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MURRAY ANDERSON.
London’s First Mayor Dies in his 85th year.
[Welland Tribune, 11 March 1898]
(London Advertiser.)
Murray Anderson, one of the most prominent figures in the history of London, (Ontario,) and who bore the distinction of being the first reeve and mayor of the city, departed this life Saturday last at the advanced age of 84 years and 2 months. In the death of this venerable citizen is severed a link which connected the prosperous London of the present day with the struggling little village of the thirties. His was a long life of upright and useful citizenship. In his business career he was one of the foremost merchants of. Western Ontario. In public life, as mayor and as a member of the city council for many years, he rendered valuable aid in improving the city and developing its trade.
Mr. Anderson was born Jan. 9, 1814, and his birthplace was the battle-ground of Lundy’s Lane.
His grandparents, both on his paternal and maternal sides, were historical characters of the
Revolutionary War in the United States, and were distinguished for their patriotism and bravery.
In their lives were many romantic incidents. His father’s father, Col. Peter Anderson, was an
English officer who at the time of the rebellion in 1776 had charge of the King’s Rangers, then stationed at New York, and at the battle of Princeton he measured swords with both Washington and Lafayette. He was married to Miss. Abigail Fortner, a niece to Sir. Charles Douglass of Scotland, and after the war settled in New Brunswick some years. In 1790 he came to Upper Canada and acquired a squatter’s right to large tract of land which now forms the park of Niagara Falls South. Charles married Miss Sallie Brooks, daughter of Robert Brooks, a native of New Jersey, Ohio, in company with James Lundy, after whom Lundy’s Lane was named, and Howie left New Jersey for Canada on account of their fealty to the mother land. Anderson became a captain in the English service, and was a participant in most of the battles of 1812. The subject of his sketch was born at the close of the war, and received his name from General Murray. In 1835 Murray Anderson came to London, stayed here a year, and returned to Hamilton, where he was connected with the late Edward Jackson. In 1837 he married Miss Jane C. Kerr, a native of Albany, N. Y., and to the union were born three children: William, Edward and Mrs. J.
H. Flock, the latter the only one surviving,
Mr. Anderson returned to London in 1840, and went into business, making tinware and buying furs from the Indians. He carried on his business successfully for many years, and was one of the largest individual fur dealers in the market. When London was incorporated as a city in 1855 he was elected its first mayor, and for three terms previously he had filled the reeve’s chair. For half a century he was in the public eye, and his career in every walk of his life has been a most honorable one. Until a year or two ago he was singularly vigorous for one of his years.
//aj
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