An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1893 ALEXANDER J. ANDERSON, Ph. D., one of the prominent educators of the Northwest, was born of Scotch ancestry, at Grey Abbey, Ireland, November 6, 1832. When he was but fifteen months of age his parents emigrated to the United States and settled upon the banks of the St. Lawrence river, where his father engaged in farming. The subject of this review was educated at the in the public schools at Lockport, and at Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois, defraying the expenses of his education by personal effort. For one year he maintained himself in school by sawing wood, working in gardens, and doing all manner of odd jobs. For the balance of the course he forestalled himself by serving as compositor in a printing office. Later on he engaged in teaching school, inaugurating his pedagogic labor when about twenty-one years of age. Thus completing his college course, he graduated in 1856. After one year as principal of the public school of Lisbon, Illinois, he settled in Lexington, and there established a private school, which he conducted successfully for four years. He was then induced to accept the position as Principal of Fowler Institute at Newark, Illinois, - a school formerly popular, but at that time utterly reduced in standing and patronage. Professor Anderson began his work with but eleven pupils, but, nothing daunted, he entered the field with the enthusiasm of past success, and after six years of labor he retired from the institution, which then showed an average attendance of 150 pupils. Returning to Lexington, he was appointed Superintendent of the Public Schools, and continued in that capacity for two years, until 1869, when he was called to Pacific Grove, Oregon, as principal of the academic department of Pacific University. Shortly after arrival he was elected as Professor of Pedagogy and Mathematics, and remained five years, resigning much against the wishes of the faculty. In 1872 he was selected as one of four prominent educators of Oregon to formulate rules and regulations for the government of the schools of the State, and was also chosen as examiner of teachers for State certificates and life diplomas. He also served as Superintendent of Schools for Washington county for one term. In 1874 he accepted the position of principal of the Central school in Portland, and remained two years. He also served one year as principal of the high school, and was then called as President of the Washington Territorial University at Seattle, and, accepting the call, removed to this city. The university was then in a prostrate condition, but by personal supervision, hard work and able management he restored it to a position of prominence among the educational institutions of the Northwest. After five years of faithful labor he was obliged to resign and remove to a dryer climate, by reason of the failing health of his wife. His resignation was viewed with great regret by the entire people, and as expressive of their appreciation and gratitude a banquet was prepared in his honor and largely attended by the representative citizens of Seattle. Professor Anderson then removed to Walla Walla, where his wife found new strength, her life being certainly prolonged by several years. The Professor continued his educational work as president of the Whitman Seminary, - another broken-down institution, - for which he solicited subscriptions in this State and the East, and thus placed it upon an improved financial basis and also increased the attendance to 200 pupils. After the first year the name was changed to Whitman College by special charter granted by the Legislature, and he continued as President for nine years, when his own health became much impaired and he was obliged to retire from active labor. He was married in Morris, Illinois, in 1857, to Miss Louise M. Phelps, of that State. She died at Walla Walla, September 22, 1889, leaving six children: Charles M., civil engineer in Seattle; Oliver P., civil engineer, draughtsman and an extensive publisher of maps and blue prints in Seattle; Louis F.; A.M., professor of Greek and Latin in Whitman College; Alexander J., Jr., a real-estate and loan agent, who died December 19, 1892; Rev. George P., of the Congregational Church, graduate of Whitman College and Yale Divinity School; and Helen H. In July, 1892, Professor Anderson returned to Seattle, and is now engaged as editor of the Northwest Journal of Education, as, after an experience of nearly forty years in educational work, he finds it difficult to retire from that line of labor. His acquaintance is extensive throughout the Northwest, and the graduates from his schools are found in every town and hamlet. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.