Biography of Dr. John K. Anderson
FROM OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
A DESCRIPTIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF THE SARATOGIAN
THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1899
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DR. JOHN K. ANDERSON. DR. JOHN K. ANDERSON was born in Edinburgh, Saratoga county, April 19, 1818. For several years he engaged in
school teaching in Saratoga county, Greenbush, Rensselaer county, Amsterdam, N. Y., and elsewhere, for eleven years
occupying the position of principal of a graded school at Amsterdam. Having fitted himself for the medical profession,
he finally became a homoeopathic practitioner, following that profession successfully for many years in Saratoga
and Schoharie counties. While a resident of Saratoga county he served as justice of the peace in Edinburgh eight
years, beginning with 1848, and in 1854 represented that town on the board of supervisors.
Dr. Anderson’s maternal grandfather and great-grandfather both served in the patriot army in the Revolutionary
war. His great-grandfather, John Kennelly, was taken prisoner by a band of Indian marauders on their way from Johnstown,
N. Y., to Canada, in 1775. He lived near what is now Vail’s Mills, Fulton county, N. Y. At the end of the third
day of his captivity he escaped from them, returned home, took his family at once to an American fort; then took
his son, John Kennelly, jr., only eight years old, and started for the American camp, where he enlisted and got
his son accepted as a drummer. John Kennelly, sr., was killed in battle. John Kennelly, jr., Dr. Anderson’s grandfather,
served as a drummer through the entire eight years of the war, taking part in many battles. He is reputed to have
been the youngest personserving in the American army during that struggle. Probably no one so young, beside him,
was ever enlisted into the service of the United States, was honorably discharged and received a pension for life.
November 12, 1845, Dr. Anderson married Catharine Shew, daughter of Col. Lodewick P. Shew of Providence, Saratoga
county. Her grandfather, Capt. Jacob Shew, served in the Revolutionary war. He at one time had the queue shot from
his head, but was not aware of the, fact until after the end of the engagement. He was carried into captivity to
Quebec. His brother, Capt. John Shew, was killed by the Indians and tories during one of their raids on the Ballston
settlement. He resided in Milton. Col. Lodewick P. Shew, Mrs. Anderson’s father, was commissioned colonel of the
Saratoga county regiment of militfa March 10, 1832. His brother, Col. John P. Shaw, was also for many years in
command of a New York regiment.
Dr. Anderson and his wife had six children—Abbie Pamelia, wife of Thomas M. Billington of Amsterdam, N. Y.; Mary
Matilda, wife of Deodatus W. Sturtevant of Amsterdam; Clara Louise, wife of Rev. E. Irving Rackette of East Orleans,
Mass.; Kate Kirkwood, wife of Franklin P. Wemple of Fultonville, N. Y., now of Schenectady; Stephen Putnam, formerly
city editor of the Saratogian, of Saratoga Springs; and George Baker Anderson of Baliston Spa, N. Y. Those living
are Mrs. Rackette, Mrs. Wemple and George B. Anderson.
November 12, 1895, Dr. and Mrs. Anderson celebrated their golden wedding at Schenectady, N. Y. Both are still living—the
former at the age of over eighty-one and the latter at the age of seventy-five years.
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