San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN ANDERSON
Distinguished among the
representative educators of his time in California, the late John Anderson,
formerly superintendent of schools of San Joaquin County, made such an enviable
record for efficient, conscientious service that the story of his own progress
has been accepted as typical of the progress of education in the Golden state
during his period. He was born near
Suisun in Solano County, and was a mere child when the family located in San
Joaquin County. He attended the Linden
school and a preparatory college in Stockton, and then went for a year to the
University of California. Afterward, he
pursued courses for three summer sessions of the law school at the University
of California, intending to equip himself for the practice of law; but he
became interested in educational work, and gave up law as his goal. He first taught in the Linden school, part of
the time as principal. In Stockton, he
was principal of the old North school, on the site of the El Dorado school of a
later period; and subsequently still, he was head of the Lodi grammar
school. Later, he became assistant
postmaster under Postmaster F. E. Ellis at Stockton.
In the fall of 1910, Mr. Anderson
was elected county superintendent of schools, entering upon his duties with the
confidence, esteem and good-will of thousands; and after having amply
demonstrated not only what he was able to do, but what his high principles and
exceptional sense of honor demanded of himself in the performance of his duties
in his high trust, he was serving his third term in office at the time of his
death, which occurred on August 24, 1921.
He not only stood high as a practical educator, but he had rare
executive ability, the most desirable tact, and thus was an efficient officer.
In 1907 Mr. Anderson married Miss
Effie Stillson, a native of Sacramento, a graduate of
both the Sacramento High School and the San Jose Normal School, and a teacher
at Lodi; and on the death of her lamented husband, she was appointed county
superintendent of schools, a choice giving great satisfaction to many. She is fully qualified for the position, for
she was her husband’s deputy during his term of office. Superintendent Anderson was also prominent in
the Masonic order. He was a member of
Stockton Lodge of Perfection No. 12, S. R.; the Albert Pike Chapter No. 6,
Knights of the Rose Croix; Stockton Chapter No. 28, R. A. M.; and Lodi Chapter,
Eastern Star. He was a past master of
Linden Lodge of Masons, and past patron of Lodi Chapter, O. E. S.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
543-544. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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