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Robert B. Anderson, Esq., Richburg, South Carolina.Robert Barber Anderson, son of William Anderson, grandson of Robert Anderson, late of Giles County, Tennessee, and great-grandson of William Anderson, of Revolutionary memory, and his wife, Nancy Stephenson, of South Carolina, was born March 13, 1840. He lives in Chester County, South Carolina, on an extensive plantation near Richburg. He is a successful farmer, a very popular, good humored man—a man who to be known is to be admired for his charity, industry and Christian virtues. He has been twice married. His present wife was a Miss Barber, a relative. She is a noble, good woman, a lenient and painstaking stepmother. She and her husband have no children. They are leading members of the Mount Prospect Southern Methodist Church. There were born unto Mr. Anderson and his first wife four children, three sons and one daughter. Joseph, the oldest son, was graduated from a South Carolina college last June. Robert Edward is well educated, but is a natural farmer. He is of much value to his father in the management of his large farms. Porter, the third son, is in Wofford College, South Carolina. Mr. Anderson's daughter, Lena, married Rev. J. W. Neely.
Robert B. Anderson has a very singular war record. I suppose there is not now living a single veteran of the Lost Cause with a record like his. His record was good, but that is not its singularity, for thousands of others had as good a record for bravery and gallantry as could be made. But the singularity in his case consists in the fact that he was at the firing of the first gun on Fort Sumter, April 9, 1861. He was a witness: of the surrender of General Anderson at Fort Sumter, saw him and his staff taken to the guard-house in Charleston. He was in the first and second battles at Manassas and in all the battles in Virginia. He was sent over to Chattanooga in time to be in the battle of Chickamauga; then he marched through East Tennessee to Virginia to his regular field of fighting and was on foot, with his gun in hand, at the surrender at Appomattox. He says he could do it again; but he does not want to. Where is the other Confederate soldier who was at the firing of the first gun at Fort Sumter and at the surrender at Appomattox? Echo comes from the silent grave, Where! Robert Barber Anderson, of Chester County, stands alone in that respect.
This family is worthy of its noble and patriotic ancestry. William H. Anderson a prominent citizen of Giles County, Tennessee, is a brother of the late Rev. J. B. Anderson of the Tennessee Conference. They were two of thirteen brothers and sisters.
Col. William Anderson, son of William Anderson, of Revolutionary memory, and his wife, Nancy Stephenson, one of the Four, married Miss Cherry, of South Carolina. They reared a highly respected family in the county in which he was born. He never left South Carolina. Colonel Anderson was a valuable and useful citizen of the community in which he lived. He was colonel of a regiment in the war of 1812. His granddaughter, Miss Maggie M. Anderson, daughter of Dr. Daniel Green Anderson, late of South Carolina, is now (November, 1905) the only living child of Dr. D. G. Anderson. Miss Maggie M. Anderson owns and lives on the old plantation of her father on Fishing Creek, near Fort Lawn.
Robert B. Anderson and I had the pleasure, last July, visiting Miss Maggie at her home. I found her not only a very intellectual and cultured woman, but also a most excellent cook and hostess. She manages her; estate well, and always has on hand some one, or more, to take care of and provide for. "It is better to give than to receive." I am told that is what the boy said when he struck his playmate. She is fond of souvenirs and old keep-sakes. She showed to me the sword her grandfather, William Anderson, wore in the war of 1812, when he was commander of a regiment. She has the old, time-stained deed, by which the land on which her grandfather lived, was conveyed from the crown of England, in 1763, to an American subject. She is a most excellent little lady.
Gober Anderson, a nephew of Miss Maggie, lives on and owns the old plantation of her grandfather. The residence is the same one built more than a hundred years ago, except that some additions have been made. Mr. Anderson is a scientific farmer, has good land and keeps it good by taking good care of it, judiciously using fertilizers. He makes good crops. He is a highly respected citizen. He has a most excellent wife and beautiful children. They are noble descendants of well known ancestors. They are a happy family.
Finis.