Anderson-Vriese Family Ties

OUR ANDERSON FAMILY HISTORY

compiled and updated by Staci Anderson, August 2004

JOSIAH ANDERSON

Evidence so far has shown that Josiah was born in Virginia, and it is likely he moved to Kentucky sometime after the Revolutionary War and before 1799. He was also a slaveholder. There is a Josiah Anderson on the Hampshire County, (West) Virginia tax records of 1787. This is the only Josiah Anderson in all of Virginia mentioned on this important "census". This is likely our same Josiah that later lived in Hardin County, Kentucky. One large indicator of this is that several related families followed eachother from Hampshire County to the area of Kentucky consisting of Hardin, Nelson and Bullitt counties; namely the Westfalls, Kuykendall's, Pairpoint's (Pierpoint etc...) and the Hornbeck's. Also, a Francis Pierpoint and a Sarah Pierpoint appear on the 1781-82 Hampshire County tax list, close to a Thomas Anderson and William Anderson. Francis Pierpoint and Sarah Pierpoint are later found on the 1785-91 Nelson County tax list. Josiah Anderson later lived on property from Francis Pierpoint and purchased a home and plantation from him on a deed found in Hardin County from 1802. It is clear that the Pairpoints left Virginia around 1785, and that Josiah probably followed sometime between 1787 and 1799.

It is probable that Josiah's father was Captain Thomas Anderson of Hampshire County, and his grandfather William Anderson from Scotland. (See Jim and Selma Burrows Website for more details about this family starting with William Anderson. Please note that Jim Burrows does not think these families are connected....) This link also makes sense because recorded history about our family says that there was a grandfather "Captain Anderson" in the Revolutionary War. This is all obviously speculative at the moment, with some evidence to back it up- however no hard proof can be offered at this point.(The evidence that works against this research connection is a letter written by a Grandson of Thomas Anderson, who never mentioned a Josiah, and says that a Joseph, son of Thomas, died in the war of 1812. Could he have been mistaken or left some children out? You can view this letter in the website mentioned above....)

(CLICK HERE TO VIEW TAX LISTS AND RESEARCH NOTES about some of these families in Hampshire County, Virginia and Kentucky.)

A Josiah Anderson is first found in Kentucky in the 1795 Mercer County, Kentucky tax list, with a James Anderson. Perhaps this is the same Josiah that later lived in Hardin County? Or could it be the Nelson Co. Josiah?

1799 Josiah Anderson appears on Hardin County, Kentucky tax list as a white male over 21 years old.

13 February 1802 - Josiah acquired 124 acres of land from Francis and Mary Pairpoint on Youngers Creek for $300. Deed states that it "includes plantation where said Anderson now lives."

1803 Josiah Anderson appears on a will as appraiser with Jeremiah Parpoint for Ignatus Bryan (Nov 22)

1805 Josiah appears on Hardin County tax list

1807 Josiah gives written consent for marriage between his son John, and Anna Westfall (see below).

1810 On the first available Federal census of Hardin County in 1810, he is listed as "Jsiah Anderson" (I believe this is transcribed in error sometimes to read "Isiah". The "I" and "J"s are easily confused on old records, and in this case evidence seems to show it is in fact "Jsiah Anderson" and not "Isiah Anderson", an obvious abbreviation for Josiah.) On this census he is over 45 years old, and there is a female over 45 years old. He also has 2 slaves (NOTE: There is another Josiah Anderson in nearby Nelson County and one must be careful in research not to mix them up. I believe the Josiah in Nelson County died before the 1820 census, as there is a document in Nelson County written in 1819 stating "Samuel, orphan of Josiah Anderson"..... There is also an estate sale for this Josiah in Nelson County in 1821. This must not be the Josiah of Hardin County as he is listed on the 1820 census in Hardin County.)

1812 Josiah Anderson signs marriage certificate between Jeremiah King and Polly Westfall, February 26th, 1812

1820 appears on Hardin County tax list

15 January1820- Patrick Peak sells 50 acres to Josiah Anderson for 5 "schillings" in Hardin County.

1820 Census of Hardin County, Little York Township, Kentucky, Josiah Anderson is listed as over the age of 45 years, living with a woman 16-25 years old, and having 5 slaves. The line right above his name there is an "Absolom Anderson". I am unsure how Absolom is related. (A brother or son? Also, Abner can be a nickname for Absolom)

14 April 1821 Warrant date (to authorize survey) for 43 acres Youngers Creek & Rolling Fork, Hardin County for $4.30. Grantee is Josiah Anderson. (Recorded in "The Kentucky Land Grants, vol 1, chap 6, Kentucky Land Warrants (1816-1873) by Jillson.) Book J.

