Major
W. A. Anderson, one of the leading lawyers of the Sacramento bar, is a native
of Wisconsin, born at Mineral Point, February 25, 1845. His paternal
grandfather, and Edinburg Scotchman, came to America prior to the Revolution,
and located in Pennsylvania. When the struggle for independence with the mother
country came on, he joined the patriot army, and served with honor throughout
the war. Hartford Anderson, father of the subject of this sketch, was reared in
Pennsylvania, his native State. He subsequently went to Missouri, locating in
Scott County, where he was married to Miss Susan Atkins, a native of Kentucky,
born near the Ohio River. In 1843 the family removed to Mineral Point,
Wisconsin, where he opened a large carriage manufactory. He was among the first
to move in the matter of going to California after gold was discovered there,
and in the latter part of 1848 he started with his family by wagon and ox team
for this far-away land. At Council Bluffs they fell in with other outfits, and
together they took up their journey across the plains and of course endured
many hardships. They lost their way, and when the Anderson family learned their
location, they were up near the Oregon line. They proceeded through the
Leidesdorff cut-off, and made their first stop at a settlement at Lassen’s. Mr.
Anderson bought flour of Peter Lassen at $1 a pound. They proceeded down
through Truckee Valley, and brought up at Sacramento, camping the first night
where the Bee office now is, and in close proximity to a large sycamore tree.
Mr. Anderson soon went with his family to Georgetown. He kept a provision store
there until the latter part of 1850, and then removed to Willow Creek, near
Folsom. He has been justice of the peace ever since the organization of the
State except one term. Mr. Anderson’s mother died with cholera in the epidemic
of 1852. Major W. A. Anderson, subject of this sketch, was but four years of
age when the family came to California, and he grew to manhood in this State.
He commenced his education at Folsom Institute, at that time a flourishing
institution, and continued his studies at Santa Clara College. After completing
his studies he taught school for a time, then commenced attendance at the law
College at Benicia and was there graduated. He was admitted to the bar of the
Supreme Court of California, April 4, 1865, while a minor. Just after that he
was elected county auditor, taking the office only four days after he had
reached his majority. He was also ex-offio clerk of the Board of Supervisors,
of the Board of Equalization, and of the Swamp Land Commission. He held the
office of auditor until March, 1868, and then entered into the active practice
of law. He was associated with George Cadwalader for eight years, forming one of
the strongest firms in the history of the Sacramento bar. Cadwalader attracted
wide attention during this time by his conduct of the Powelson case, wherein he
established the doctrine that abuse of a wife should constitute grounds for
divorce, and in the celebrated “soldier vote” case. Mr. Anderson was associated
in the following cases; Rio de los Moquelemous (otherwise “McCauley,” or Hicks)
grant case; the famous litigation between California Pacific and Central
Pacific Railroad companies; Atlantic and Pacific Railroad versus Western Union
Telegraph Company, etc. Mr. Anderson left Mr. Cadwalader in 1876 to accept the
office of city attorney, which he held until March, 1878, when he once more
entered private practice. He has since filled the office of city attorney,
during the term from 1880 to 1886. From 1867 to 1875 he was Assistant
Adjutant-General of the Fourth Brigade, N. G. C., with rank of major. Major
Anderson has always been one of the most popular men, and has the happy faculty
of drawing to him close personal friends. He is an eloquent and able public
speaker, and this quality, besides standing him in good stead in his
profession, has often been of the greatest service in the campaigns of the
Republican party, to whose interests he is devoted, and he has many times been
called upon to stump the district and State. What is quite unusual, however, he
is equally ready with the pen, and his published reminiscences of the early
bar, among others, are entertaining to the highest degree, aside from the
historic value. Withal he is a genial, courteous gentleman, open-hearted and
generous to a fault.
Transcribed
by: Marla Fitzsimmons
An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California.
By Hon. Win. J. Davis. Lewis Publishing Company 1890. Page 291-292.
© 2004 Marla Fitzsimmons.