Charles L. Anderson

CHARLES L. ANDERSON. This gentleman is a well known engineer, employed by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company. He has had a long and varied career in the railroad business, is a thoroughly competent man, and enjoys the confidence and respect of his employers, and of those associated with him in his work. Mr. Anderson was born, in the northern part of Sweden, in a town called Norrkoping, in 1850. He is a son of Gustav and Catherine Anderson, both of whom died in Sweden.

Mr. Anderson was the only child of his parents, and he received his mental training in his native town, where he lived until he reached the age of eighteen years. Then he left Sweden, alone, and came to this country. Following the example of many foreigners, he headed for Chicago, but shortly after his arrival there he set out for the state of Kansas. He located in Junction City, and engaged as a laborer, in grade work for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company. April 1, 1870, he went to Oswego, where he worked under Foreman Chess. They camped near the site of the present depot at Oswego. Mr. Anderson continued grade work until 1873, when he moved to Parsons, and helped to build the roundhouse. June 19, 1873, he was employed as wiper in the roundhouse, and three years later he became fireman on a switch engine, for Engineer George Carr. Mr. Carr was one of the pioneers of Parsons, and is now deceased. Mr. Anderson was promoted to be a road engineer, June 12, 1882, and his career as such has been very successful. His first work as an engineer was mainly in pulling freight over the Cherokee Division. In 1897 he was given a regular passenger run, and is now engineer on trains Nos. 3 and 4, running opposite to Samuel Wick. Alfred Wick, now deceased, was Mr. Anderson's partner in the building and stock business in Oswego, and was one of his warmest friends. Mr. Wick was one of the first friends made after Mr. Anderson came to America.

Mr. Anderson formed a marital union with Matilda Holstrom, in 1874. She was also a native of Sweden, and died three years after her marriage. Two children resulted from this union: One, a son, dying in infancy; and Rena, who died at the age of seven years. August 19, 1879, Mr. Anderson was married to Mollie Terrell, who was born at Prairieton, Indiana, near Terre Haute, in 1858. They have had five children, namely: Fred, who died at the age of eight days; Willie, who died, aged seven and a half years; Arthur, who was born in May, 1883, and is now employed in the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway shops; Edward, who is at school; and Louisa, who was born in June, 1896.

Mr. Anderson built a very comfortable home on the corner of Stevens and Eighteenth streets, where he has lived for the past twenty-two years. He formerly lived in Crawford, Kansas, where in 1874 he built one of the first houses erected in that town. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division No. 179, of Parsons; and is also a Mason and Knight Templar. He is a charter member of the A. 0. U. W., Lodge No. 1, of Parsons, and of the Select Friends. Religiously, he favors the Methodist church, of which his wife is a member.