Prominent among the stock raisers of the country William Anderson is found, and he has done much to give to the people of Oakland fine specimens of man's best and most valuable servant, as well as a noble animal, the horse. He began the breeding of Hambletonian stock in 1872, at which time he made his first purchase, the same being the celebrated Rysdyck Hambletonian stallion "Jim Fisk," which he obtained in Essex county, New Jersey. This noted trotter has a record of 2.31 3/4, and has repeatedly made one-half mile in private in 1 1/2, Several of " Fisk's'' colts of Mr. Anderson's raising have already gained an enviable reputation on the records of the turf. Any lover of the horse, more especially of the Hambletonian family, will enjoy a visit to Mr. Anderson's stables. He sold "Jim Fisk," in 1875, to William Willets, of Pontiac, for four thousand five hundred dollars.

Mr. Anderson was born in Oxford, Warren county. New Jersey, July 22, 1836, being the ninth in a family of seven sons and three daughters. His parents, William and Margaret (De Mott) Anderson, were among the early settlers of Warren county, and were people of considerable wealth and great enterprise.

William, Jr., received an academic education, and taught school for a time. When twelve years of age his father died, and he remained on the farm assisting in its management until he attained his majority, when his mother engaged his services until he was twenty-six years old. Then he resolved to see the western country, and, with his mother, spent the summer of 1862 in looking up a desirable location in Oakland and Calhoun counties, Michigan, and a portion of Illinois.

He returned from the latter State in the fall of 1862, and purchased a farm in Albion, Calhoun county, Michigan, which, however, he rented, never becoming a resident of that county. In 1866 he made his first purchase in Oakland County, the same being one hundred and seventy acres on section 12, in the township of Oakland. In 1870 he disposed of this purchase, and bought two hundred acres of the present farm on which he resides, to which he has since added one hundred acres more. It is one of the best grain and fruit producing tracts in the county. Mr. Anderson was united in marriage March 26, 1863, to Miss Olive L. Flummerfelt, daughter of John S. Flummerfelt, of Oakland, by whom five children, three of whom died in infancy, have been born to him. The surviving children are: Eddie J., born October 2, 1867, and Byron D., born January 13, 1872. Mrs. Anderson is a native of Oakland township, and was born August 27, 1845. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Democratic party, and himself and wife are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal church