Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Anders, Rev. William S. August 30, 1840 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson jpatter@epix.net December 21, 2025, 10:30 am

Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

  REV. WILLIAM S. ANDERS, pastor of the Worcester 
Schwenkfelder church, is a son of Abraham and Rebecca 
(Schultz) Anders. He was born in Worcester township, 
Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, August 30, 1840. His 
great-great-grandfather, Balthasar Anders, was one of the 
little band of Schwenkfelder immigrants, who came from 
Silesia to Pennsylvania, and landed in Philadelphia, 
September 12, (old style) 1734. They nearly all located in 
what is now Montgomery county, where many of their 
descendants remain to the present day.
 
  Abraham Anders (father) was a farmer by occupation. He 
served for many years as a school director in Worcester 
township, being a friend of educational progress and a 
public-spirited citizen. He was a director of the Bank of 
Montgomery County at Norristown, later the Montgomery 
National Bank, for twenty-five years, and held important 
positions in several other corporations. He was active in 
business affairs but never aspired to public office, 
although political positions were frequently tendered him 
and invariably declined. In politics he was a Republican. In 
his religious belief he was a Schwenkfelder, like his 
ancestors. He was a member of that church for more than 
fifty years prior to his death, and for a number of years 
served as secretary. He was a man of sound judgment and in 
every respect a valuable citizen. He died December 28, 1887, 
at the age of eighty-one years. 

  He married Rebecca Schultz, daughter of George Schultz, 
the ceremony being performed May 14, 1839. George Schultz 
died October 29, 1801. Abraham and Rebecca Anders had the 
following children, seven in all, being five sons and two 
daughters: Rev. William S., subject of this sketch; Joseph 
S., died July, 1895; Susan, wife of Josiah D. Heebner, of 
Montgomery county, Pennsylvania; Charles S.; Abraham S., who 
died November 23, 1862; Mary S., who married Jeremiah K. 
Anders, and Amos S.

  Rev. William S. Anders received his education in the 
public schools of Worcester, spending also two years as a 
student at Mount Kirk Seminary, in Lower Providence 
township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, which, was 
conducted for many years by Rev. Henry S. Rodenbough. Rev. 
William S. Anders taught school in early manhood for eight 
terms, one year in Towamencin township, three years in 
Worcester, and four in Norriton township. At the end of that 
time he removed to the farm previously bought by his father 
in Worcester township and engaged in farming. 

  On June 3, 1871, he was called as a probationer to the 
ministry in the Schwenkfelder church. In October, 1873, he 
was installed as one of the pastors of the Worcester, 
Towamencin and Salford churches. He married, February 1, 
1868, Susan H. Krause, who was a daughter of Aaron and Lydia 
(Heebner) Krause, of Worcester township.

  In politics, Mr. Anders is a Republican. He served for 
some years as a school director, being well qualified for 
that position by his previous experience as a teacher. Since 
1889 he has been a director of Ursinus College. He is also a 
director of the Montgomery National Bank at Norristown. He 
is identified with the management of several industrial 
companies.

  From 1871 to 1893 he farmed extensively, but since the 
latter year has given his time entirely to his pastoral 
labors. Although serving in an official capacity in several 
business enterprises he allows nothing in connection with 
them to interfere with his church work.  During the last 
year he has suffered much from illness, greatly affecting 
his usefulness in his ministerial calling. In this 
affliction, due to heart trouble, he has the sincere 
sympathy of all who know him. Rev. William S. Anders has 
been a very faithful worker, not only in the church but also 
in the Sunday school. For forty-two years he has been a 
worker in the latter, either as superintendent or as 
teacher.

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