Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Anderson, Mathias P. September 11, 1846 - 
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Joe Patterson jpatter@epix.net March 10, 2026, 12:33 pm

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

MATTHIAS P. ANDERSON is a descendant of an old Pennsylvania 
family, and served as a soldier in the war of the Rebellion. 
He was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, September 11, 
1846. He was reared on the farm, and was educated in the 
common schools of the neighborhood.

Mr. Anderson is the son of Joseph E. and Rebecca 
(Workheiser) Anderson, both of whom were born and reared in 
Chester county. Joseph E. was a son of Patrick Anderson, who 
was also a resident of Pennsylvania, and he was a son of 
James Anderson, who came from Scotland and settled in 
Chester county during the colonial days. He bought land of 
William Penn, and this farm is still in the Anderson family, 
as it is handed down to the youngest son of each generation, 
and is now the property of the youngest brother of Matthias 
P. Anderson, Amos. James Anderson (great-grandfather) was a 
Whig in politics and a leading man in his time. He served in 
the United States congress, and was a prominent and well 
known citizen and highly respected by the community in which 
he resided. He was a member of the Presbyterian church.

Patrick Anderson (grandfather), the youngest son of James 
Anderson, was born and raised in Chester county. The old 
homestead was handed down to him and he conducted the farm. 
He represented his native county (Chester) in the 
legislature, and was also a member of the senate of 
Pennsylvania. He was a very prominent man. He, too, was a 
Presbyterian in his religious faith. His children were: 
James, of Lower Merion township, a physician; Isaac, also a 
physician; Samna, died single; Sarah, (Mrs. M. 
Pennypacker). 

Mr. Pennypacker was the grandfather of Governor Samuel W. 
Pennypacker, who was also a member of the state legislature; 
Joseph, the father of Matthias P. Anderson.

Joseph Anderson (father) being the youngest son of his 
father's family, according to tradition received the old 
homestead. He remained under the parental roof until he 
reached manhood, and after his marriage he went into the 
hotel business at Bull Tavern, on Bull road, where he 
resided for quite a number of years. He then removed to 
Newtown Square, in Delaware county, and remained there for a 
number of years. Then he engaged in farming, and later took 
up his residence at the old homestead, where he lived until 
his death in 1860, at the age of sixty years. In politics he 
was a Whig and Republican. He held some township offices, 
but never aspired to higher positions. He gave the most of 
his attention to general farm work, and was a cattle and 
horse dealer. He also fed cattle which were used for market 
purposes. His farm was one of the best kept farms in Chester 
county, and he had everything running in a systematic 
routine. He was widely known in that section of the country, 
and commanded the respect of all with whom he came in 
contact. He was survived by his wife at the time of his 
death; she died in 1878, aged seventy-eight years. Mrs. 
Anderson was a daughter of John Workheiser, also a resident 
of Chester county. Mr. Workheiser was a hotel keeper and ran 
a farm at the same time. At one time he owned the old Valley 
Forge Hotel.
 
James Anderson (great-grandfather) was captain of a company 
in the Revolutionary war, and was also an aide to General 
Washington, and was one of Washington's most trusted men 
during those perilous times. During this war his weapon was 
a small brass muzzle-loading flintlock pistol, which his 
great-grandson, Matthias P. Anderson, owns as a relic, and 
he also has his great-grandfather's commission.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. John Workheiser: Tansen (Mrs. 
Pennypacker, who was the mother of General Pennypacker, of 
the late war, who enlisted as a private and returned home as 
a brigadier-general); Mary (Mrs. I. Thropp, whose son was a 
member of congress); John, a farmer; Anna (Mrs. J. S. 
Morey); Rebecca (Mrs. Joseph E. Anderson).

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Anderson: Mary, wife 
of A. A. Scofield. He is a prominent attorney of 
Philadelphia, and is one of the legal advisers of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad Company; he also served three terms in 
the legislature: David S., physician now located in Orlando, 
Florida; Rebecca, still single, and residing in Norristown; 
Isaac, a farmer, and in later years served in the post 
office at Philadelphia, and died in that city in 1902; 
Sarah, single and lives in Norristown; Everett, served three 
and a half years in the late rebellion; he enlisted as a 
private and returned first lieutenant; he received a bronze 
medal from the United States government as a reward for 
bravery; Carrie, single, resides in Norristown; Matthias P., 
the subject of this sketch; James Amos, who lives on the 
homestead farm. Most of the members of the family incline 
toward the Methodist church in religious faith.

Matthias P. Anderson remained at home with his parents until 
he was sixteen years of age, when he enlisted in Company H, 
Fifteenth Cavalry Regiment, and later received his honorable 
discharge and enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-Second 
Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served as a private 
for three years, and returned as a lieutenant. He was 
assigned to the southwestern department which was the last 
army to leave the Potomac. He saw hard service while there, 
and was in quite a number of skirmishes and also 
participated in some hard fought battles. He was stationed 
near Alexandria at the time of Lee's surrender. Mr. Anderson 
was never wounded nor captured, but at one time a piece of 
shell struck his knapsack and paralyzed him for the time 
being. He was promoted three times for exhibition of great 
bravery. He suffered great hardships from deprivation and 
exposure to the elements. He was mustered out at 
Parkersburg, Virginia, and returned to Philadelphia, where 
he received his honorable discharge. After his return home 
he resumed work on the farm, and with his brother engaged in 
the handling of stock in connection with his farming, which 
occupation he followed for several years.

In 1867 he married and settled permanently to farming, and 
in 1870 bought the farm where he yet lives, situated near 
the borough of Royersford, at which place he still carries 
on the drover business. His home is splendidly situated, and 
Mr. Anderson has made substantial improvements, having 
remodeled the entire farm buildings, and built and added to 
many of the outbuildings. The barn is built with all modern 
improvements for the raising of fine cattle, while the house 
has been added to considerably, with the addition of shade 
trees and other improvements. Mr. Anderson has planted trees 
in a large orchard which bear some very fine fruit. Mr. 
Anderson is a very good business man, enterprising and 
intelligent. In politics he favors the Republican party, but 
has never aspired to high public offices.
 
He has been school director, and all his children have 
received good educations. He is a member of G. A. R. Post, 
No. 45, of Phoenixville.

Mr. Anderson married Miss Anna Zimmerman, who was born in 
Upper Providence township, November 11, 1846. She is the 
daughter of Joshua and Rebecca (Bean) Zimmerman, both of 
Montgomery county. Joshua Zimmerman by occupation was a 
farmer and stock dealer, and shipper of Canadian horses. 
During the war he was loyal to his country, and was 
prominently identified with its interests. He died in 1887, 
and was preceded in death by his wife, she dying in the 
early 50's. Their children: George; Anna (wife of Mr. 
Anderson); Milton, Esquire of Collegeville; Ida (Mrs. F. 
Brunst) deceased.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson: Anna, wife of W. F. 
Custer, flour and feed merchant; Ida, practical and 
successful physician of Phoenixville, who has merited the 
confidence of the people and enjoys a lucrative practice. 
The parents as well as the daughters are members of the 
Lutheran church.


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