Elder Enoch E. Anderson, one of the widely known and truly representative citizens of Van Buren township and whose influence has been constantly exerted in the line of better and more exalted morality, higher and broader education and general advancement of the community, was born in the township where the greater part of his life has been passed on the 17th of January, 1850. His father was Isaac Anderson, a native of Guernsey county, Ohio, and who come to Indiana as a young man about 1837. Two of his brothers--William and Samuel-- came later, the former being killed by the fall of a tree not long after. His family were reared here, but one of them now living, and he in the state of Kansas. Samuel made a permanent home in Wells county, where he became an influential citizen.

        August 14, 1841, Isaac was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Camblin, the daughter of Enoch and Margaret Camblin, and the sister of Enoch Camblin now residing at the village of Van Buren, and of whom it was hoped a more extended account could be had in this work. There is little doubt that the entertainment in those early days for the youth of the community was fully as agreeable as of to-day, though it was attained with more trouble, or at least was attended with less attempt at style. The means of travel was mainly on horseback, but with the conditions of the new country there was an open-hearted hospitality not found now, and the social side of living was free from the little envies that so often mar the gatherings of the present. Not having any great amount of means it became necessary for the young married couple to begin their wedded life upon rented ground, their first efforts being on the tract that later became their own. For nearly forty years they worked hand in hand improving a farm of two hundred and twenty acres, rearing a large family, their communion being finally broken by the death of the husband on the 9th of February, 1879, at the age of sixty-seven. He was one of the earliest members of the Christian church at Van Buren, which was organized about 1858, the first meetings being held in the old Black Creek log schoolhouse located at what is now known as Farrville. He remained active in the affairs of the church, which was removed to the village of Van Buren about 1876, the society now being one of the strongest in the township. The lady who shared the vicissitudes of pioneer life and whose exertions ably seconded her husband's endeavors, is still living in the same residence that was built by their united efforts in 1861. She is a remarkably well preserved lady, whose seventy-eight years weigh lightly, the vigor of mind and elasticity of body being but slightly diminished by the passing of time. Now that she has entered upon the twentieth century she can well take pride in the thought that she was not a cipher in the greatest and most remarkable century known in the history of the world, but that she not only witnessed the transformation but assisted in the development of one portion of the country, being one of the few still living who took active part in changing the wilderness into the advanced condition of to-day. She is the mother of eleven children, all of whom reached maturity and one only--Samuel W.--having passed before her to the farther shore. He offered his services to the government at the outbreak of the Civil war, serving seven months in the Twelfth Indiana. At the organization of the One Hundred and Fifty-third he again responded to the call, going into the trenches at Vicksburg, where he was so exposed that his health became so shattered that he was sent home, but his death occurred before reaching the old scenes, the end coming at Jonesboro. Seven of the family are still residents of Van Buren, the youngest daughter--Mrs. Effie Harvey--residing with her mother on the old homestead. Enoch Anderson, remained with his parents till past his majority, having received such advantages as the home schools afforded. He was married at the age of twenty-one, on February 16, 1871, to Miss Oliva Elizabeth Lees, daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Foster) Lees, whose mother is still residing in the neighborhood at the advanced age of ninety years and retaining to a remarkable degree the strength of earlier faculties, through which she had been a prominent assistant in the years past in making and building up the interests of the community. She is one of the oldest of the county's old residents, having arrived in the county among the earliest, her son Frank, who is now past seventy, being but an infant in arms at the time of her coming. It was while living in Marion that Mrs. Anderson was born, being six years old upon coming to Van Buren. Soon after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Anderson began their operation on the present farm of sixty acres, which was formerly part of his father's homestead and is located in the oil field. Here much effort has been exerted in making improvements, especially in the way of drainage, tiling, etc. For several years Mr. Anderson acted with the Republican party, though latterly he is pronounced in his adherence to the Prohibition party, the ideas being more in accord with his own as to the great needs of the country. He is active in the demands of the party organization, working to the end of a more perfect and advanced civilization.

        For a quarter of a century has both of them been actively identified with the Church of Christ, in which his father had been so prominent in early years. Being thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the Master and feeling that some good might result from his greater efforts to further the cause, he began some four years since to advocate publicly the great truths of the faith he believed. He has already attained quite a local reputation as an earnest and consistent evangelist. He has at present two churches to which he administers regularly, one in Wells, the other in Tipton county. With a deep sensibility of the value of religious training, he has taken up the responsibility that goes with the work of a preacher, with a determination to do all in his power to advance the morality and education of the entire neighborhood.

        The family of Mr. Anderson consists of one son, Wilbur W., whose wife was Miss Ida Sparks, assisting in the operation of the home farm. They have two children, Stella and Paul. Edith Brown, a bright girl of thirteen, has been given a home in the family for some years.