Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
ORLANDER ANDERSON has resided
in the Big Bend country for over twenty years. During this time he
has always been found laboring industriously in the care of his private
business enterprises and for the upbuilding of the country. Without
doubt he is to be classed as one of the makers and builders of this prosperous
county and deserves much credit for what he has done. At present,
he resides about eight miles southwest from Davenport where he has a fine
estate of over one section, five hundred acres of which are in a high state
of cultivation and produce a most gratifying income annually. Owing
to the wisdom and thrift of Mr. Anderson his farm is a model one in almost
every respect and he deserves great credit not only for the skill displayed
but for the way in which he has stimulated others in the industry.
Orlander Anderson was
born in Sweden on January 3, 1856, the son of Andrew and Anna Anderson,
natives of Sweden. They live there at the present time. He
has two brothers, Olaf and Aaron. Our subject received his education
before he was sixteen and at that time came via Liverpool and New York
to Pennsylvania. In 1878, he journeyed thence to Sierra county, California,
and worked for a salary until 1883. In the fall of that year he came
to the Big Bend country and located his present place as a homestead.
Ever since that time he has given painstaking and careful attention to
the cultivation of the land and has made a brilliant success in his labors.
When he settled here, the bunch grass prairies were almost unbroken by
settlers and he has seen the development of this rich section. He
has endured many hardships, had great difficulty to get started but he
has shown the determination and grit that have won the day.
On December 27, 1903,
Mr. Anderson married Miss Elizabeth Johns, a native of Pennsylvania.
Her father, Jenkin Johns, was a native of Wales and came to Pennsylvania
when a young man. He was among the first pioneers to Lincoln county
and resides there at the present time. The mother of Mrs. Anderson
is Anna Johns, also a native of Wales and now living in Lincoln county.
Mrs. Anderson has one brother, William and four sisters, Mary, Minnie,
Maggie and Edith.
Mr. Anderson is a member
of the A. F. & A. M., and is of excellent standing in the community.
To our subject and his wife, five children have been born, John W., Maggie,
Dewey, Floyd and George.
Mr. Anderson remarks
that from the time he located here until 1897, owing to the hardships of
opening the farm, the wet year and the panic since that, he was unable
to get anything ahead until 1897 and that his property has been secured
since that time. In addition to the home place, he owns one hundred
and sixty acres of timber land north from Davenport.