Page 27 - John Anderson

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at the old Portland Academy, then in charge of Principal Bezaleel
Cushman. When about nine years old, John5 F. Anderson and his
brother Samuel5 J. were sent to a private home-school at Cape
Elizabeth, Maine. Afterwards he attended school under the instruction
of Master Francis G. Clark, in Portland. In 1838 and 1839 he
attended Gorham Academy, under the tuition of Principal Amos
Brown. While here, he lived in the family of his father's sister, Mrs.
Ann, wife of Dr. John Waterman. Gorham Academy was at that time
one of the most notable schools in the State, and secured the
patronage of many of Maine's best families. Among Mr. Anderson's
schoolmates here, were many highly distinguished men, including his
brother General Samuel J. Anderson, Chief Justice John A. Peters,
Honorable Samuel F. Perley, Reverend George M. Adams, D.D.,
Honorable John A. Waterman, and Ex-Governor Fredrick Eobie.
In 1850 the Portland and Kennebec Junction Railroad was built under
his direction, and the same year he was appointed assistant engineer
of the York and Cumberland Railroad. He was chief engineer and
acting superintendent of the same road from 1851 to 1853. In 1852
he was appointed city engineer of Portland. In 1867 the increasing
energy that began to be shown in railroad enterprises claimed Mr.
Anderson's ability and experience. He was offered the position of
chief engineer of the Portland and Rochester Railroad in that year. In
1869 he was appointed chief engineer of the Portland and
Ogdensburg Railroad, and in that office, which he held at the time of
his death, he found the great work of his life.
John5 Farwell Anderson also had great pleasure in antiquarian (one
who studies antiquities) and historical studies. He was a diligent
collector of facts, records, and relics of local history. He was an active
member of the Maine Historical Society, was active in forming the
Maine Genealogical Society, was its first president, and instrumental
in establishing the Maine Genealogical Recorder, and furnished much
material and several articles for it. He was interested in the history of
the town of Windham, and the genealogy of its families. In the family
history of New England he was very proficient.
He was married, March 30, 1847, to Marcia Winter, daughter of
Captain Samuel Winter, of Portland, and adopted daughter of Dr.
John Merrill, of Portland. Marcia survived his death, December 25,
1887, with three daughters.

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