua had only the ordinary county schooling, and worked for his father until nearly twenty years of age. He worked out awhile and then learned the cooper's trade, which he followed fourteen years.

     In 1833, he married Miss Harriet Crosley, by whom he had twelve children, four of whom are now living -Mary Jane High, James, Keziah Gilger, and Caroline Palmer. He lost his first wife in 1863, and in 1867 was united to Mrs. Eunice Prosser. One child has blessed this union, Elmer E. In 1847, he discontinued his trade and rented a farm. he moved to Warren County, Indiana in 1853, and the following spring settled in Prairie Township on his present farm.

    He first bought 126 acres, and has added until he now owns 215 acres, 160 being prairie and the remainder woodland. During the war, he acted as enrolling officer, reporting at La Fayette. His son James, served three years in the Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteers. He was at Stone River all through the Atlanta campaign, and at Nashville.

    Mr. Anderson was Township Trustee for several years, being the first one elected. He also acted as Land Appraiser for Prairie and Pine Townships for three terms. He has been a member of the F. & A. M. for twenty years, and joined the Odd Fellows in 1848, attending regularly until about five years ago. He has been liberal and active in promoting benevolent enterprises.

Source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. F.A. Battey & Co., 1883.