Albert R. Anderson
Encyclopedia
Albert Raney Anderson was a one-term U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 8th congressional district
in southwestern Iowa. He is best known for winning election to Congress and defeating a well-known incumbent, without winning his own party's endorsement.
, Anderson moved with his parents to Galesburg, Illinois
. He attended the common schools and Knox College, in Galesburg. He moved to Taylor County, Iowa
in 1857 and studied law. He was admitted to the bar
in 1860 and commenced practice in Clarinda, Iowa
. He was appointed postmaster
of Clarinda by President Lincoln in 1861.
He resigned to enlist in the Union Army
as a private
in Company K, 4th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
. He was commissioned first lieutenant for gallant service at the Battle of Pea Ridge
, became captain during the Siege of Vicksburg and assistant Adjutant-General during the Atlanta campaign
. He was promoted through the ranks to become major
of his regiment, and was commissioned lieutenant colonel
in 1865. He was mustered out in August 1865 and returned to Clarinda.
, in 1866 and resumed the practice of law. He served as assessor of internal revenue from 1868 to 1871. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
at Philadelphia in 1872. He served as district attorney
from 1876 to 1880. and state railroad commissioner for a single term beginning in 1881. In 1882, he was the Republican Party's nominee for election to the Forty-eighth Congress
in Iowa's 9th congressional district
, but was defeated by Democrat William Henry Mills Pusey
. Two years later, Anderson was not the Republican nominee, but he was credited with causing the nomination of "dark horse
" candidate Joseph Lyman
, who then defeated Pusey in the general election.
In April 1886, Fremont County
, where Anderson lived, was added to the Iowa's 8th congressional district
, which Republican William Peters Hepburn
had represented since 1881. Anderson immediately ran for Hepburn's seat. Refusing to heed the Republican district convention's endorsement of Hepburn, he ran in the general election as an "independent Republican." While remaining a Republican, he ran hard on a platform of stricter regulation of the railroads, and the use of tariffs for revenue only, that earned him the joint endorsement of the Democratic and Greenback parties. Anderson won the general election decisively, by 2,225 votes. Hepburn's defeat caused many of his colleagues in the House to worry that they might meet the same fate if they did not respond to the popular anger by supporting stricter federal railroad regulation."
Anderson served in the Fiftieth Congress
, voting with the Democratic caucus for John G. Carlisle as its choice for Speaker of the House
but sitting with the Republicans. Hepburn waited several years before attempting to regain his seat. However, a different winner of the Republican endorsement process, James Patton Flick
, defeated Anderson in the next general election. In all, Anderson served in Congress from March 4, 1887 to March 3, 1889.
One of the last votes Anderson cast in Congress was on the Enabling Act of 1889
, which set in motion the admission into the union of North Dakota
, South Dakota
, Montana
, and Washington. In 1892, after leaving Congress, Anderson moved to Hot Springs
in Fall River County, South Dakota
where he continued to practice law. He served as mayor of Hot Springs in 1895 and 1896, and was elected State attorney of Fall River County on November 8, 1898.
Anderson died at Hot Springs on November 17, 1898. He was interred in Sidney Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 8th congressional district
Iowa's 8th congressional district
Iowa's 8th congressional district existed from 1873 to 1963. The district was configured five times. Although the district encompassed four different areas of Iowa in its ninety-year existence, it was always predominantly rural, and elected a Republican lawyer to the United States House of...
in southwestern Iowa. He is best known for winning election to Congress and defeating a well-known incumbent, without winning his own party's endorsement.
Early life and military career
Born in Adams County, OhioAdams County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
, Anderson moved with his parents to Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
. He attended the common schools and Knox College, in Galesburg. He moved to Taylor County, Iowa
Taylor County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 6,317 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,107 housing units, of which 2,679 were occupied.-2000 census:...
in 1857 and studied law. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1860 and commenced practice in Clarinda, Iowa
Clarinda, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 5,572 in the city, with a population density of . There were 2,180 housing units, of which 1,928 were occupied....
. He was appointed postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Clarinda by President Lincoln in 1861.
He resigned to enlist in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in Company K, 4th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
4th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 4th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 4th Iowa Infantry was organized at Council Bluffs, Iowa and mustered into Federal forces on August 8, 1861....
