James Anderson

Prominent Liberty Center Citizen Passes to Great Beyond

James A. Anderson, was born in Camden, Lorain County, Ohio, September 7, 1859, and died at his home in Liberty Center, Ohio, June 6, 1913, aged 53 years, 8 months and 29 days. He was united in marriage with Miss Loretta Austin at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1880, and to this union were born two children, a son who died in infancy, and a daughter, Pearl, now a teacher in the Liberty Center schools, who, with the wife and mother, survive him.

Funeral services were held at the residence in Liberty Center, Monday afternoon, Rev. S. C. Barron reading a chapter from the Bible and offering a prayer, after which the order of Elks took charge. The remains were interred in Youngs Cemetery.

Mr. Anderson was a member of the Elk Lodge at Napoleon, also of the I. O. O. F. and K. P. Lodges of this place, and these orders attended the funeral in body. By reason of his having been active in business and politics in this place for years, the funeral was one of the largest ever held in this vicinity. The great crowd who could not be accommodated in the house patiently waited on the lawn in order that they might pay their last respects to the dead man. The beautiful couch casket was nearly buried with flowers. Such a profusion of beautiful floral pieces were there that an automobile was required to convey them to the cemetery.

James A. Anderson came to Liberty about 25 years ago and engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. By careful business methods and fair dealing he made a success of business from the start and in a few years had built up an enviable trade. When the Liberty Elevators burned and Liberty was left without a grain market, it was Mr. Anderson who, in partnership with Mr. Long, came forward and rebuilt this much needed structure. He successfully operated the elevator until two years ago when he sold to John Wright. He also owned considerable West Virginia coal land, which he also disposed of about two years ago.

James Anderson was a valuable and valued citizen. He was foremost among the pushers for his home town, always ready to contribute liberally and freely toward the upbuilding of home institutions and enterprises. No soliciting committee ever called upon Mr. Anderson in vain. While his various business interests required much of his time, he always found time to serve his town to whatever capacity called upon, and he served faithfully and well. A man of strong convictions, he had to be shown that his way was not the right way but once convinced that he was in the wrong on any point he was ever ready to change his views. Mr. Anderson has served a number of terms on the village council, also on the village board of education, of which she was a member at the time of his death. He was also serving his fourth year as a member of the county election board.

As much as six years ago Mr. Anderson was told by his physician that he was tubercular and had but a year or two to live, but with the tenacity characteristic of the man in all things, he hung on. For the past two months he had been failing very rapidly, but the day of his death was the only one in which she had not got up and dressed.