Anders Family History
Kentucky, Indiana, and beyond
Family of John Anders and Catherine Allison
Elder children (through Elden) were born in Kentucky, and younger children in Indiana.
WIlliam T Anders (October 30, 1841 - September 05, 1908), married Sarah Jane Sturgeon in Morgan Co., Indiana
Cornelius M Anders (December 16, 1843 - aft 1865), never married
Francis C Anders (May 06, 1844 - 1897), married Sophronia Caroline Secrest in Morgan Co., Indiana
John Henry Anders (May 03, 1846 - July 23, 1917), married Harriett Sturgeon in Morgan Co., Indiana
Sarah E Anders (November 04, 1847 - Bef. 1910), married George W Farley in Morgan Co., Indiana
Martha J Anders (April 03, 1849 - Bet. 1900-1920), married John J Curnutt in Edgar Co., Illinois
Mary Ellen Anders (November 03, 1850 - November 26, 1914), married Alexander Gibbons in Edgar Co., Illinois
Elden Foster Anders (September 01, 1852 - Abt. 1919), married Nancy E Gray, and Nancy Holloway in Indiana
James M Anders (April 26, 1854 - June 22 1924), married Evaline Campsiedelle McCaffrey
David Turner Anders (June 29, 1856 - January 25, 1909), married Virginia A Quick in Indiana (moved to Missouri)
Lucinda (Lue) C Anders (April 26, 1858 - April 02, 1938), married George Henry Rushton, and John E Whitlow
Piercin Miller Anders (March 12, 1860 - Bef. 1861)
Marion Anders (April 01, 1862 - 1894), married Jennetta (Netta) Quick in Indiana (moved to Missouri)
Amos Emersley Anders (January 31, 1864 - August 04, 1933), married Martha (Mattie) Orissa Dollarhide in California
Background
John Anders and Catherine Allison married in Mason Co., Kentucky on December 11, 1839, and had a large family of fourteen known children. The Anders family spent the first 13 years of marriage in Kentucky, and then moved from Kentucky to Indiana around 1853. In 1860 the family was found farming near Bryant Creek Post Office in Washington township, Monroe County, Indiana. This was an area just south of Morgan County, where 3 of the eldest sons were married by 1866. It was about this time that John and Catherine moved to Edgar Co., Illinois, where two of their daughters married in 1867. John, Catherine and remaining family were enumerated in the 1870 census in Stratton, Edgar Co., Illinois. Sometime after 1870 John moved back to the Morgan County area, where many of the remaining children married. It is believed that elder John Anders (Andrews) was still living in 1890, and was the one who filed a civil war pension on behalf of deceased son Cornelius who served in the 6th Indiana Cavalry.
Family of Francis C Anders and Sophronia Caroline Secrest
Children born in Morgan County, Indiana. Most married in same.
Emma Andrews (Abt. 1867 - Bef. 1880)
LaFayette (Lafe) DeMarques Andrews (July 22, 1869 - June 02, 1946), married Lorie Evinia Pottorff
Cornelius M Andrews (Abt. 1870 - Bet. 1880 - 1900)
Mary Elizabeth Andrews (March 08, 1873 - September 21, 1909), married Harrison Sherman Powell
Roy Francis Andrews (March 30, 1875 - Aft. 1930), married Oceola (Ocy) Ferguson
Amanda L Andrews (June 1877 - Aft. 1930), married Ira Richard
Rosa Etta Anders (July 22, 1880 - October 22, 1932), married Sylvan O Dorsett
Minnie B Andrews (May 1883 - 1964), married Orestes (Ora) Wingler
Anna Sarah Andrew (August 1887 - 1965), married James Ralph Wilson
infant daughter (birth and death dates unknown)
Background
Francis C Anders was born May 06, 1844 in Kentucky, perhaps in either Mason or Bracken County. He was a son of John Anders and Catherine Allison. Francis C Anders married Sophronia Caroline Secrest on April 08, 1866 in Morgan County, Indiana. Sophronia was born about April 1844 in Morgan County, a daughter of Andrew Secrest who was a native of Rowan Co., North Carolina. Sophronia's mother is believed to have died shortly after her birth, for her father Andrew married Phoebe Knoy on September 01, 1846 on Morgan County. Andrew had three [known] children prior to his marriage to Phoebe, their names were Ira, Mary, and Sophronia. In his marriage to Phoebe, there were another eight [known] children: Arthur H., George W., John W., Andrew L., Catherine E., Peter (or Stephen), Ebenezer S., and Adaline L P.
Francis and Sophronia Anders raised a family of ten children, seven of whom married in Morgan County. They farmed in Ashland township, Morgan County, Indiana for much of their married lives, and where most (if not all) of the children were born. Confusion arises in the records where their last name is spelled either Anders or Andrews. Although Francis was referred to as Anders in most of the records, all the children appear to have gone by the name Andrews.
In 1892 the two oldest children, Lafe and Mary, married in Morgan County. This was shortly followed by Roy's marriage in 1896, Amanda's marriage in 1897. It was in the latter year that Francis passed away, his burial at Lingle Cemetery in Ashland township. Widowed Sophronia remained on the farm as indicated in the 1900 census, and it was in this year that daughter Rosa married. Enumerated next to Sophronia was her married daughter Mary and husband Harry Powell.
In 1904 daughter Minnie had married, followed the next year by daughter Anna. It was in September 1909 that daughter Mary Powell died, after living in Harrison County, Iowa with her family for only a short time. Mary was buried at Lingle Cemetery near her father Francis. In 1910 Sophronia was living with her son Lafe and his family in Ashland township. In August of 1916, Sophronia passed away and was buried at Lingle Cemetery with her husband.
As for the rest of the family, son Lafe remained on the old homestead for most of his life, passing away in June, 1946, and his wife Lorie passing away in February 1963. They are both buried at Mannan Cemetery. The family of deceased daughter Mary, with seven surviving children, remained in the Harrison County, Iowa area, her husband Harry passing away in May 1940. Son Roy Andrews had a family of three, and he and his wife Ocy later moved to Canadian Co., Oklahoma where they spent their remaining lives. Daughter Amanda, husband Ira, and their family of four remained in Morgan County. Daughter Rosa, husband Sylvan, and their family of four also remained in Morgan County, both buried at Mannan Cemetery. Daughter Minnie, husband Ora, and their family of four surviving children remained in Morgan County, and they are both buried at Mannan Cemetery. Daughter Anna, husband Ralph, and their family of five also remained in Morgan County, and they are both buried at Samaria Cemetery.
Article compiled by Dennis Walsh, December 2005.