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ROBERT M. ANDERSON, a leading citizen of Penn Township, residing on his well cultivated farm of fifty acres, on which there are three producing oil wells, was born near Prospect, in Franklin Towniship, Butler County, Penna.,
April 2, 1843, and is a son of James D. and Mary (Martin) Anderson.
The paternal grandfather, John Anderson, was born in Belfast, Ireland, and before coming to America, was engaged in business as a weaver of hosiery, but after he settled in Franklin Township, Butler County, he followed agricultural pursuits exclusively until the close of his life. He died in 1866, when aged eighty-nine years.
James D. Anderson, father of Robert M., was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1816, and was sixteen years old when he accompanied his parents to America. They settled in Butler County in 1833 among the pioneers of Franklin Township. James D. Anderson engaged in a mercantile
business at Prospect for some years, but his main business through life was farming. He was a man of high standing in his community and frequently was elected to offices of responsibility, serving in a number of local positions, and from 1876 to 1878 was registrar and
recorder of Butler County. He and wife were prominent members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was a ruling elder. He married Mary Martin, who was a daughter of Robert Martin, The latter came to Butler County from Ireland and for many years was a prominent farmer in
Connoquenessing Township. He recruited a company for the War of 1812 and served as its captain. To James D. Anderson and wife were born eight children, the eldest of the family being Robert M. and the others following: John F., residing at Butler; Elzie H., residing at
Pittsburg; Mary, widow of W. V. Seaman, residing in Penn Township; Elizabeth J., deceased, formerly wife of William Martin; Emma, deceased; William C., residing in Penn Township; and Margaret Florence, wife of Charles Graham, residing in Penn Township.
Robert M. Anderson has followed farming ever since he completed his school attendance, and he remained on the home farm until after his marriage. In 1878 he purchased his present property and carries on general farming and derives a good income, also, from his oil wells, his
land seemingly being of value in whatever way he uses it. He has substantial buildings and comfortable surroundings.
Mr. Anderson married Martha Miller, a daughter of Philip Miller, of Penn Township, and they have three children, namely: Clarence 0., who is a Presbyterian minister having a charge at Belleville, Mifflin County; Mary J., who is the wife of Jacob Henninger, of Butler;
and Jessie A., who resides at home. The family belong to the First Presbyterian Church, Mr. Anderson being an elder.
In 1862, Mr. Anderson enlisted for service in the Civil War, and was in the army for nine months as a member of Company F, One Hundred Thirty-seventh Regiment, Penna. Volunteer Infantry, and is a member of Reed Post, G. A. R., at Butler. In politics he is a Democrat,
as was his father before him, and he has served in a number of offices in the township, including school director, overseer of the Poor and as justice of the peace. He continues to be one of the township's respected and representative citizens.
Source: 20th century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and respresentative citizens, McKee, James A., 1909, page 1029-1030.
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