Andrew Alexander Anderson

Andrew Alexander Anderson

born - 4 March 1832
died - 9 Aug 1909

• Born in Murray, New York
• emmigrated to Utah in 1849 with the Ezra T. Benson Company
• was a minute man for Brigham Young
• served as a City Councilman in Smithfield, Utah
• last name was Doll originally
• served as a Patriarch from 1901 until his death

HISTORY OF ANDREW A. ANDERSON

Andrew A. Anderson was born March 4th, 1833 at Murray, Orleans Co., New York. He was the son of Andrew Solva and Anna J. Johnson Anderson. For eight years they resided in the forest lands of Orleans County, New York, then they commenced their long western journey; purchasing land in Illinois, and there they conducted farming

operations until 1848.

Then as dutiful Mormons, they took up the line of march for Utah in the second year of the Mormon pilgrimage in one of the companies of the Saint, and reached Utah in 1848; settling at Salt Lake City. After two years residence in Salt Lake City, they moved to the new town of Lehi, where the Saints were struggling to sustain a footing, although seriously embarrassed by the hostile manifestations of the Indians.

In the summer of 1850 he aided in the construction of the first house erected within the present limits of the State of Nevada. This was built to be used as a trading post near the center of Carson Valley and at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains; but Mr. Anderson tarried here only three months. Thence going to California, where he was engaged in mining in various camps; but mostly on the middle Fork of the American River. They found a rich mine and was coining the gold.  The leaders of the Church sent part of the company on missions and the rest home. George Q. Cannon and other prominent men were in their company.  So they obeyed the orders of the head of the church and started for home.

As they left their mine his brother took a handful of the sand and washed enough gold out of it to make his wife a wedding ring. They all had a little money to take home, but felt in counsel their was safety, but it was a trial for them to leave their rich mine. On their trip home in 1851 his party was attacked by Indians on the Humboldt River in Nevada. In the mellee, a spent bullet struck Mr. Anderson on the mouth but no serious results occurred.   On his return home he bought twenty acres of rich land and also built a nice house for those days, with the money he brought home. Two years later he enlisted in the Utah Cavalry Regiment and he passed a very busy year in Indian warfare, many times being surrounded, but in every instance escaping without injury.  In 1853 and 1854 he was a Scout under General Wells and has never yet received his discharge from that service.

Andrew A. Anderson was a minute-man for President Brigham Young.  When he was called to carry a message no matter what work he was doing he left at a minute's notice. He had very good horses. President Brigham Young called he and another man to take a message to a Fort.  They were to deliver it to the President. They did not wait to ask any questions or to find out what was in the message. It was dark and they had over thirty miles to ride. They rode on horseback and they were travelling fast, when Mr. Anderson noticed a band of Indians. He Exclaimed, "Look at the Black Devils. Follow me!" and dashed into the brush; the horses jumping over fallen trees, stumps, thick underbrush, etc., but went like lightening. They got ahead of the Indians and reached the road still riding for life. When they reached the Fort they found the guard asleep. They had to holler two or three times before they awakened him. (They delivered the message, and within twenty minutes the Indians had surrounded the. Fort, but as they had been warned, every man was at his bastile and prepared. They saved the Fort without losing a man. The Indians gave their war whoops and made noise all night but left towards morning, thus saving the Fort.  If President Brigham Young had not sent the message everyone would have been killed.

The marriage of Mr. Anderson to Miss Mary Smith was consecrated July 27th, 1857, in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City. Their home was at Lehi, Utah. In 1857 he was a Scout for the Mormon forces in the campaign against General Johnson, and In dodging the Federal Soldiers, was kept incessantly un the move; as were the Mormon lenders to avoid capture.

Mr. Anderson said no guns were fired, however, and the ropes that Johnson brought to hang the Leaders of the Mormon Church were burned by a small detachment of Utah Troops.

In the year 1858 he was a member of that famous historic company that President Brigham Young sent from Salt Lake City to the Salmon River Settlement of Idaho to bring away the Colonists of Lehi. They were abandoning their homes they had built there to the savage Indians, who were thirsting for their blood. On their return he was awakened by a voice speaking his name three times and saying, "Andrew, you’d better be leaving here."   He awoke his brother and told him what he had heard, and

his brother said, "We will obey the voice.”  So all the camp was aroused and all arose and moved their camp a number of miles away, thinking the hostile Indians were lurking near. The next morning everything seemed to be quiet, so three of their members rode back to their camping place and were greatly surprised to find a large nest of rattle snakes just where they had camped, so they went on their way rejoicing to know they

had been in tune and obeyed the whisperings of the Spirit.

In 1860 he, with his wife and baby moved to Cache Valley, and Settled at Smithfield, Utah.  There he bought forty-five acres of Government land and built a home. In the military operations of that section of the West he was an active participant in every battle fought; his organization coming off victorious in all.

Mr. Anderson while living at Smithfield served as city Councilman for a number of years and was a Counselor to Bishop Roskelly. He also held other prominent positions of trust. .

He continued farming in Cache Valley until 1884 with the exception of one year in which he was called on a mission to Arizona to found a settlement; then he moved to Rexburg where he was engaged in agricultural operations.

