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John Anderson

John Anderson, for a number of years one of the most prosperous of business men and a most respected citizen of Charles, W. VA., was born August 4, 1836, in County Antrim, Ireland, and died at Charleston, November 13, 1897. His parents were John and Mary (Kennan) Anderson. John Anderson's father was also born in county Antrim, and was of Scotch- Irish ancestry. He grew up in his native parish and became a farmer not far from the city of Belfast. He was married to Mary Kennan, a native of Scotland. All their children were born in Ireland. After William, the eldest son, married, he sailed for America, accompanied by his brother Samuel, and his sister Ann, and they settled at Wheeling, W. VA. In 1848 John Anderson, Sr., and the rest of his family embarked on a sailing vessel, arrived at New York in safety and joined the other members of the family in Wheeling. Almost immediately John Anderson, Sr., secured the position of manager of the toll bridge and in this office he served continuously for twenty-six years without missing a day. He was a man of exemplary life and temperate in all things, never indulging in liquor or tobacco. He lived to be eighty-seven years of age, his death occurring in 1874. He was respected and esteemed by all and was noted for his honesty and uprightness in every business transaction. His widow survived him for about six years, dying at the same age as her husband. They both were strong Presbyterians. In addition to the three children mentioned, there was of this marriage Eliza, Jane, Matilda, John, James and Maggie, all of whom grew to maturity and married. John Anderson (2) was twelve years old when he accompanied his parents to Wheeling. He there found a position in the McClelland shoe house, manufacturers and dealers. He continued with this firm until of age, when he went into partnership with Samuel McClelland, son of his employer, and embarked in the same business, taking over the interests of the old house. Some years later John Anderson, Jr., became sole proprietor. In 8170 he left Wheeling and came to Charleston and started the first exclusive shoe store and was also enterprising in other ways, being the first business man to put a traveling representative on the road. In 1872-73 he disposed of his branch store at Wheeling, which he had continued until that time, and then gave his entire attention to his Charleston business. He carried only first class, high grade goods, handling the finest he could secure from Boston, Philadelphia and New York. He did a large wholesale as well as retail business. He had marvelous energy, but his health failed him, and for seventeen years before his death, he was more or less and invalid. No man in Charleston stood higher in business circles. He was a loyal Democrat, but never sought office although the excellence of his judgment and his uprightness of character would have been admirable qualifications for the same. He possessed a wonderfully cultivated bass voice and for twenty years was a member of the choir of the First Presbyterian. In 1871 Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Ella C. McConihay, who was born in Kanawha County, W. VA., April 3, 184. She was carefully educated in private schools and is a broad-minded, intelligent and capable woman. Her grandparents were Scotch-Irish people and probably married before they came to the United Stares, settling in Bedford County, VA., where (sic) they died. They were the parents of three children, Samuel, Martha and John, the last named being the father of Mrs. Anderson. John McConihay was born near Liberty, in Bedford County, VA., in 1793. In the spring of 1828 he came to Kanawha (sic) County and settled thirteen miles above Charleston on Kanawha River. He died July 3, 1880, at his homestead. He owned a large plantation and many slave, was a tobacco grower and was well known both in Bedford and Kanawha Counties. During the Civil War he lost heavily. John McConihay was a leading member of the Missionary Baptist church. He was married in Bedford County to Mary Hurt, who was born near the Peaks of Otter, August 11, 1804. Mrs. McConihay died in Kanawha County, in February, 1863. She was a woman of wonderful energy and had the care of a large home, many slaves and a family of fourteen children. Twelve of these grew to maturity and all but one had children. Three survive: Felix, Daniel and Mrs. Anderson. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson one son, Harry McClelland, was born January 29, 1872. He was graduated from high School at Charleston, and then entered Princeton College, and later took a commercial course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He subsequently completed his law studies in Old Center College, at Danville, Ky., where he was graduated in the class of 1898. Later he was admitted to the bar and is an active and successful practitioner in Charleston. He is a prominent Freemason and a Shriner, and has held numerous offices in the different branches of Masonry. He is also past exalted ruler in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is fond of athletics and made a considerable reputation in that line as a member of the Princeton football team while at the university. Taken from History of Charleston and Kanawha County West Virginia and Representative Citizens, W.S. Laidley, Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1911.

Submitted by Submitted by Rose Peterson (RPeter15Ba@aol.com) on Mon Mar 23 06:31:53 1998

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