James Watson D. Anderson was born on March 3, 1859, in the Kansas Territory, the son of Watson Gates and Beulah Jane (Jeffrey) Anderson. He received his education in the public schools of Kansas and became a teacher at the age of sixteen, later attending a normal institute in Burlington, Kansas, to receive a teaching certificate. In 1879 he received his Exhorter’s License from the Emporia District of the South Kansas Conference. His first appointments were as a supply minister in the Welda circuit (including Garnett) in 1881-1882 and in the Moran circuit in 1882-1883. On June 14, 1881, he married Harmine Donnerberge (sometimes spelled Donnerberg or Donnerburg) (1860-1935) at Yates Center, Kansas. Their children were Espar, Agnes Anne, and Jerome Louis. In 1883, the members of the Quarterly Conference of the Moran Circuit recommended him to be admitted on trial in the travelling connection of the South Kansas Conference. He was the minister at New Albany from 1883 to 1885. Rev. Anderson moved to Baldwin, Kansas, where he attended Baker University while serving as a supply pastor to the Baldwin circuit. After graduating in 1889 with the degrees of A. B. and A. M., he served in Elk City (1889-1891) and Neosho Falls (1891-1892). He then transferred from the South Kansas Conference to the Black Hills Mission Conference and served there for two years. While serving the South Dakota churches, he also pursuing a course of study of English literature under the direction of the faculty of Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, earning a Ph.D. in 1893. Rev. Anderson was considered the most popular preacher in the Black Hills mission conference. At an annual conference held at Spearfish, South Dakota, he was referred to as “the silver tongued orator of the Black Hills.” He then transferred to Omaha, Nebraska, where he was appointed associate editor of the Omaha Christian Advocate, a position he held until his death. One of Rev. Anderson’s hobbies was the collection of Kansas books. Before his death this collection passed into the library at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He also published the Kansas Methodist Pulpit and was a Chautauqua speaker on English literature. While at Omaha he contracted the measles and died on March 21, 1894. By his request, his body was taken to Baldwin -- where his widow and surviving children were to make their home -- and buried in Oakwood Cemetery. [Sources: James Watson D. Anderson collection, no. 257, State archives, Kansas Historical Society; The Gazette, Friday, March 30, 1894, Page 2.]

Note written by Sarah St. John