TALK GIVEN AT ANDERSON FAMILY
REUNION - AUGUST 1974
by Joseph Anderson


They asked me to say just a few things on John H. Anderson.  He was born in
Logan, Logan, Utah, September the 24th, 1864, in a log cabin located at 162 East, 4th
North.  His birth took place just five years after the original settlers crossed the Logan
River and marked off a village.  His father Johannes and his mother Johanna Olson
Anderson were natives of Sweden; good, sincere, honest, humble, righteous people;
members of the Lutheran Church until being converted by two humble Mormon
Missionaries.  Soon after joining the Church they sold their farm and their belongings and
migrated to America.  Landing in New York Harbor March the 26th, 1859, on the ship
William, in Orson Pratt's Company.  They paid their own immigration and did not have to
ask help from the Church fund.  At Florence they purchased oxen, cows, and other
necessary articles and food supplies.  They joined a group of pioneers to come to Utah. 
They walked all the way from Florence to Utah.  Grandmother was not a strong soul,
walked by her husbands side all the way holding on to her little five year old daughter,
Anne.  They spent the winter in Brigham City and came to Logan in the spring of 1860,
and located on the very spot where the old home stood on 4th North.  Grandfather
removed the wagon box from the wagon which had a cover, top, or canvas cover.  This
was their first home.  It wasn't much of a home but sheltered them from the sun, wind, and
storm.  There were only a few small cabins and dugouts with dirt roofs here in Logan at
that time.  Logan was a desert covered with sagebrush and bunch grass.  Indians roamed
the valley frequently and at times gave the new settlers trouble and worry as they often
called on them demanding food, clothing, or animals which they did not have and needed
for their own survival.  When a small boy, father went to the fields with his father and also
to the canyon for wood and logs for their home.  Of course they had no coal in those days
so needed a lot of firewood for the cold winter.  One of his duties was to ride a buckskin
pony down to the west field, east of the Logan River to check on their stock, where feed
and willows sustained them.  I would like to inject a little account that occurred one day
when father and I were visiting.  I asked him how he came to meet my mother.  He
thought for a minute, then started out by telling me about his buckskin pony and the joy
riding down to the west field to check on their livestock.  He said on his way he passed a
little group of girls who was standing by the roadside.  He looked, he took a shy look at
them, as he was a shy boy, and one especially caught his eye.  She was Annie Eliason. 
When he became 18 years old he was called on a mission to Sweden, where he diligently
served for three years.  He visited the homes of his parents on both sides and spent quite
some time with his kinfolk but he was unable to convert any of them to the Gospel.  While
in Sweden his mother passed away.  When he returned home the Logan Temple had been
completed and he was called on a three year mission as a temple worker.  Annie Charlotte
Eliason, who was helping in his father's home at that time, was the apple of his eye and
soon became a perfect mate for Dad.  They were married in the Logan Temple on
November the 18th, 1885.  Annie was 19 and John H. was 21.  Father was always a good
religious young man who won the respect and the confidence of the community early in
his manhood.  Time will not permit to tell you but a few of the many, many things he did
accomplish.  I have an interesting clipping I have taken from the Herald Journal back in
1941.  Some of it I would like to share with you.  It was after father was 77 years of age. 
It gives a rather good review of some of his activities.  Here it is.  "Although John H.
Anderson is nearing 77 years of age, his hair is thick and has a wave in it.  He is vigorous
mentally and physically.  Still active in business and Church affairs, and his hobby, besides
cultivating beautiful flowers, is to scout around the country with members of his family; a
recreation custom he has maintained for the past 40 years.  Mr. Anderson was recently
re-elected president of the First National Bank for the 25th consecutive year.  He is vitally
interest in the welfare of the institution which under expert supervision and administration
has marked steady growth since its founding.  A number of colorful experiences have been
crowded into the life of John H. Anderson.  His career includes being a farmer, temple
worker, merchant, bank president, mayor, bishop, high councilman, president of a foreign
mission, and president of the stake home mission.  John's fondest memories include
watching the growth of the city from a patch of log cabins to its present size. 
Reminiscing, he said, "I remember the old meeting house that stood across the street from
the now First National Bank.  North of that was the old bowery, some post and pine
stringers covered with willows and limbs.  Here the people gathered together to hear
President Young and the Apostles whenever they came to Logan.  " He says, "I remember
seeing President Young on several occasions.," Some of his activities, he had the
experience of clerking in the ZCMI, ranching near Weston, managing the ZCMI grocery
department before they went out of business, and that was in 1893.  And then later on he
bought some of the merchandise from ZCMI and they started him in business half a block
south of the First National Bank now.  That's where the Prescription Drug Store now
stands.  John H. Anderson was invited to become a director of the First National Bank in
1902.  He served as vice-president for 5 years and was elected president in 1917.  He was
mayor of Logan for a term and has always been a firm supporter of worthy civic
enterprises.  His Church positions are many: he has been president of the 4th Ward MIA,
Bishop of the Mendon Ward, Bishop of the 4th Ward from 1913 to 1917.  He presided
over the Swedish Mission in 1925, president of the Cache Stake Mission Home for 20
years, president of the Scandinavian Organization for 20 years, a class leader in many
capacities in the Church, he has been for years, and is at present, an ardent temple worker
and a member of the Cache Stake High Council.  One who has known Mr. Anderson
intimately in business and religious affairs is Mr. Alma Sonne, executive vice-president of
the First National Bank and President of the Cache Stake.  He has this to say, "John H.
Anderson's entire life is a demonstration of the qualities that made for success and
happiness, sound in judgement, constructive in purpose, safe and dependable in business,
loyal and active in the Church; he is property regarded as a pillar of strength in the
community.

I thank you.

(He was instrumental in getting city water and irrigation and getting the rapid transit
from downtown Logan to the foot of the hill for the college students.