San Joaquin County Biographies This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm REV. PAUL A. ANDERSON. Among the devoted clergy of San Joaquin County who have done so much, through their unselfish labors and high ideals, is the Rev. Paul A. Anderson, the pastor of St. Bernard's Catholic Church at Tracy. He was born at Lagro, Ind., on February 12, 1879, the son of Philomen A. and Elizabeth Winifred (Dimond) Anderson, both natives of Ohio, but who emigrated to Indiana in the early 50's. His father passed away in the early 80's and the family came to California in 1888. Father Anderson refers to his ancestral record with just pride. His maternal ancestors were of Irish descent, while his paternal ancestors were Scotch and English, and he is of the fourth generation who have been born in America. His mother passed away while residing in Palo Alto in 1918, survived by three children: Paul A., Mrs. Beatrice C. Miller, and Wilfred L. Anderson, and by two sisters, Mary F. and Margaret Dimond, residing at the parsonage in Tracy. His father's uncle, Rev. Peter A. Anderson, O.P., died at Sacramento on November 27, 1850, while attending the sick during a severe epidemic of that year, and it is recorded that he was the first priest to pass away in California after the territory had become a state. The late Dr. Zahm, of Washington, D. C., who for many years was active on the faculty board of Notre Dame University in Indiana, was a cousin of Father Anderson. Dr. Zahm was a close personal friend of the late Theodore Roosevelt and accompanied him on his trip through South America. The late Janarius A. McGahan, who was a prominent writer for the London "Times," and the New York "World," and known as the liberator of Bulgaria, during the Crimean War, was Father Anderson's great uncle on his mother's side. After arriving in California, the family located at Livermore for a few years, and there Paul attended the public schools and when out of school worked at odd jobs. The Anderson family lived in Livermore from 1888 to 1894, when they moved to San Jose. His schooling was interrupted for five years, during which time he worked in commercial lines, but he felt the call of the Church, so he went back to his studies. On August 1, 1899, he entered the collegiate department of St. Patrick's Seminary at Menlo Park, San Mateo County, and after the usual courses of study, covering a period of ten years, he was ordained to the priesthood on June 22, 1909. He was then sent to St. John's at San Francisco, remaining there for several months, when he took up his work at St. Anthony's in East Oakland as assistant to Rev. Peter C. York, where for four years he labored in the discharge of his duties. Early in 1914, he was sent to St. Mary's at Stockton and assisted there for one and one-half years. In November of 1915 he returned to San Francisco and became the assistant pastor of St. Patrick's, where he remained for five years, and in March, 1920, received his first pastorate, St. Barnard's Church at Tracy. The history of this Church is comparatively short, there having been but three resident pastors preceding Father Anderson, and each for but a short term, except Father Thomas Moran, who built the present church and was its pastor for eight years. During October of 1921 a general renovation of the church and parsonage was started, including new interior decorations. Father Anderson by his affability, scholarly attainments and kindness has greatly endeared himself not only to the members of his congregation, but to all who know him. Aside from his duties as pastor he has found time to accept and fill the position of director in the local Chamber of Commerce, a place he is filling with ability. The membership of the Church is constantly growing, and now that Father Anderson has put his hand to the helm, will be sure to increase in the healthiest manner. History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923 p 1351 Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.