Joseph Anderson

JOSEPH ANDERSON - one of the farming residents of Fort Spring district, Greenbrier County, was born and raised in this county, February 18, 1816 the date of his birth, and Peter L. and Rebecca (FLACK) ANDERSON his parents. His father is deceased, his mother living at the age of eighty-nine years, and still able to walk two or three miles without fatigue. She has 197 descendants, ten children, 98 grandchildren, 89 great-grandchildren. The first wife of Joseph ANDERSON was Jerdena BOBBITT, whom he married October l1, 1840, and who died September 1864. Their children were ten: Jerdena J., born August 23, 1841, lives in this county; Peter L., April 16, 1843, died October 3, 1854; John W., February 18, 1845, was a member of Zane's company, Sweeny's battalion, and killed in a charge eight miles below Winchester, Virginia; Sarah R., October 8, 1847, lives in Greenbrier County; Amanda M., October 31, 1849, lives in this county on Muddy creek; James, May 26, 1853, died at the age of two months; George W. S., July 30, 1854, lives at home; Nannie A., October 28, 1856, lives in this county; Joseph T. and Henry C., April 18, 1860, Henry C. died in infancy, Joseph T. lives at home. In Greenbrier County, January 14, 1868, Joseph ANDERSON married Mary WHANGER, who was born in this county, August 14, 1837. David and Amelia (TIPTON) WHANGER were her parents, and her father died in 1861. Joseph ANDERSON was a lieutenant in the State militia at the age of nineteen, and was afterward commissioned captain. He served seven years with the 135th Virginia Militia. He was justice of the peace in Fort Spring district nearly three years and then resigned. He has been severely afflicted with rhumatism for many years, and has not walked for more than eight years, although otherwise blessed with good health, sleeping and eating well. He has borne this great affliction with the patience and fortitude of the Christian, and that unmurmuring submission to the Divine Will that sustains the child of God, his daily life one of unexampled piety. The family post office address is Ronceverte, Greenbrier County. West Virginia.

[Joseph ANDERSON died Feb. 4, 1889, age 72 yrs, 11 mo., 16 da, of erysipelas. Death reported by Mary ANDERSON, wife. Parents listed as Peter and Rebecca ANDERSON. Listed in Vol. 1 and Vol. 1A of Greenbrier County Death Records. vfc]

Source: Hardesty, Henry H. Hardesty's Historical and Geographical

Encyclopedia. New York: H.H. Hardesty and Company, 1884.

Rpt. in West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia. Ed. Jim Comstock.

Richwood: Comstock, 1974.