JOHN BENTON ANDERSON

The following bio was taken from page 94 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

John Benton Anderson (named for his grandfather who was born in Kentucky in 1810 and later migrated to the Braden Community in the Sixth Civil District of Fayette County, Tennessee) was the son of Arthur David and Sarah Louise Wood Anderson. John Benton, Jr. was born in Detroit, Tennessee on July 8, 1886. He and Bertie Lee Williams, born in Conway, Arkansas, October 13, 1888, whose parents were J. G. Williams of Conway and Isa Bell Wilson Williams (who was born in North Carolina, April 17, 1869 and later moved to Conway, Arkansas) were married in Conway, Arkansas in 1907. John had at that time returned to Tennessee from Henderson, Texas where he had lived with his parents, brothers, and sisters, originally from Tennessee, on the fifty-one acre homeplace on the Tatum highway. His parents owned this land from 1903 to 1906 before selling to Andrew Jackson Anderson, John’s uncle. The Arthur David Anderson family returned to Tennessee because the red clay of Texas was not like the delta land they had formerly farmed. One son James Lauderdale remained behind.

John liked Texas and returned here with Bertie and their son Marvin in 1911. They rented the farm from John’s uncle "Andy" who was a circuit riding Methodist minister. In 1917 John and Bertie bought the farm from his uncle and resided there the rest of their lives, farming the land, improving the old house, beautifying the landscape, and making a good home for their family that had increased to five children.

John and Bertie had seven children, two of whom died in infancy. The children are: Marvin Andrew Anderson, born 1909 in Detroit, Tennessee, married Veda Mae Deason and lived in Henderson continuing his father’s business.

Lois Lucille Anderson Lee (May 31, 1912-March 13, 1976) married Judson Lagroan Lee (deceased) and lived in Frederick, Oklahoma. They had three children: Arlin Earl, Rodney Lynn, and David Edwin, and five grandchildren.

Etta Mae Anderson Burns, born December 24, 1915 in Henderson, married Fred Carlton Burns (deceased). Etta Mae now lives in Conroe, Texas and has one daughter, Etta Marlene Burns Jenkins, and three grandchildren. Etta Mae attended Stephen F. Austin, Kilgore Junior College, earning a B.B.A. and M.A. degrees at Sam Houston State College. She is employed by the Montgomery County School System.

Esther Pearl Anderson Bynum, born December 19, 1922 in Henderson, married James Louis Bynum and they now reside in Henderson at the homeplace. (The old Anderson house has been converted into an art gallery.) They have five children: James Lynn, John Michael, Marvin Anderson, Karen Malinda, and Douglas Edward (deceased). Esther received a B.A. at North Texas State University, an M.A. and A.G.S. at the University of Maryland.

Clara B. Anderson Harris, born April 4, 1928 in Henderson, married Paul McDonald Harris and they now live in Dallas, Texas. The couple has four children: Lee Ann Harris, Paul McDonald Harris, Jr., Jeff Harris, and Nancy Harris. Clara received a B.A. degree at the Texas Woman’s University at Denton. They own a gallery in Dallas, having retired from the school system.

John and Bertie lived with a philosophy and instilled this philosophy in their children: "A man is no better than his word" and "Always leave a place better than you found it." John, who ran a cement contracting business, and Bertie, who beautified the grounds around the home, lived by these words. In addition to the cement business John and Bertie operated a grocery store and a service station on the highway near the house. This building has been removed.

Both John and Bertie were long-time members of the First Methodist Church in Henderson, Texas. John was a member of the Woodmen of the World. John died July 9, 1963 and Bertie died ten years later on July 30, 1973. They are both buried in Lakewood Memorial Cemetery in Henderson, Texas.

Submitted by Esther Bynum