WI BIO - Dane Co - ANDERSON, Matthew
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893. Vol II, pp 546-548

Matthew ANDERSON, a prominent Statesman, progressive business man, and 
successful farmer of Dane County, WI, was born in County Londonderry, 
Ireland, 09 Mar 1822, and is a son of George and Jane (McKEE) ANDERSON. The 
father was born in County Antrim, Ireland, 15 Jul 1792, and was a son of 
Matthew ANDERSON, also a native of that county. Matthew ANDERSON was a 
farmer by occupation, and died in County Londonderry at the age of 77 years. 
His wife, nee Sarah WILSON, also died in County Londonderry, aged 75 years. 
She had a brother and an uncle who were seceder ministers, and quite 
prominent men. George ANDERSON, father of the subject of this sketch, was 
one of seven children, and was reared to farming, which occupation he 
followed through life.

In 1834 George ANDERSON emigrated to the U. S., on the ship "Henry Gratton," 
which was wrecked at sea, and the passengers were picked up by a schooner, 
which landed them in Philadelphia on 01 Aug 1884, after they had been seven 
weeks on the ocean. He went to Lancaster County, PA, where he bought a small 
farm of improved land, on which he and his family resided until 1850. In 
that year he sold his farm for $225 an acre and removed to OH, settling on 
land which his son, the subject of this sketch, had selected for him. On 
this place of 120 acres, in Logan County, OH, George ANDERSON died 19 Mar 
1879, greatly lamented by all who knew him, on account of his many excellent 
qualities of heart and mind. The mother of the subject of this notice [Jane 
(McKEE) ANDERSON] was born in County Londonderry, Ireland, 20 May 1791, and 
was a daughter of Moses and Nancy (COUSTY) McKEE, also natives of that 
county. Her father was a farmer by occupation and both parents lived to a 
very great age. They had four children, but as far as known none are now 
living, Mrs. George ANDERSON, their daughter, having died in Logan County, 
OH, 29 Mar 1858. She was a woman of rare sensibility and intelligence, whose 
life was replete with good works. She and her husband reared eight children: 
Wilson (born 29 Dec 1815), David (18 Dec 1818), Matthew (09 Mar 1822), 
Isabella (04 Apr 1825), Sarah (09 Jan 1828), Nancy (06 Jan 1831), Mary A. (09 
Oct 1833), and Eliza J. (04 Aug 1836). All were born in County Londonderry, 
Ireland, except Eliza J., who was born in Lancaster County, PA.

Matthew ANDERSON, the subject of this sketch, was engaged at farm work until 
coming to the U. S., when he served an apprenticeship of five and a half 
years at the [p 547] shoemakers' trade. In 1840 he started a small shop of 
his own, which he conducted until 1847, when he began the same business in 
Bellefontaine, [Logan County], OH. He afterward began the manufacture of 
shoes in that city, employing from 20 to 30 men, being the father of the shoe 
business there, where he remained 13 years. On 01 Aug 1860 he removed to the 
town of Cross Plains, Dane County, WI, where he now resides on one of the 
best farms in that section, having 340 acres, all under cultivation. Mr. 
ANDERSON is now practically retired from active labor, but is probably the 
most active man in the State in political matters. His first vote was cast 
in 1848 for free schools, that being his first, he feels very proud of it. 
His first presidential vote was cast for James K. POLK, in 1844. His 
sterling qualities and genial personality rendered him popular, and in 1851 
he served as Mayor of Bellefontaine, OH, and was a member of the Town Council 
three years. He has also held many positions of trust since removing to WI. 
He was Chairman of the Township Board in Cross Plains, WI, for two years; was 
a member of the Assembly in 1871; was elected to the State Senate in 1877, 
and served four years, and in 1879 was re-elected, serving as a member of the 
Committee on State Affairs, and of Agriculture. He took an active part in 
having laws passed in the interest of farmers, and introduced and secured the 
passage of a bill to reduce the legal rate of interest to six percent, the 
passage of which he advocated with zeal and energy. He was President of the 
Dane County Agricultural Society six years; was presiding officer of the 
first meeting of the National Alliance in Chicago, in 1881, and also in St. 
Louis, at the opening of its session in 1882; and was Overseer of the WI 
State Grange for two years. He was a recognized leader in the WI 
Legislature, establishing a record second to none for energetic and 
aggressive efforts for the benefit of his fellow men.

