William Henry Anderson was born 1 January 1864 in Piatt County, Illinois to George Clinton and Nancy Jane Morris Anderson. His father had come from Ohio to Illinois finally settling in Jasper Co., Missouri not too long after William’s birth. William had 3 siblings, Annie E. (1855-1912), Flora A. (1858) and Elmer F. (1868-1953). His father died in 1873 at the age of 45. In his early 20's, William moved to Pittsburg in Crawford Co., KS where he went into the grocery business with W. J. Ralph in a building on North Broadway. They were only in business for 6 months when he sold his interest in the store and bought an interest in a dray business with Silas Carr. The business was known as Carr and Anderson for a few years until his brother, Elmer F. Anderson, bought out Carr and the name was changed to Anderson Brothers. Eventually William bought out his brother and went into the freight dray and transfer business with David H. Sterling. In 1897, he became manager of the Ryley-Wilson Grocery Company, a wholesale grocery company headquartered out of Kansas City. His mother, moved to Pittsburg to live with William and died there in 1905. William was elected to the Pittsburg city council in 1896 and 1903, each for two year term, and served as chairman of several city committees. He was active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Red Men and the Fraternal Aid Society. He was also a member of the Topeka, KS chapter of the Knights and Ladies of Security where members paid into an insurance fund in which their premiums would be dispersed to their family upon their death. The organization changed its name in 1920 to the Security Benefit Association eventually disbanding in 1949. The picture above shows him in his security uniform.

William married Minnie Mae Reynolds 19 October 1893 in Cherokee, Crawford Co., Kansas. She was born 14 December 1876 in Columbus, Cherokee Co., Kansas, the daughter of Seth Lyon & Amanda Ellen (Albertson) Reynolds. William and Minnie had 4 children, Fred Franklin (1894-1969), Ivy Pearl Anderson Rochester Sicks (1897-1969), Opal May Anderson Bodelle (1899-1994) and Clyde W. (1906-1974). William remained the manager of the Pittsburg location of the Ryley-Wilson Grocey Company until ill health forced him to retire a few years before his death. He died 14 June 1921 in the State Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. Minnie died 29 Oct 1962 and are both buried in the Mt. Olive Cemetery in Pittsburg, Kansas.