John Holden Anderson was born July 9, 1884, at Ogilville, Indiana (or Columbus, Indiana – sources differ), the son of Perry and Sarah (Cooper) Anderson. He attended grade school until 1897, then had Special Academic status at Moore’s Hill College, where he was credited with a high school equivalency. In 1912 he married Mattie Jane Rose (1883-1920). Their children were Virginia Mae (born 1915), Hazel Marjorie (born 1916), and Paul Leroy (born 1919). In 1921, after Mattie’s death, he married Alma Kenner Clay (1884-1965). He was received on trial in the Indiana Conference in 1911 and received into full membership and ordained Deacon in 1914. He was ordained Elder in 1917. Rev. Anderson served the following appointments in Indiana: Sellersburg Circuit (1911-1915); Valonia (1915-1916); Cortland (1916-1919); East Columbus (1919-1921); Pimento (1921-1922); Monroe City (1922-1924). He transferred to the Kansas Conference and served the following charges: Woodbine (1924-1925); Wilsey (1925-1929); Allen (1929-1930); Meriden (1930-1931); Fulton (1931-1937); Princeton and Union Chapel (1937-1940); Westphalia (1940-1941); Westphalia-Harris-McCabe-Mt. Ida (1941-1943); LaCygne, McCabe and Lancaster (1943-1957). After his retirement in 1957 he served Prescott and Mantey (1957-1964) and Mantey (1964). Rev. Anderson died on February 20, 1965, at Fort Scott. He was buried at Prescott Cemetery in Prescott, Linn County, Kansas.

Note written by Sarah St. John