The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-31
MAJOR TOM GONE.
CONTINUED From Page One.)

QeISOn'S administration as secretary OF
the Commercial club that the club
started move which saved the Santa
Fe shops for Topeka A large sum of
money was raised and the property
on which the new shops now stand was
| purchased and turned over to the San
ia Fe. Had it not been for this quick
/ action the shops would have been lost
| to Topeka. The city later reimbursed
money for the purpose of buying the
property.
Mr.. Frost's Tribute.
I'm my opinion" said John E. Frost.
! who was president of the club at the
time, "the greatest service that Major
Anderson did while connected with the
Commercial club as secretary was in
connection with the flood of 1908. A
relief organization was formed and 1
was chairman and Major Anderson
secretary Major Anderson and myself
staid at the club until early morning
I each night and on several occasions
all night looking after the details Of
the relief work. He was a magnifi-
cent man. He took hold of things with
all that was in him.
He had more to do than anyone
else with the agitation for the Audi
forum building and played a big part
in raising the money for the purchase
of shop grounds in order to retain the
Santa Fe shops in Topeka He had
much influence in the work of stirring
up interest in putting in the first paw
Entertained Duke Alexis.
Way back in 1872 he played big
part in the entertainment of Grand
Duke Alexis of Russia. 1t was a great
day for Topeka. The whole town turn
ed out. Major Anderson was grand
marshal of the day and wore a sash
over one boulder and rode in the car
riage with the scion of nobility. That
was on January %, 1S72-over 40
years ago.
raIr~ 10 S,,-I~-~
of its growth and several were Dor
rowed from neighboring towns. The
carriages were on hand when the duke
arrived and he was escorted in great
state from the Kansas Pacific railway
station to the Fifth avenue hotel.
The delegation of local dignitarieS
who escorted the guest of honor from
the train were Governor James Har-
vey, Major Anderson, Lieutenant Gov
ernor P. P. Elder, J. M. Price, then
president of the state senate, Jacob
Stotler, speaker of the house and c. K.
Holiday, who represented Shawnee
county in the house
Revolutionary Ancestry.
Major T. J. Anderson was born in
Attwater township, Portage county,
Ohio. May 20, 1899, and was IS years
of age He was the son of Martin and
Ellen (Hauk) Anderson. The great
grandfathers on both sides of the
house participated in the revolution
airy war. Martin Anderson and family
moved to Kansas in June. 1857, set
Ting at Grasshopper Falls. Later
they moved to a claim above HOltOn, |
(Dec. 25. 1850 and in the following
spring moved into a quarter section
of school land two miles northwest of
Circleville. Father and son were both
once took an active part in the free |
state struggle and subsequently in
Republican politics. Martin Anderson |
was chairman, and Thomas, secretary,
of the first Republican convention
held in the state of Kansas. This con-
vention was held in a school house in
Holton. March u, 1859.
Thomas Anderson was educated in
Marlboro, Ohio, Union school and also !
took a course in civil engineering. He |
built the first church, also school
house at Circleville, Kansas, and |
taught one term of school because the
district was too poor to hire a teach |
er. He was county surveyor of Cal |
houn county which included Jeffer-
son, Jackson and part of Shawnee. He !
enlisted in 1861, and was mustered
into the service at Fl. LeavenwOrth as
a sergeant of Company A of the Fifth
Kansas cavalry, July 16. He was pro-
NOTED to first lieutenant and aide-de-
camp on General Lanes staff, Sept. /,
1861; commissioned captain and as
sistant adjutant general by President
Lincoln. Feb. 27. 1868; major in the
same department May %, 1868; brew
eted Northumberland March 26,
1865; resigned March %, 1865. He
served on the staff of Generals Blunt,
Mcneil and Thayer as adjutant gener-
al of the frontier division of the Sew
enth army corps. and as chief of staff
to General McS~eil and was probably
known to more Kansas officers per
sonally than any other man in the
state. He resigned from the army to
accept the position of adjutant general
of the state of Kansas, which was ten
dered to him by Governor Crawford
H. IL. IL , y a
records of Kansas volunteer regiments
and batteries visiting the field in per
son.
He was mayor of Topeka in 1875
and 1876, and served as state sena-
tor and also in the lower house.
In Railroad Work.
He later became agent for the
Union Pacific railroad, serving until
March, 1874, when he was appointed
as general freight and passenger agent
general passenger agent of the A. T.
& S. F. when this road purchased the
Kansas Midland In 1878 he was ap-
pointed general agent for Kansas, |
Colorado and New Mexico and occu-
pied an important position in the con-
test between the Santa Fe and Rlo
Grande for the possession of the
Grand CANYON of the Arkansas. After |
the struggle he was made general
agent for the Santa Fe at Denver, but
resigned and moved his family back
to Topeka and was MADE terminal
agent at Kansas City. He was elected |
to the legislature during 1877-S1 and |
to the senate in 1899. He was mayor
of Topeka in 1856 and postmaster
in 1Ss1-S4. Next he was general |
agent for the Rock Island and assist |
ant general agent OF the Rock Island |
lines west of the Missouri in 1sS8-S9- |
On his resignation he was elected sec
rotary of the Commercial club. He |
has been prominent in political cir
cles and has been an active worker in |
the Masonic lodge for so years. He
was grand recorder of the Knights /
IT.. r,fI