30 April 1821 Survey date of land on Youngers Creek.

2 Dec 1822 Grant that finalizes transaction for the 43 acres on YoungersCreek issued.

1823 Josiah sold land to Thomas Cofer

1824 Josiah sold land to Thomas Cofer

1824, July 19th a Josiah Anderson marries Isabel Vandigriph (Vandigraft) in Hardin County, daughter of Samuel Vandigraft. This is probably the same Josiah.

After this date it appears that Josiah Anderson moved to Crawford County Indiana, which borders Hardin County, Kentucky. There is a will in Crawford County, Indiana for a Josiah Anderson dated Dec.6th, 1829. This will states:

"State of Indiana Crawford County December 6th 1828 In the name of God Amen. I Josiah Anderson seign? of the above mentioned county and state Doth in a firm state of mind make my last will and testament firmly. I Resign my soul or spirit into the care of my blessed Redeemer and the lord who gave it and my body to the dust from which it came. Secondly, it is my sole wish to be decently entered at the meeting house on the little blue and it is further my wish that after my funeral Expenses and just Depts settled and payed. I then give devised direct limit and appoint To Isabella Anderson my wife one mare named Jin ten dollars worth of hogs five dollars worth of kitchen furniture one bed and furniture five dollars of household furniture. To George Anderson one horse the yellow boy that I raised. To Josiah Anderson my son one rifle gun and the to be run full of tallow and to be kept so untill he is of age and so one bed and furniture and my land that I now live on to be sold and the balance of my property to be sold and divided between my two sons Josiah Anderson Jeremiah Anderson and the money to be put at interest untill my two sons become of age and then to be divided among the two boys and the interest to be taken to school them and no more. When my two sons to be twelve years old to be bound to some good tanner till they learn the trade also at my death I give to my Brother William Anderson all my wearing clothes as ….my hand december 6th 1828 Josiah Anderson -William Blackwell -Woodford Lawrence -Alfred Lawrence Notimbener? It is further my wish that Wm Ripley Laban Gregory L? Wm Blackwell be appointed administrator on my estate and also guardian for my children untill they become of age after my death as witness my hand March 22 1829 Test Josiah Anderson-Wm Blackwell- Woodford Lawrence- Alfred Lawrence "

He later added on March 22nd, 1829 that Wm Riley L. Greg and Wm Blackwell to be appointed administrators of his estate and guardian of his children until they are of age. Perhaps this means that Isabel died by this time. The reasons I believe that this will belongs to the Josiah Anderson of Hardin County, KY are: 1.) Josiah's son, John, left for Putnam County Indiana around 1821-24. Josiah himself sold land in 1823 and 1824. 2.) Crawford County borders Hardin County 3.) It seems that Josiah Anderson apears on the 1830 census in Crawford County, IN. He is listed as between 60 and 70 years old (which would be about right). However, again many indexes transcribe it as Isiah Anderson and it is already difficult to read. 4.) Isabel Vandigriph's brother, David moved to Crawford County Indiana by the 1840 census so there is family migration there. 5.) Josiah Anderson is mentioned in the "History of Crawford County on page 72 "...on the Governor's old trail by A.Sloan's to the Orange County line, Josiah Anderson;...." 6.) A wife "Isabella" is mentioned in the will. 7.) He names a brother, William in this will. Although William is a very common name at that time, there is a William Anderson listed with Josiah very early on in the Hardin County tax records. 8.) He names two sons in his will: John and Jeremiah. The name Jeremiah seems to run through the family, as his grandson is Jeremiah Anderson of the Harpers Ferry Raid (see below).

The 1830 census is the last record known of Josiah Anderson. It is unfortunate the will only names 2 minor sons and no other children. But it seems he did not have a lot to divide and it is likely his other children were old enough to take care of themselves at that time and living in a county farther away. There are still many unanswered questions to research.