Matthew ANDERSON was married in Logan County, OH, 22 Jun 1847, to Miss 
Elizabeth C. HARNER, who was born in Lancaster County, PA, 14 Aug 1825. She 
was a daughter of John A. and Elizabeth C. (EMERY) HARNER, natives of Chester 
County, OH, the former born 05 Apr 1795, and the latter 17 Sep 1798. Her 
parents settled on a farm in Logan County, OH, in 1846, where the father 
[John A. HARNER] died 14 Dec 1870, and the mother [Elizabeth C. (EMERY) 
HARNER] on 21 Feb 1876. Mrs. ANDERSON's maternal grandparents, Peter and 
Elizabeth (CLEMENS) EMERY, were pioneers of Chester County, PA, where they 
lived to a very great age. Mr. and Mrs. ANDERSON had six children, all born 
in Bellefontaine, [Logan County], OH, three of whom are now living: (1) 
Mary Belle, born 27 Nov 1852, married John W. ANDERSON, a railroad engineer 
of Madison, Dane County, WI, and they have two sons; (2) Charlotte McKee, 
born 05 Nov 1853, married Peter KEHL, a miller of San Bernardino, [San 
Bernradino County], CA; and (3) David, born 19 May 1860, a cattle raiser of 
NE, is married and has one daughter. The deceased are: (4) George W., born 
08 Apr 1848, died 16 Sep 1849; (5) John F., born 05 Aug 1849, died 16 Aug 
1850; and (6) Georgiana, born 07 May 1851, died 15 Aug 1852. The devoted 
wife and mother [Elizabeth C. (HARNER) ANDERSON] died in Dane County, WI, 30 
Mar 1880, and her remains were taken to Bellefontaine [Logan County], OH, to 
the family burying ground, [p 548] Mr. ANDERSON being one of the charter 
members of the cemetery association.

On 08 Mar 1882 Matthew ANDERSON was married to Harriet ARLAND, the ceremony 
being performed by Bishop FALLOWS, of Chicago. This lady was a native of 
Leicestershire, England, and a daughter of Thomas and Ann (MAIN) ARLAND, the 
former born 19 Aug 1801, and the latter 12 Aug 1804. Both parents died in 
Dane County, WI, Thomas ARLAND on 05 Oct 1873 and Ann (MAIN) ARLAND on 24 Jan 
1872. Mrs. ANDERSON came to the U. S. with her parents in 1846, who settled 
in Cross Plains Township, Dane County, WI. She graduated at the Woman's 
Medical College, Chicago, Cook County, IL, in 1882, and practiced her 
profession in Dane County for a time, and is a member of the WI State and 
Central WI Medical Societies. Her mother was an own [only?] cousin of the 
Earl of Shrewsbury.

Socially Matthew ANDERSON is one of the oldest members of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, No. 72, in Bellefontaine, OH, and of the Encampment, 
No. 73, at the same place. He is a member of the Masonic order at Black 
Earth, and of the Chapter at Madison. From a cobblers' bench and without 
schooling but that obtained in the old fashioned subscription school, our 
subject has arisen by his own efforts to the front rank of popularity, honor 
and esteem; and by hard labor, judicious economy and a first class system of 
agricultural pursuits, has amassed a fortune quite sufficient to enable him 
to retire several years ago. His friends and neighbors, however, will not 
permit him to retire from the political arena. His irreproachable character, 
sound and safe business principles, unerring judgment and keen sensibility of 
the best interests of all, is platform enough to satisfy the people. He is a 
Democrat and is in favor of a protective tariff.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly