McDonough ILGenWeb

ANDERSON, Richard Berry, who resides at No. 901 West Carroll Street, Macomb, was born in Perry County, Ill., June 9, 1853. He is the son of Berry and Eliza (Marlow) Anderson, natives of Illinois, where the former was born in Kaskaskia in 1805. Amos and Tabitha Anderson, the paternal grandparents were natives of Virginia. The grandparents on the mother's side, Richard and Sarah Marlow, were born in Illinois. Perry County, Ill., was organized at the home of Berry Anderson. He was a liberal-minded, public-spirited man, a firm friend of education, and devoted much of his time and means to the education of his family. The subject of this sketch considers his father the greatest teacher he has ever seen. Richard B. Anderson attended the public schools in the neighborhood of his early home, and supplemented his primary education by courses in the Illinois Agricultural College and the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio. At the age of twenty years he began teaching. He was Superintendent of Schools at Pickneyville, Ill., for six years, County Superintendent of Perry County (Ill.) schools four years, Superintendent of Schools at Carlinville, Ill., five years, and of the Bushnell (Ill.) schools seven years. For two years he occupied the Chair of Sciences in Shurtleff College. He has been a member of the Illinois State Teachers' Association for twenty-five years, of the Southern Illinois Teachers' Association from its organization, and of the National Teachers' Association for ten years. He has read the proof-sheets of many text books before they were finally published, has been a contributor to many educational magazines, and has been much engaged as Institute Instructor and lecturer on educational and social topics. On August 14, 1879, Mr. Anderson was married to Henrietta Bowman, who was born in Tennessee, where in girlhood she attended the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have one child, Elma Veva, who is a graduate of the high school under her father's supervision, and also of Know Conservatory of Music. The religious belief of Mr. Anderson is based on the creed of the Baptist Church. On political issues his views are in accordance with the policies of the Republican party.

---

Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 811-812. Submitted by Joanne Scobee Morgan morgans4@swbell.net