Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-07-31
COL. JOHN q. ANDERSON DEAD.

COL. JOHN q. ANDERSON DEAD
One Of the Most Prominent Citissns Of Gen.
trai Kansas Passes Away.
MANHATTAN, Kan, July 26.-Col.
John Is. Anderson, one Of the oldes,
and most prominent citizens of central
Kansas, died yesterday, after briei
illness, n periodic attack due In part
to old age, deceased being in his sOth
year.
Col. Anderson was born In Washing.
ton county, Pa, graduating from his
torical Washington and jefferson col.
lege In 1882. He engaged in educa.
tional work, teaching In Breckenridge
county. Ky, until 1871. In 1912 he
founded and for several years success.
fully conducted two institutions OF
learning Mt New Albany, Ind,
the Anderson collegiate institute
and the Anderson female insti.
tute. From 1851 TO 1853, while
continuing his educational work, he
served us chief engineer in the con-
struction Of Ohio highways, Mt the
close of which period his ability MS n
civil engineer was recognized In his up.
pointment Us general superintendent
of the New Albany& Chicago railroad.
He left college duties in other hands
soon afterwards and gave oil his at
tention to railroading, accepting the
place Of division superintendent of the
Pennsylvania railroad in 1858, and n
year later was made general superin'
tendent of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne
& Chicago road.
At the opening Of the civil war he
was superintendent of transportation
of the Louisville & Nashville railroad,
and the commander of the army OF the
Cumberland placed him in charge OF
all the United States military railways
in his department and he was held at
the head OF transportation and con-
struction of roads and bridges until his
resignation, in 1868, ut which time Sec
rotary of War Stanton recognized his
valuable services by comforting upon
him the rank of colonel. lie was almost
Immediately afterwards appointed by
Secretary Stanton general manager
of the United States railroads, but
was retired at his own request In 1864.
He Mt once engaged with others in the
construction of the eastern section of
the Union Pacific railroad. In 1875 to
1877 he, as president and general man
ager, wound up the affairs of the
Maysville & Lexington railway; then
returning to Kansas, he lived for sew.
eral years ut Junction City and for the
past IS years has been resident of
Manhattan. He was one of the build.
ing commissioners in the construction
of the east wing of the state house, and
was one of the chief bencfactors of the
Presbyterian college of Emporia
and was for years president of its
board of trustees. lie recently con.
tributed literally to the endowment
of his ALMA mater, which several years
ago conferred upon him the honorary
degree of doctor OF laws. lie was
president Of the First national bank
of Manhattan and was one of the Or
ganizers of this and other business
enterprises of the town. lie died
childless, his wife surviving him. He
was the uncle of John A. Anderson.
congressman from this district for
three terms and consul to Egypt under
President Harrison.
The early settlers in Kansas will
well remember his connection with
the Kansas Pacific, which is now the
Union Pacific system. lie located the
company's shops in Armstrong, part
of Kansas City, Kan. They are the
largest railroad shops in the state OF
Kansas. In constructing the road out
west Anderson's plan was to run the
road to Denver along the Saline valley
and the southern division down Smoky
Hill. the route now occupied by the
Santa Fe. The road was run along the
divide and 1t has cost the company
millions OF dollars by not taking An
derson's advice. II is said that he never
formulated a plan that was not sue.
cess.
lie was married 80 years ago. At
the celebration of his 50th anniversary
his friends throughout the country OBJ
served the occasion by establishing
the Anderson library at Emporia.
Three thousand books were donated
and 500 in cash. He graduated from
the Washington college, and was
OF James q. Blaine. At the
last annual celebration of his gradua-
ting class he was one of the most in.
teresting members present His friends
him as one of the noblest and
greatest Of Kansas many celebrated