. He was commissioned first lieutenant for gallant service at the Battle of Pea Ridge
Battle of Pea Ridge
The Battle of Pea Ridge was a land battle of the American Civil War, fought on March 6–8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Garfield. In the battle, Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis defeated Confederate troops under Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. The outcome of the...
, became captain during the Siege of Vicksburg and assistant Adjutant-General during the Atlanta campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
. He was promoted through the ranks to become major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
of his regiment, and was commissioned lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in 1865. He was mustered out in August 1865 and returned to Clarinda.
Political career
Anderson moved to Sidney, IowaSidney, Iowa
Sidney is a city in Fremont County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,300 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Fremont County and is one of the smallest county seats in Iowa....
, in 1866 and resumed the practice of law. He served as assessor of internal revenue from 1868 to 1871. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
at Philadelphia in 1872. He served as district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
from 1876 to 1880. and state railroad commissioner for a single term beginning in 1881. In 1882, he was the Republican Party's nominee for election to the Forty-eighth Congress
48th United States Congress
The Forty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1885, during the last two years...
in Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa’s 9th congressional district existed from 1873 to 1943. The district was configured four times, first as part of a nine-district plan, then twice in eleven-district plans, then again in a nine-district plan...
, but was defeated by Democrat William Henry Mills Pusey
William Henry Mills Pusey
William Henry Mills Pusey , a banker, was a one-term Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 9th congressional district in southwestern Iowa from 1883 to 1885....
. Two years later, Anderson was not the Republican nominee, but he was credited with causing the nomination of "dark horse
Dark horse
Dark horse is a term used to describe a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence, especially in a competition of some sort.-Origin:The term began as horse racing parlance...
" candidate Joseph Lyman
Joseph Lyman
Joseph Lyman was a Civil War soldier, lawyer, and judge. In the 1880s, he was a two-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 9th congressional district in southwestern Iowa.-Biography:...
, who then defeated Pusey in the general election.
In April 1886, Fremont County
Fremont County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,441 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,431 housing units, of which 3,064 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, where Anderson lived, was added to the Iowa's 8th congressional district
Iowa's 8th congressional district
Iowa's 8th congressional district existed from 1873 to 1963. The district was configured five times. Although the district encompassed four different areas of Iowa in its ninety-year existence, it was always predominantly rural, and elected a Republican lawyer to the United States House of...
, which Republican William Peters Hepburn
William Peters Hepburn
William Peters Hepburn was an American Civil War officer and an eleven-term Republican congressman from Iowa's now-obsolete 8th congressional district, serving from 1881 to 1887, and from 1893 to 1909...
had represented since 1881. Anderson immediately ran for Hepburn's seat. Refusing to heed the Republican district convention's endorsement of Hepburn, he ran in the general election as an "independent Republican." While remaining a Republican, he ran hard on a platform of stricter regulation of the railroads, and the use of tariffs for revenue only, that earned him the joint endorsement of the Democratic and Greenback parties. Anderson won the general election decisively, by 2,225 votes. Hepburn's defeat caused many of his colleagues in the House to worry that they might meet the same fate if they did not respond to the popular anger by supporting stricter federal railroad regulation."
Anderson served in the Fiftieth Congress
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
, voting with the Democratic caucus for John G. Carlisle as its choice for Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
but sitting with the Republicans. Hepburn waited several years before attempting to regain his seat. However, a different winner of the Republican endorsement process, James Patton Flick
James Patton Flick
James Patton Flick was a two-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 8th congressional district in the Gilded Age....
, defeated Anderson in the next general election. In all, Anderson served in Congress from March 4, 1887 to March 3, 1889.
One of the last votes Anderson cast in Congress was on the Enabling Act of 1889
Enabling Act of 1889
The Enabling Act of 1889 is a United States statute that enabled North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington to form state governments and to gain admission as states of the union....
, which set in motion the admission into the union of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, and Washington. In 1892, after leaving Congress, Anderson moved to Hot Springs
Hot Springs, South Dakota
Hot Springs is a city in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,711. It is the county seat of Fall River County...
in Fall River County, South Dakota
Fall River County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,453 people, 3,127 households, and 1,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 3,812 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
where he continued to practice law. He served as mayor of Hot Springs in 1895 and 1896, and was elected State attorney of Fall River County on November 8, 1898.
Anderson died at Hot Springs on November 17, 1898. He was interred in Sidney Cemetery.