Edward H. Anderson

EDWARD H. ANDERSON. BY THOMAS HULL, GENERAL SECRETARY Y. M. M. L A.

Edward H, Anderson succeeded George C. Lambert as general -secretary of the Y. M.M. I. A., on December 17, 1888. The new secretary, who was called by the general superintendency, entered upon his duties on the first day of the year following, and went into the office of the Contributor, under Junius F. Wells, assisting in the publication of the tenth and eleventh volumes, and in the distri- bution of the Course of Reading which was then being circulated among the associations. When called, new secretary was the acting as superintendent of the associations in the Weber stake, to which office he was set apart January 15, 1882, under the ad- ministration Of David H. Peery, Lester J. Herrick and Charles F. Middleton, the latter ordaining him to the office of High Priest. He had worked in many capacities in the mutual improvement cause in Weber for many years, having acted as secretary of a literary organization in Huntsville, under Prof. Charles Wright, as far back as 1874. He was corresponding secretary of the general stake board under Joseph A. West, when called to act as super- intendent upon the resignation of Elder West, and had often visited every settlement in the county in the interest of the young people. With B. F. Cummings, Jr., he had filled a mission to the societies in Weber and Box Elder counties, holding meetings to in- troduce systematic programs and exercises. He continued to hold his position as superintendent of Weber stake with the assistance of such men as A. T. Wright, Thos. A. Shreeve, L. A. Herrick, Z. Ballantyne, Alma D. Chambers, John L. Herrick, and Geo. E. Browning, in connection with his new calling, and until his departure to preside over the Scandinavian mission, September 3, 1890. While

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in Denmark, he took great interest in the auxiliary organizations of the young people of the Church, and especially in teaching their classes in English. Returning to Utah, in October, 1892, he later served two years as president of the fourth Ogden ward improve- ment association, 1895-7, being ably assisted by Thomas B. Evans, now stake superintendent of Sunday schools, and John V. Bluth, now stake clerk of Weber and assistant superintendent of Y. M. M. I. A., with an able body of young men as officers. A special class in practical civil government was conducted by him in con- nection with the association. In 1893, he was called with a number of others, to act as one of the aids in the General Board, but little active service was done by these aids until the early part of 1897, when, as Apostle Francis M. Lyman has said. Mutual Improvement re- ceived its rebaptism. Since then he has been actively engaged in the cause, visiting conferences, and acting as one of the comniit- tees on manuals and conventions, in connection with his services as associate editor of the Era to which place he succeeded B. H, Roberts, in June, 1899. Edward H. Anderson was born in Billeberga, Skane, Sweden, October 8, 1858, and came to Utah in 1864, in Captain Wm. B.

Preston's company. His schooling was obtained in the common schools of Mill Creek under David H. Peery; in Farmington, under Aunt Huldah Kimball; in Huntsville, under George and William Halls and Charles Wright, and in the University of Deseret (now Utah), under Dr. John R. Park, Prof. F. M. Bishop and Prof. J. B. Toronto. He was a normal student in the University, and taught school after graduating in 1877, in Wilson, Eden and Ogden. In 1883, he was elected superintendent of schools of Weber county, and was thrice re-elected, resigning in September, 1890. On July 1st, 1869, he was baptized by Hans Schow, and con- firmed a member of the Church by David McKay, at Huntsville; and later, December 26, 1880, ordained an Elder by Bishop F. A. Hammond, and a High Priest by President Charles F. Middleton, January 15, 1882, He was chosen ^assistant clerk of the Weber stake, December 6, 1879, and clerk, at a quarterly conference in October, 1880, which position he filled for nearly nine years. He also acted as home missionary several terms in the early 80's, and again in 1893, and on November 24, 1900, was chosen a member

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of the High Council, to succeed John Watson who had been or- dained bishop of the Fifth Ward, in which body Anderson had la- bored as an alternate-member since December, 1892. In 1893, he wrote a "Life of Brigham Young," and a "Brief History of the Church;" and, as assistant historian of the stake, he has written a history of Weber county, and more than a hundred biographical sketches of its founders. He conducted the printing establishment of the Ogden Junc- tion in 1879-80 under Joseph A, West. Later, when through the co-operation of the leading citizens of Ogden and the settlements of the county, the Ogden Herald was founded, he was chosen man- ager, with John Nicholson as editor. This enterprize he conducted successfully, until in January, 1888, it was merged into the Ogden Standard when he entered the editorial department under Frank J. Cannon. In 1888, he served as minute clerk in the House of the Ter- ritorial Legislature with Orson F. Whitney, chief clerk. In No- vember, 1893, he was elected, on the Republican ticket, city recorder of Ogden,'_being twice re-elected, and serving until January, 1900, not being a candidate for re-election. In November of that year he was elected a member of the lower house of the Fourth State Legislature, and on March 2, 1901, nominated for the posi- tion of Surveyor-General of Utah by President Wm. McKinley, was later confirmed by the Senate, and entered upon his labors, April 10, of that year. He married Jane S. Ballantyne, June 29, 1882, a daughter of Richard and Mary Pearce Ballantyne, and a woman of strong char- acter and excellent She was born in Salt Lake City ability.

February 10, 1861. — They have a family of seven children six boys and a girl.