From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 210-211.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


WILLIAM H. ANDERSON

William H. Anderson, superintendent of the public schools of the city 
of Wheeling, was born near West Liberty, Ohio county, where his 
grandfather, James Anderson, settled at an early day.  The latter, a 
native of Strabane, county Tyrone, Ireland, was an officer in the 
ranks of the United Irish in the insurrection against Emgland in 
1798, and in the following year fled to America to escape arrest.  He 
landed in New York and a year later his family landed at Norfolk, 
Va., and they  were united through the efforts of the Masonic 
fraternity.  They settled on a farm between West Liberty and Short 
creek, on the Brooke and Ohio county line, a part of which he 
improved and on it made his home.  He died there, leaving three 
children: Thomas, Lydia (afterward Mrs. John Creighton), and Jane 
(afterward Mrs. William Henderson).  The latter removed to Morgan 
county, Ohio, and reared a large family.  Thomas, who was born in 
county Tyrone, Ireland, was a cooper by trade, and also, in 
connection with his father, carried on a brewery for many years on 
the old homestead, manufacturing his own barrels and kegs.  Later in 
life he engaged in farming until his death July 10, 1869.  He married 
Catherine Wheatley, daughter of Isaac Wheatley, formerly of New 
Jersey, a blacksmith by trade, a pioneer of Westown, Penn., and later 
a resident of Buffalo creek, in Brooke county, and finally of the 
vicinity of Bellaire, Ohio.  Thomas Anderson reared eight children: 
Mary, wife of James Brown; James; Robert, killed at battle of 
Piedmont, Va., July 5, 1864, being a member of Company K, Twelfth 
West Virginia; Jane A., now wife of James Brown; William H.; Anna E., 
wife of Mordecai Nelson; Rebecca, wife of John Richardson, and Emma 
S.  All of these, except James, were teachers in early life.  William 
H. Anderson was educated at West Libery academy, and then taught for 
six years in a country school.  From 1868 to 1870 he had charge of 
the public schools of Bethany as principal.  In January of the latter 
year he had charge of the Wellsburg schools, but resigned, and in 
August engaged in merchandise at Bethany, and followed that business 
for three years. At the end of that period he sold out and returned 
to his profession, taking charge of the schools at Bethany for two 
years, and then of the Wellsburg schools for three years.  In 1879 he 
removed to Wheeling and became principal of the Union school, a 
position he held for six years.  On July 17, 1885, he was elected 
superintendent of the Wheeling schools, to fill an unexpired term, 
and his services in this capacity have been so satisfactory that he 
has since been twice re-elected for terms of two years each.  Mr. 
Anderson was married at Chicago, August 20, 1874, to Mattie C., 
daughter of John Carle, of Wellsburg, W.Va., and they have three 
children: John Carle, Frank Ray, and Marie Virginia.  Mr. Anderson is 
a member of the Christian church, and of the Masonic order, and in 
politics is a republican.        


(Linda Fluharty)