In politics he was a republican and socially he was an estimable and public citizen, a congenial companion and a strong friend. He also enjoyed a universal popularity among young and old. He held many prominent positions and offices in the church, and was a Patriarch at the time of his death, which occurred in August 1909.

Andrew A. Anderson “Progressive Men of Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Fremont, and Oneida Counties, Idaho” pg. 350 & 353

A few of the “old timers” are yet with us today, men who did not come west in the palatial railroad trains, but marched across the plains, keeping step and time with the slow “bull teams;” men who know the meaning of the warwhoop, experienced the perils and excitement of Indian warfare, and were the ones who blazed the way for so many thousands of followers to come to this garden land of the Great West in safety and in peace.  Their numbers are steadily growing less and white haired remnant now existing will soon have passed away, leaving “the old pioneer” only a memory in the minds of the younger generation.  And one of this number is Andrew A. Anderson, who is now passing the closing years of an active, useful and adventurous life in the peaceful serenity and rural surrounding of his home at Rexburg, Idaho. 

Mr. Anderson was born on March 4, 1832, at Murray, Orleans county, N.Y., a son of Andrew S. and Ann J. (Johnson) Anderson, who came from Norway to America during the war of 1812, as one of the crew of a vessel, all being left stranded at New York City. He thereafter entered the American service and fought heroically against the invading English until they were driven from America, and afterward became a resident and citizen of the country his valor had defended.  He later located his family, first in the new forest lands of Orleans county, N.Y., for an eight years' residence, then they commenced their long westward way, purchasing land in Illinois and there conducting farming operations until 1848, when, as dutiful Mormons.  they took up the line of march for Utah in this the second year of the Mormon pilgrimage, in one of the companies of the "Saints."  In the spring of 1858 he was a member of that famous historic company that President Young sent from Salt Lake to Salmon River Settlement of Idaho to bring away the beleagured colonists of Lemhi, they abandoning the homes they had there created to the savage Indians who were thirsting for their blood.  After two years residence in Salt Lake City, the family home was transferred to the new town of Lehi, where the Saints were struggling to sustain a footing, although seriously embarassed by the hostile manifestations of the Indians, and here the father died in June 1858 the mother living to be ninety-four years old and dying in 1864.

The first individual enterprise of Mr. Anderson of this memoir was serving as an Indian scout for two year, in which he had not a few episodes of danger and other thrilling experiences. In the summer of 1850 he aided the construction of the first house erected. within the present limits of the state of Nevada. This was built to be used as a trading post, near the center of Carson Valley, and at the foot of the Sierra Nevada :Mountains, but Mr. Anderson tarried here only three months, thence going on to California, where he was engaged in mining at various camps, but mostly on the Middle Fork of the American River. On the return trip, in 1851, his party was attacked by Indians on, the Humboldt River of Nevada, in the melee a spent bullet striking Mr. Anderson on the mouth but with fortunately no serious results. Two years later he enlisted in a Utah cavalry regiment and passed a very busy year in Indian warfare, many times being surrounded, but in every instance escaping without injury. In 1853 and 1854 he was a scout under General Wells and has never yet received his discharge from that service. In 1857 he was a scout for the Mormon forces in the campaign against General Johnston, and, in dodging the Federal "Soldiers, was kept incessantly on the move, as were the Mormon leaders to avoid capture.  Mr. Anderson says: "No guns were fired, however, and the ropes that Johnston brought to hang the leaders of the Mormons were burned by a small detachment of Utah troops."

In 1851 Mr. Anderson purchased twenty acres of land near Lehi, where he made a pleasant home for his family arid cultivated the rich soil. In 1860 he took up forty-five acres of government land in Cache county, Utah, and in the military operations of that section of the West, in 1861, he was an active participant in every battle fought, his organization coming off victorious in all. He continued his farming in Cache county until 1884, with the exception of one year, when he was called to Arizona to aid in founding a settlement thence removing to Rexburg where he has been since engaged in profitable agricultural operations. In politics he is a Republican and socially he is an estimable and public-spirited citizen, a genial companion, and a strong friend, enjoying also a universal popularity among young and old.  In the Church of Latter Day Saints he was ordained as a teacher in 1852, an elder in 1855, one of the Seventies in 1856, a high priest in 1884, and as a patriarch in 1901.  

The marriage of Mr. Anderson with Miss Mary Smith was consecrated on July 27, 1851, her parents being Abram and May (McEwen) Smith, the father dying in Scotland and the mother later coming to Utah, where she resided at Beaver until her death.  The names of their children, the date· of birth, etc., are as follows: Andrew S. born November 28, 1858; Sarah A. born June 12, 1861; Almira M., born June 18, 1863; Joseph A. born July 8, 1865 died February 11, 1890.  buried at Smithfield, Utah; Jane, born in November, 1867, died at the age of three months; Mary A., born May 15,1870; John A., born January 26, 1873; Robert W., born March 17, 1875, died April 2, 1877; George W., born July 31, .1877; Solvay C., born December 4, 1881, died in September, 1883; Zina P., born January 29, 1885. Mrs. Anderson died on May 8, 1900, aged fifty-seven years, closing a life of true womanly and motherly attributes to the permanent sorrow of not only the members of her immediate family, but of a vast number of friends who loved her for her genuine, worth.