Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 87
 
JAMES W. ANDERSON

     For four score years the Anderson family has been identified with the
Willamette Valley, the old donation claim which has been the home of the family
during all these years being located five miles northwest of Jefferson. Among
the worthy representatives of the name now resident here is James W. Anderson, a
grandson of the old pioneers, James and Lucy (Savage) Anderson. The grandfather
was born in Lancaster, Ohio, and his wife in New York, and in 1847, with ox
teams and covered wagon, they made the long journey across the plains to Oregon.
On his arrival in the Willamette Valley, James Anderson took a donation claim of
six hundred and forty acres of land, mostly-prairie, lying five miles northwest
of Jefferson, and after building a small house, began farming. Nature was kind
to him and rewarded his efforts with bountiful crops, so that prosperity came to
him in abundant measure. In 1855 he built a fine house of twelve rooms, of white
fir lumber, which he whipsawed and planed by hand, and which at that time was
considered one of the finest farm homes in the state of Oregon. That the house
was well constructed is evidenced by the fact that it is still in use as the
home of Mr. Anderson's grandson, James W., and is in excellent condition. In
1849 Mr. Anderson joined the gold rush to California, where he was successful in
mining, returning to his Oregon home with a good stake. He was a prominent
member of the Masonic order and was also one of the leading members of the
Methodist Episcopal church at Jefferson. He remained actively engaged in
business affairs up to about ten years prior to his death, which occurred in
1899, at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife passed away in 1915, at the age
of eighty-six years.
     Among their children was William W. Anderson, who was born on the donation
claim in 1860.  He attended the district school and had one year in Willamette
University, after which he assisted his father on the home farm for several
years. Going then to eastern Oregon, he was engaged there in farming for several
years and in 1895 returned to the home ranch, which he operated to the time of
his death, in 1907. He is survived by his widow, who lives in Alberta, Canada.
She was a native of Freiberg, Germany, and bore the maiden name of Bertha
Flubacher. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were born three children, James W.; Mrs.
Fern L. McCallum, of Alberta, Canada, and Ruth, who is teaching school in
Alberta.
     James W. Anderson secured a public school education, graduating from the
high school at Jefferson, and then went to Salem, where he learned the trade of
automobile mechanic. In the spring of 1918 he enlisted in the United States army
for service in the World war, and became a member of Company A, Thirteenth Motor
Corps, which was attached to the Thirteenth Division, and he served with that
command until after the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge on
January 26, 1919. He now owns ninety acres of the old donation claim taken up by
his grandfather, and in addition to farming his own land he also cultivates the
balance of the land for the other heirs. He is a good, practical agriculturist
and has realized a fine degree of success. His chief field crops are hay and
grain and he also gives considerable attention to dairying, keeping ten good
grade Jersey milk-cows and six head of young cattle. He is an industrious and
energetic man in all of his operations and is regarded as one of the valuable
citizens of his locality.
     On August 4, 1918, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Kress,
who was born and reared in Salem and is a daughter of Theodore and Eliza
(Fisher) Kress. Both of her parents were born and reared in Wisconsin, from
which state they came to Oregon in 1887. Mr. Kress was a house painter and
decorator by trade but is now retired and lives in Salem. To him and his wife
were born five children : Mrs. Maud Richardson ; Fred, deceased ; Mrs. Pearl
Smith ; Mrs. Ruth Anderson; and one who died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs.
Anderson have been born two children, James K., born May 9, 1919, and William
Wallace, born November 13, 1923. Mr. Anderson is a member of Jefferson Martin
Tent, No. 27, K. O. T. M. During all the years of his residence here he has
commanded the confidence and esteem of the people among whom he has lived, for
his life has been consistent in motive and conduct and he has stood as an
exemplar of the highest type of citizenship.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.