EmigranThursday - William Anderson & Isabel Little

The Anderson and Lyttle Families, 1850

Welcome to this week’s EmigranThursday featuring William Anderson and Isabel Little Anderson of Knox Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. They are mentioned in the biography of their son which appeared on page 193 of Brant and Fuller’s History of the Upper Ohio Valley with Historical Account of Columbiana County, Ohio published in 1891. Additional sources from Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.

• James Anderson, M.D. “one of the most skillful and successful physicians of Columbiana County” was born in Knox Township, Columbiana County December 13, 1851. He is the son of William Anderson and Isabel Little, native of Scotland, who settled in Knox Township, ca. 1847. Dr. Anderson was brought up on a farm until age 16 when he entered Mt. Union College and he graduated in 1874. The same year he began the study of medicine with Dr. C.L. Anderson of Homeworth, Columbiana County. In the fall of 1874, he started medical school at the University of Michigan and graduated from there two years later. In the fall of 1877, a few months after completing the course of the U of NY, Dr. Anderson moved to Salem and opened a practice. “Here he has remained, having gained a name for skill in his profession, which have resulted in giving him a large and lucrative practice”. He married Henrietta Brooke, daughter of Jesse Brooke and Agnes Diehl of Homeworth Columbiana County in 1877. Henrietta and James had three children: Mary, Thomas B. and Robert B. Dr. Anderson is a member of the Union Medical Society of Columbiana and adjoining counties, and also of the Ohio State Medical Society. He is a member of the K of P (Knights of Pythias) and his family are communicants of the Presbyterian Church. His political views are democratic.

I did not find any information about William Anderson or Isabel Little on FamilySearch which isn’t surprising given that the only clue in the biography is “Scotland.” William (28) and Isabel (27) do appear in the 1850 census with two children born in Ohio David (2) and Mary (6 months). William is a farmer with real estate valued at $1800. The next family enumerated, and so very probably their next door neighbors, are the Lyttles: Samuel (56, farmer) and Janet (56), Samuel Jr (23, farmer) and Adam (18, carpenter); the entire family was born in Scotland. This family is probably Isabel’s parents and her brothers.

By 1860 William and Isabel’s family had increased to include James (8), Grace (6), John (4), and twins George and Andrew (11 months) in addition to David (12) and Mary (10). The next head of household in the census are George (42, farmer) and Margaret (35) Currie, both born in Scotland and their children: John (12), David (9), James (4), Janet (2) and Christina (8 months). Also in their household are Samuel (67, no occupation) and Jennet (67) Lyttle. This evidence suggests that Samuel had retired from farming and probably maintained ownership of the farm, but turned the operation of the property over to a son-in-law. Apparently Samuel Jr. and Adam Lyttle found something else to do.

The ages of George and Margaret Currie's children suggest they emigrated at the same time as the rest of the Lyttle family. This EmigranThursday example demonstrates the importance of family to emigrant networks.