The Creighton News, Creighton, Nebr. May 3, 1928 p. 8
WEST PRAIRIE NEWS
Flying from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast is not such a stupendous undertaking; just a matter of a few hours. But it took W. G. Anson from April until August to drive with an ox team from Quasqueton in Iowa to Le Grande Valley in Oregon, 66 years ago.
“I was the third white settler in the valley,” he said, “and I lived there nearly ten years, freighting along the coast.”
“John d. Rockefeller was a young mand then and he was carrying mail in Le Grande valley. He often took his meals at our house.”
“I left Oregon because my wife was afraid of the Indians. Once when I was away the news was carried to her that I had been killed by Indians and when I came back, she wanted to move to a more settled country. I have lived in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Utah and California and I want to say that California is greatly misrepresented. It is wet in Winter and dry in summer. I have lived in New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, Missouri and in Kansas. I have traveled all over the southern states and if Nebraska had a little more moisture, I would like it as well as any place, and I think anyone is foolish to see all he has here to go to California to live.”
Mr. Anson was born in Wolverhampton, England, on October 15,1835, of Scotch English parents.
“My father,” he said, “claimed descent form the original Anglo-Saxons of the 6th century.
“I worked my way through school; at an early age I was finishing tools in a foundry. I riddled coke in Maryland and worked at cabinet making in Ohio.”
Mr. Anson has a dresser that he made when he was 15, and that was 78 years ago. He came to Orchard 11 years ago upon the death of his wife, and since then he has gone back to California three time, alone, the most recent trip being last year.
He has a brother, John, 75, at Cambridge, in this state; another brother, Joe,90, lives at Le Grande, Oregon and a sister, Eliza Osborn, 83, lives in California.
Three brothers were in the Civil War. In speaking of relatives who had seen military service, Mr. Anson said: “Three of my mother’s brothers fought with the British in 1812. They deserted and went to Alabama where they changed their names to Thornton, and all their descendants still bear the name of Thornton.”
“My father’s great-uncle was a general under George Washington during the Revolutionary War. I have studied history for more than 50 years. Principal is not followed. Money is God. The Golden Rule is the only rule to follow.”
Grandpa Anson believes that his excellent health is due largely to the fact that he has been regular in his habits and that he has always tried to do to others as he wished to be done by.
Truly, Mr. Anson is a most extraordinary man. For the past ten years he has split all the wood used on the Anson ranch near here. He spades in the garden, takes long walks every day and reads by hours; not newspapers only, but books, history, philosophy and theology.
He is a most entertaining conversationalist and enjoys nothing more than visiting with his friends and recounting his experiences of early days as well as discussing the books he reads.
He has six children in as many states. They are Charles, of Orchard, with whom he makes his home; William in Oregon; Ben in Virginia; Addie Presteline in Canada; Hattie Rogers in Olden, Mo.; and Sam in Independence, Iowa.
~Submitter, Sandy Dempsey (family researcher)
Orchard News - Oct. 17, 1935
William G. Anson, Orchard, Celebrates 100th Birthday
Open house was held all day Tuesday at the home of Mrs. C.T. Anson in observance of the 100th birthday anniversary of William G. Anson. Many Friends and relatives called throughout the day to congratulate Mr. Anson. HE was the recipient of numerous gifts, letters and postcards.
A large group of school children with their teachers, Miss Howard and Miss Nelson, visited Mr. Anson and presented him with a large basket of fruit.
In the evening a number of relatives and close friends gathered at the Anson home in his honor. The evening was spent informally, and refreshments were served.
Mr. Anson is a native of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England and came with his father to the United States in 1845 at the age of 10 years, his mother and five brothers and one sister joining them several months later. They lived for a while in New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Ohio, finally locating in Iowa.
Mr. Anson was married in 1860 to Miss Harriet Blair and in the spring of 61 they went to Oregon by ox-team where he became the second settler of Grand Round Valley. In 1871 he returned to Iowa where the family resided with exception of a few months spent in Missouri, until the death of Mrs. Anson in 1917. Shortly after he came to Orchard to the home of his son, the late C.T. Anson, where he has since lived.
Mr. Anson enjoys good health, reads, works in the garden and waits almost entirely upon himself. He has five living children. William of La Grande, Ore.; Samuel of Independence, Iowa; Benjamin of Pamplin, Virginia; Mrs. Addis Prestlein; of White Court, Canada, and Mrs. Hattie Rogers, of Holden, Missouri. Three sons have died. There are twenty-four grand children and numerous great grandchildren. He has one brother, John, living in Cambridge, Neb.
~Submitter, Sandy Dempsey (family researcher)