Anderson kids Hergest, Sara and Pete.
Sara was my mother in law, Hergie died as a young man in 1939.
Uncle Pete is still with us identifying basketball players in old photos.

The parents of this trio were Arthur and Maude Anderson. Maude appears in group shot as Maude Mayne. Arthur owned the elevator in Rossi for years. Pete ran the elevator until the early 80's

Carl August Anderson and Mary Greta Anderson were born in Sweden, Carl came to the United States in 1871 settling at Titusville, Pennsylvania, and Mary came to the United States in 1869 and she also located at Titusville. Mary and Carl were married in 1874 and soon after their marriage came to Iowa, locating near Marcus, and from there they came to Alta and soon after that (in 1886) they moved to Marathon, settling about four miles east of town.

They had seven daughters and four sons: Mrs. Sophie Thomas, Mrs. Mary Sumner, Mrs. Louis Davis, Mrs. Selma Anderson, Mrs. Helen Olson, Mrs. Hilma Meyer, and Mrs. Mabel Floren; Chas. J. Anderson, Herman Anderson, Albert R. Anderson and George A. Anderson. Mrs. Mabel Floren is one of the decedents.

Grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Anderson living around Marathon: Cliff Olson, Lyle G. Anderson, Hazel Lyons, Izetta Buchan, Geneva Anderson and Gvonne Gulbranson.

Alfred A. Anderson was born in Ostergotland, Sweden, in 1857. He came with his parents to America, first settling in Nebraska and later moving to a farm southwest of Marathon.

Clara Goranson, his wife, was also a native of Ostergotland, Sweden. She emigrated to America as a young girl and settled briefly in Kankakee, Illinois. She moved with her parents a short time later to a farm southwest of Marathon. The young couple met and were married in Storm Lake in 1885. They first lived on a farm south of Marathon but later moved into town.

In 1901 he opened a meat market. Later he opened a hardware, implement and buggy business and finally went into the poultry and livestock business. His son Gust became a partner in the livestock business and continued with that business until his death. Mr. Anderson helped plant the many elm trees in town.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were the parents of five children: Elfreda, who married George Anderson, a brother of Elmer L. Anderson; Gust, who married Ruth Marie Fisher a teacher; Elmer, a newspaper man; Hulda (Mrs. Ray Walstrom) and Eva (Mrs. Lew Zeigler).

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson lived in Marathon until he passed away in 1930. Mrs. Anderson then moved in with her daughter, Mrs. Walstrom, until her death in 1942.

John M. Anderson was born in Sweden, in 1854, and emigrated to the United States in 1871, at the age of 17 years, and settled in Montana. A few years later, in 1878, John applied for citizenship.

In 1881, ten-years after John came to the United States, Miss Elsa Nelson and an older sister came by boat over the North Sea and landed in Quebec, Canada. From there Elsa went to Chicago where she spent six months and then moved west to Montana. John and Elsa first met in Helena, Montana. A few years later, in 1886, John moved to Iowa, shortly after he sent for his sweetheart and John and Elsa were married at the home of Sam Danielson in Storm Lake. They settled on a farm until 1901 when they moved to York, Nebraska. A year later they moved back to Iowa and settled on the farm now occupied by their son Elmer L.

John and Elsa had eight children, seven sons and one daughter. They were: George W., Herbert, Clinton, Sherman, Edmond, Lillian, Elmer and Theodore (Ted). Of these children, just three are left: Clinton of Clatocania, Oregon, Elmer of Marathon and Theodore of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

In 1912, John's health failed and the family moved to Marathon. A year later, John died at the age of 59 years. In 1915, Elsa married Carl Gust Anderson, another emigrant from Sweden. They made their home in Marathon and Gust, a master mason, left many monuments to his memory.

Elmer has made his permanent home in Marathon. In 1929, he married Bernice Chickering and they moved onto the old home farm.

They have six children: Ray of Marathon, Janice Vargas of Ontario, California, Eloise Cutler of Arcadia, California, Sonna Winther of Spencer, and Dennis and Mark of Marathon.

Elmer and Bernice celebrated their golden wedding anniversary April 15, 1979, with an open house at the Lutheran Church.