Oliver P. Anderson

OLIVER P. ANDERSON, a pioneer of Clarke County, was born in Madison County, Kentucky, March 13, 1832, a son of Alexander and Julia A. (Raborn) Anderson. He remained with his parents until twenty years of age, when he went to McLean County, Illinois, where he was employed as clerk in a dry-goods store until 1854.  He then came to Iowa and lived in Marshall County until 1856, when in August of that year he joined the expedition of James Lane, in behalf of Kansas, as a Free-Soiler, returning to Iowa in September and the 20th of that month settled in Clarke County. He worked at the carpenter’s trade until 1862 and then turned his attention to farming.  March 31, 1864, he enlisted in the defense of his country, and was assigned to Company F., Sixth Iowa Infantry. He participated in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and in Sherman’s march to the sea. He was wounded twice in the Atlanta campaign, and was forty-three days under fire of the enemy on the march to the sea. At the battle of Griswoldsville, Georgia, he received a very severe gunshot wound in the body, penetrating the point of the left lung, which was supposed to be mortal. May 20, 1865, he was discharged by general order of the War Department at Davenport, Iowa, and returned to his home in Osceola.  He never recovered from the effects of his wound, but although disabled for manual labor he has devoted his care and attention to his farm. He is also largely engaged in fish culture, and has demonstrated the fact that this enterprise can be made a success in Clarke County. He has studied the habits and requirements of carp very closely, and his methods of protection, which are of his own invention, are very commendable.  Mr. Anderson was married in 1860 to Miss Margaret C. Gregg. They have two children – Ernest F. and Evia May. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 439