JOHN ANDERSON

26 December 1787 - John Anderson was born in Virginia, likely West Virginia.

2 Apr 1807 - John Anderson & Anna Westfall are married in Hardin County, Kentucky. John's father, Josiah Anderson, gave written consent. (Anna Westfall's father was Colonel Jacob Westfall of the Revolutionary War and a slaveholder. Anna's father and mother's family trees goes back several generations to the Netherlands. Anna was born in Beverly, Randolph County, Virginia.)

John & Anna had the following children: Josiah, Charles, Levi (our ancestor), James, Jeremiah G., John Quincy, Mary Jane and Harrison. (Jeremiah Goldsmith Anderson was a historical figure. He was an abolitionist and joined up with the famous abolitionist, John Brown. Jeremiah joined John Brown and his men during the infamous Harpers Ferry Raid in October of 1859. Jeremiah was captured and pierced through by bayonets in the last assault. He was also subject to savage brutalities while dying. John Brown said of Jeremiah: "Jeremiah was more than a friend; he was as a brother and a son." According to the book "John Brown and his men" by Richard Hinton, "Anderson, slain by a United States soldier after he had thrown down his rifle, was the great-grandson of two soldiers of the American War for Independence. They were both Virginians. On his mother's side, Col .Jacob Westfall, of Tygert Valley, in the "Old Dominion," was a partisan commander of considerable local reputation. Soon after the war ceased he moved to Kentucky. He was a slaveholder, as was the other grandfather, Captain Anderson. John, his son, abjured slavery, and after his marriage moved first to the Territory of Black Hawk (Wisconsin) and then to that of Indiana, settling at the town of Indiana, Putnam County, where his son Jeremiah was born, April 17th, 1833..... His [Jeremiah's] features were...common to the Blue Range Scotch-Irish stock from which he came.")

10 April 1824- BLM Land Patent in Putnam County, Indiana for a purchase of 91 acres in the Crawfordsville district. It notes: "John Anderson of Hardin County, Kentucky." (Note that this is the same year Josiah Anderson sold land in Kentucky.)

1830 Census in Putnam County, Indiana there are 2 John Anderson's. However the one that must be our John Anderson lists the following family: 1 boy under 5, 1 boy of 5 and under 10, 1 boy of 10 and under 15 (his son Levi would have been 12 yrs old), 2 boys of 15 and under 20, and John himself: of 40 and under 50 years old. There was also 1 female under 5 years, 1 female of 20 and under 30, and 1 female of 30 and under 40 years old (probably Anna).

10 March 1837- Final BLM Land Patent in Putnam County, Indiana

1836 Des Moines County Census lists a John Anderson on page 78. Other Andersons on this Census are: William, Mathias, Thomas, Isaac and James. Also present are Reuben and Jacob Westfall. Around this date the Andersons and Westfalls settled in Des Moines County, Iowa. See the book "Yellow Spring and Huron: A Local History" by JW Merrill and "Recollections" by William Garrett that gives futher accounts of the Anderson's in Yellow Spring.

John Anderson died on 8 May or June of 1847 at the age of 59 years, 5 months and 13 days according to his headstone in Kossuth Cemetery in Des Moines County, Iowa. He is buried next to his daughter, Mary Jane. John's wife Anna is moved to Wapello County, Iowa with her sons John Q and James and died there March 10th, 1861. She is buried at the Anderson Hill Cemetery in Columbia Township, Dudley, Iowa with other members of this large family.

LEVI ANDERSON

1818 - Levi Anderson was born in Hardin County, Kentucky

30 Nov 1838 - date of sale for Original Entry Land Patent in Des Moines County, Iowa.(Sec32, Twp72, Rg2) Brother Charles as well same date.

1840 - Des Moines, Iowa County Census lists one very young child. Must be Asbury who was born around 1840. (This means Levi must have been married to Amy sometime close to and before 1840.)

1850 Census in Des Moines County, Iowa, Yellow Springs Township, lists Levi and his family. According to "Yellow Spring and Huron", Levi "married Amy Carmichael and began housekeeping in the town of Columbus; he afterwards improved the JR Bailey farm, and last the Torbert place. In 1853 he became a citizen of Oregon, and he and his sons have been prominent men there."

By the time the family is in Oregon in 1852, Levi is listed as widowed. Amy probably died during childbirth giving birth to their last boy, or during an cholera epidemic that happened around that time in Iowa. There is a chance she also died on the Oregon Trail. Amy was listed as being born in Indiana. Levi and Amy were probably married in Indiana as well.) The children listed on the 1850 census were: Asbury, Henry, "C", "M", and a "Sarah Jane". (It is unknown if Sarah Jane was their child or not, as she was listed rather "out of order", was at least 5 years older than the rest of the children, and she disappears from the family in the Oregon records. ) The "M" is for Marcus. (Interesting to note: Right below Levi and his family on the 1850 census was his mother, Anna Anderson and her children. Anna is 60 years old on this census and listed as born in Virginia. By this date Levi's father, John, has died. It is also interesting to note that Levi's "famous" brother, Jeremiah, is listed here living with Anna at the age of 17.)

1852 Iowa state census - Right before Levi and his family hit the Oregon trail in 1852, a state census was taken in Des Moines County. Levi's family lists 6 males and 1 female. Therefore, they added a boy, and 1 female is gone. It is unsure if this "missing" female was his wife Amy, or "Sarah Jane".

1 Oct 1852- Arrived in Oregon at Oregon City

15 April 1854- Settled Oregon Land Donation Claim of 160 acres, (worth about $450) in Washington County, on the Tualatin River, a few miles west of old town Sherwood. He was neighbors with the Sweek family- the Sweeks had a large home built that is still standing today. A recorded interview with old-time CA Sweek said: "If you know anything about old timers around Tualatin, you have heard of Levi Anderson and also Webb Anderson. The Anderson's were neighbors of ours. Webb Anderson had a place near Prairie City. He wanted to improve his band of horses up in Eastern Oregon so he bought a blooded stallion in the valley and asked me to ride it up to Prairie City for him. Levi Anderson was quite a character. He was a relative of John Brown of Harper's Ferry and looked a good deal like old John Brown. I arrived at Prairie City riding Anderson's race horse on St. Patrick's Day 1880....." (Mr Sweek was a little off in his assessment that Levi was a relative of John Brown..... We now know that it was Levi's brother, Jeremiah G., that joined John Brown in his raid at Harper's Ferry and was caught and executed. I guess that's how stories and rumors get started....)

1857- The Territorial Government convened in Salem to form the very 1st state constitution. Levi must have been a very respected man as he was elected delegate for the east end of Washington County to sign this historic document. He was assigned to be on the committe for forming the state boundaries (Oregon Historical Quarterly Vol 2, 1901, pg17). He was also one of 10 delegates who voted against adopting the constitution. (He ended up signing anyway...) Like the other delegates from Washington County (E.D. Shattuck and John S White), Levi Anderson was considered a "free state" delegate and wanted to keep slavery out of Oregon. Luckily, they succeeded (OHQ) Two years later the Congress ratified the state constitution and accepted Oregon into the Union as a "free state". (Information also from: "Tualatin, from the Beginning")

1860 Washington County, Oregon Census - Levi is living with his 5 boys, incl. "Mark".

About 1863- Levi sold his claim in Washington County to the Taylors and moved to Grant County, in the John Day Valley in Oregon. It appears that one of his sons, "Webb" (Probably Henry W.) had a place near Prairie City, and Levi Anderson bought a farm close to Prairie City, along Strawberry Creek. One account of a wagon train family wrote: "Their last camping grounds was the now Levi Anderson ranch, and they ate their last wagon meal there under the poplar trees beside Strawberry Creek." (This was in 1875.)

1870 Census: Levi is living in Grant County, Oregon, Union Precinct, and is living with his sons Marion, Marcus and Edgar.

1872- sold tract of his farmland according to a deed found in Grant County.

Feb 1873- sold 2 more tracts of his farmland.

