John Laurens Anderson, son of Robert Saunders Anderson and Sarah Wooten Anderson, was born in Pulaski County, February 25, 1848. It was a happy day in his boyhood when his father gave him a sizeable bill to purchase his choice of books at an auction sale of a private library of classics. Naturally studious, from these books he gained more than ordinary knowledge of standard literature and command of the English language.
He joined the Confederate Army in his fourteenth year, Company H, Seventh Georgia Reserve Regiment, was severely wounded at Griswoldville, carrying the bullet in his leg thereafter. Standing six feet two inches, a perfect physical specimen, he never lost the military bearing obtained from his training in such early years.
In 1869 he married Johnnie Booth, who lived but a short time, leaving a daughter, Julia. In 1871 he married Addie Boon, of Perry, Ga. Five children were born of this marriage, three of whom died in infancy. John Laurens II, feed manufacturer of St. Louis, Mo., married Evelyn Lovejoy of Hawkinsville in 1907. Born of this union is one son, John L. Anderson III. Allene, youngest born, married William Conner McAllister of Mount Vernon, Ga., in 1908. They have one son, John Anderson McAllister, born in 1910.
In 1883 his second wife died. He gave up farming and was connected with the State Agricultural Department for a number of years.
During President Cleveland’s last administration he was Government Land Agent, serving in Minnesota, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, and more than two years in Salt Lake City, Utah. Coming back to Georgia he engaged in the fertilizer business, then went to Florida in the same business. He retired in 1914, and lived with his daughter, Mrs. McAllister, until his death, July 25, 1919.
Truly, by birth, breeding and bearing, he was a perfect type of the Southern gentleman of the old school.
