WILLIAM H. ANDERSON

The collators of the data for this publication have been much impressed in discovering how notable a percentage of the inhabitants of the northern half of the lower peninsular of Michigan have been contributed, either directly or indirectly, by the dominion of Canada, and among the worthy representatives of this class stands the subject of this sketch, who is one of the successful business men of Antrim county and a member of one of its prominent and honored pioneer families. He is engaged in the general merchandise business in the village of Kewadin, having succeeded his father in the enterprise, and is held in high regard as a citizen and business man, while he has been prominently identified with local affairs of a public nature for a number of years past.

Mr. Anderson was born in the city of Toronto, province of Ontario, Canada. on the 1st of March, 1856, and is a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Compton) Anderson, both of whom were born and reared in Ireland, being of stanch Irish lineage. They came to Michigan in 1867 and were numbered among the early settlers of Antrim county, where the father founded the successful business enterprise now conducted by the subject.

Andrew Anderson died in November, 1892, his wife in 1899. The subject of this review passed his boyhood days in his native city, in whose schools he secured his early educational discipline. He was eleven years of age at the time of coming to Antrim county, in 1867, and he settled in Milton township and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, his initial labors, however, having been in connection with clearing the land of its heavy growth of timber. The entire county at that time had but few settlers and but a small portion of its land had been cleared, while deers, bears and other wild game were to be had in abundance. For a period of eight years Mr. Anderson was employed in a clerical capacity in the extensive general merchandise establishment of the great lumbering firm of Hannah, Lay & Company, of Traverse City, and at the expiration of this interval he returned
to Antrim county and entered into partnership with his honored father in the conducting of a general store in the village of Kewadin, where he has ever since continued operations along this line, controlling a large and prosperous business and being held in unqualified confidence and esteem in this community. He continued to be associated with his father for two years, since which time he has individually conducted the business, having purchased his father's interest in the same. He has been active in local affairs of a public nature and through his earnest efforts in this line has wielded no slight influence. For eight years he served as clerk of Milton township, while for twelve years he was incumbent of the office of postmaster at Kewadin, while he has also been a valued member of the board of education of his town. In politics he formerly gave his support to the Democracy, but becoming convinced of the party's digression from its basic principles he espoused the cause of the Republican party, which has ever since had his unqualified allegiance. Fraternally he is identified with Elk Rapids Lodge, No.85, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is the owner of an attractive residence property in Kewadin, and this is a center of gracious hospitality.

In the year 1885 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Anderson to Miss Florence Frame, who was born in Ontario, Canada, being a daughter of Captain C. M. and Fannie (Wood) Frame. Her father, who was born in Canada, was of Scotch lineage and was for many years identified with the navigation of the great lakes, having been a captain of various vessels. He and his wife are now at St. Ignace, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have three children, all of whom remain at the parental home, namely: Charles, Altha and Tracy.