Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 283. E. L. ANDERSON Captain of Battery A, First Artillery, Oregon National Guards, was born in Palmyra, Missouri, January 30, 1855. His father, Rufus E. Anderson, a native of Kentucky, emigrated to Missouri in his boyhood. When he grew older he studied law, and in due time began the practice of his profession at Palmayra, where he still lives and conducts a successful practice. He married Miss Cornelia Thompson, a native of Virginia. Of their nine children, the subject of our sketch is the oldest. Captain Anderson received his education at Central College, of Fayette, and at Pritchell Institute, Glascow, Missouri, where he graduated in 1873. He then commenced the study of law with his father. A year later, however, he gave up all thought of becoming a lawyer and turned his attention to railroading. His first engagement was with the St. Joseph & Denver City railroad, as clerk in the freight department at St. Joseph. He remained there eight years, and in the meantime was promoted from clerk to agent of the road. In 1882 he went to St. Louis as chief clerk in the auditing department of the Missouri & Pacific railroad; and in 1884 was with the St. Louis & Hannibal, as agent at Hannibal, remaining in the employ of the latter company until 1886. He then engaged as clerk and bookkeeper for Nelson, Morris & Co., prominent packers of Chicago. In 1887 he returned to railroad life, becoming traveling inspector of the Central Traffic Association, with headquarters at Chicago. In this capacity he traveled over the territory between Chicago and Buffalo, until March, 1890. He then came to Portland as rate clerk for the Northern Pacific, which position he resigned the following June, in order to accept the office of chief clerk of Portland, in the office of the Union Pacific railroad. This position he still occupies. He was married in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1877, to Miss Minnie Harrison, a native of Indiana. Their two children are both dead. The subject of our sketch is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Patriarchal Circle. He received his first military training at the military school at Fayette. At St. Joseph he filled the offices of First Sergeant, First Lieutenant and Captain of St. Joe Light Infantry, First Regiment, Missouri National Guards. At St. Louis he served as Sergeant and Second Lieutenant of Captain Skipwith Battery, St. Louis Light Artillery; and in Chicago as Sergeant and Second Lieutenant of Company C, Third Regiment, Illinois National Guards. November 3, 1890, he was elected First Lieutenant, which office he occupied until September 15, 1891, when, through the death of Captain Stevens, Lieutenant Anderson was elected his successor. Battery A was organized May 29, 1873, with rank and file of forty men, Captain Thomas Mountain in command. The State supplied the battery with two brass field pieces, and other equipments and uniforms were supplied through individual expenditure. In 1882 Captain Mountain was succeeded by Thomas Adams, a veteran of the civil war. He commanded the battery four years, and during his term of office re-armed and re-uniformed the battery, and increased the membership to sixty enrolled men. He was succeeded in 1886 by W. J. Riley, who served as Captain for three years, after which the battery was disbanded. It was re-organized in June, 1889, by Captain Thomas Adams. He resigned the following November, and Ward S. Stephens was elected Captain and served until his death, in September, 1891. The battery now numbers sixty men, has two field pieces, two Gatling guns, and a full line of sabers and revolvers, and is in a healthy, prosperous condition. With able corps of officers and drillmasters, and proper enthusiasm among the men, the battery is rapidly coming to the front in scientific drill and uniformity of movement. Transcriber's additional notes: 1860 - Aug 11; Marion Co, MO; Wd 3 Palmyra, page 1022 R. E. Anderson, 27, MO, lawyer Cornelia, 26, VA Edwin L, 5, MO Margaret F, 2, MO 1870 - June 17; Marion Co, MO; Palmyra Liberty Twp, page 647 Rufus E. Anderson, 36, MO, lawyer Cornelia F, 35, VA Edwin L, 15, MO Margarett T, 13, MO Juliet M, 10, MO Cornelia F, 3, MO Russella, 1, MO 1880 - June 4; Buchanan Co, MO; St. Joseph dist 56, Wd 3, page 164 H.R. Dunbar, head, 40, OH, MA, MA, boarding house Louise, wife, 40, OH, OH, OH, keeping house Mery, dau, 15, OH, OH, OH Frank, son, 12, KS, OH, OH Annie, dau, 10, MO, OH, OH Annie Oakes, 30, OH, OH, OH, teacher Edward L. Anderson, 25, MO, --, --, railroad agent Nannea, 21, MO, KY, KY, boarder Edna, 2, MO, KY, KY, boarder ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.