by Charles W. Bowman

Biographies

ALBERT J. ANDERSON

   Mr. Anderson and family are among those who have had strange experiences on the frontier of Texas. Indians were numerous as well as troublesome, and for many years they were constantly surrounded by them. In order to protect his stock, as well as himself, Mr. Anderson was obliged to go thoroughly armed. He buckled on his pistol every morning while he resided in Texas. Mr. Anderson was born in Arkansas February 15, 1836, where he lived until he was eleven years of age. His schooling was limited. When he left Arkansas, he removed to the eastern portion of Texas, and afterward went to the western portion, where he remained until he settled in the Arkansas Valley, near La Junta. From the time he left his native State. Mr. Anderson has been engaged in stock-raising, and, notwithstanding the Indians frequently ran off his cattle and horses, he was reasonably successful in his enterprise on the frontier. When the war broke out, he enlisted in a Texas regiment, and served in the army four years. October 1, 1865, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Nancy Wilson, a sister of Billy Wilson, who is well known in Texas as having many narrow escapes of being killed by the Indians. Mrs. Anderson has spent most of her life on the frontier of Texas. In the spring of 1871, Mr. Anderson came to the Arkansas Valley and located on a homestead claim, and afterward added a pre-emption right. A portion of this land he has since cultivated, though he has paid most of his attention to stock-raising. He commenced with a herd of Texas cows and steers. In the fall of 1875, Mr. Anderson moved his whole stock to the Pan Handle District of Texas, where he remained until June, 1879. He then sold out to Mr. Charles Goodnight and returned to the Arkansas Valley. He then bought another herd of American graded cattle. He had, in 1881, about five hundred head. Mr. Anderson believes in the Hereford stock as being well adapted for the plains. Mr. Anderson has also a herd of 100 horses. He is making a specialty of raising trotting and saddle stock. His stallion, Bullet, has gotten some of the finest colts in the Arkansas Valley. They are noted for their gentle and quiet disposition.