10 Mar 1873- obtains 162 acres of additional land from US government.

20 July 1875- Levi sells large sections of land to his son(probably), HW (Henry Webb??) Anderson.

3 Jan 1876 sells more of his farmland

24 Sep 1879- last deed recorded for Levi in Grant County. He again sold 73 more acres to HW Anderson.

May 1880 - According to the 1880 Mortality Schedule for Grant County, Oregon, Levi died at the age of 62 years and his cause of death I believe was "paralysis", but that was rather hard to read so I may be wrong on the cause of death. It also stated that he was a resident of Grant County for 17 years. \

MARCUS ANDERSON (Marcus Anderson on left and wife Eva Howell on right. Photo of Eva probably taken in the 1870s due to her earings, dress and hair style. )

16 October, 1876 -Marcus married Eva M Howell in Corvallis, Benton County Oregon. They had 8 children in total: Leon W, Marcus Ray Jr., Walter, Marion, George, Chester, Bertha and Zora.

1880 - Census, Grant County Oregon, North Fork precinct. Living with wife Eva, sons, Wilfred, Ray & Walter (twins) and his brother "Asberry".

March 10, 1884- BLM record of a cash sales entry for land in Grant County, Oregon. This is perhaps when they sold their land and moved to Ashland in Southern Oregon. They resided on a small place on Tolman creek, "south of the boulevard" and farmed. In 1896 Marcus and his brother, Asbury purchased 200 acres from the Ninninger family in Klamath County, near Spencer Creek. There were several buildings erected on part of this land and a couple of generations of families were born and/or raised there. This land is still in Anderson possession to this day after more than 100 years.

1900 Census in Klamath County, Oregon: Marcus is listed as head of a household with 8 children; 6 sons and 2 daughters. Eva is not on this census as she died on 2 March, 1895 in Ashland of "puerperal fever". (After the death of Eva, Marcus moved his family to Klamath County.)

Not much more is known of Marcus, however, according to Klamath Echoes, vol. 11 pg.93: "He (Nate High) and Marcus Anderson got together and decided they should have a post office at Spencer Creek at their homes instead of having to go to Keno for their mail. They succeeded in securing a post office, which was located east of the creek and north of the road. Marcus Anderson secured the contract to carry the mail two or three times a week, but not every day, and possibly at times only once a week. Anderson carried the mail on horseback." Marcus Anderson died in 1910 in Keno, Oregon and is thought to be buried in the Spencer Cemetery next to Spencer Creek. He could be sharing the same stone as his brother, Asbury, but his side unmarked? There is another Marcus Ray buried there with a marked grave, but this is the grave of his son according to date.

LEON WILFRED ANDERSON (Leon Anderson seated with brothers Ray & Walter (twins))

24 February 1877- Leon Anderson was born in the John Day area, in Hamilton (Grant County) Oregon. Family and friends knew him as "Lynn/Len?". Leon moved to Klamath County to attend school, after having attended school in Eastern Oregon and Jackson County. His family resided on the Anderson Ranch on the Klamath River.

13 February, 1901 - Married Nellie Lorena Spencer at his father's home in Klamath County. They raised 2 children: Esther and Merle. As we all know, Merle had a twin brother who died at birth and is buried at the Spencer Cemetery. Leon drove stage coach and also freighted between parker Mountain and Klamath Falls. He also engaged in dairying on the former Nelson ranch one mile from Keno. However, he mostly raised Durham cattle and raised sheep and horses on the side. Leon was a Protestant faith and according to "History of Klamath County, Oregon" by Rachel Applegate-Good, and his "integrity of character has won the respect of all his neighbors and friends. He has taken a great interest in community affairs, being active in the Keno Grange, belonging to the school board and serving as supervisor of roads. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America."

3 September, 1903 - BLM homestead patent issued in Klamath County to Leon W Anderson

1910 Census, Klamath County- Leon is listed as living with his wife, Nellie, daughter Esther M, and his brother, Chester H.

1920 Census, Klamath County- Leon W. with his wife Nellie, and son, now living. Leon is a "hay and stock" farmer.

1930 Census, Klamath County- Leon is listed separate from his wife, Nellie, their son. By this date Leon and Nellie separated; however, they never divorced. He continued to live at the "Anderson Ranch" near Spencer Creek, and Nellie lived in a farmhouse near Keno. Leon lodged a man named Edd Calloway according to the census. Nellie lived with their son, now 16, and "managed" the farm.

26 June, 1940 - He died at the Klamath Valley Hospital at the age of 63 years of pneumonia. Leon is buried at the Keno Cemetery in Klamath County, Oregon.