Individual Details

Omaha World Herald, Omaha, Nebraska, Monday, November 27, 1933, Page 10: Anderson--Andrew E., age 79, of Gothenburg, Neb., passed away at local hospital, November 24. Funeral services and interment at Gothenburg, Neb., Monday, November 27. Leslie O. Moore service.

Death calls Another of Community's First Early Homesteaders. Andrew E. Anderson was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, near Fairfield, May 21, 1854. Here he spent his boyhood and early manhood, leaving his home at the age of 29 to established a homestead, a few miles north of Gothenburg, Nebraska. It was to this farm that he brought his bride, Posy Ristine, and where they made their home until 1913. They were blest with six children, three of whom are living. This obituary will give a brief account of his life as described by himself.

He writes: " I was born in a Christian home and a Christian pioneer community. I was taken for baptism in a log church building, and in that community I grew up. As far back as I can remember I was regular in attendance at Sunday School and church services, up to the time I moved to Dawson County, Nebraska, October 18th, 1883." His descriptions of the time before leaving home is touching and inspiring. He writes: "There was a young peoples' prayer meeting, such as we often had in our community There I bade the young people good bye, many of whom I never saw again. I have never been able to forget that prayer meeting. The first meal I ate in my sod house is an abiding memory. No furniture for accommodation, spreading my lunch on a box, as a substitute table, the tears flowing freely in my loneliness. At bed time I brought in hay to make a bed. The next day I went to Gothenburg and bought a wagon and harness, a cook stove and some lumber to make into furniture.

"One night starting out to the sod school house where prayer meetings was being held, I failed to locate the place in the midst of the broad prairie. But the following Sunday morning I attended church service and as the Sunday school was temporarily closed, I was elected superintendent. For a time we attended church at Walnut Grove, until our children came to high school in Gothenburg. Then we moved our church membership to the Gothenburg church where we still belong."

Much of his personal history must be left for a more complete outline than can be given at this time. Thru the years he has been a constant follower of ideals outlined in the teaching to the Master whom he delighted to follow. His place in the church will be difficult to fill. He attended the means of Grace with a regularity that never varied. Sunday after Sunday he was in his pew. Each Thursday evening he was present at the prayer service. How he loved God's house. To pray and given testimony was his delight. He leaves to mourn his loss his beloved wife, two sons, Lloyd and Arthur, and one daughter, Irma. There are five grandchildren, also three brothers, Simon Anderson, Gilroy, Calif.; Albert Anderson, Lenake, Arkansas; Frank Anderson, Ogallala, Nebr. His death occurred in Omaha, Nov. 24th, 1933. Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at M. E. Church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Wm. Kilburn,. Interment was in Gothenburg cemetery. (He has a stone in the Grandview cemetery next to his wife). Gothenburg Times, Wednesday November 29, 1933, ,Page 1, Col. 6. Grand View Cemetery Gothenburg Nebraska. Book, Compiled by Patricia A. Flatten, May 2003; Updated by Harold E. Clark, June 2012.