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Copied from [[Goodspeed's Northwestern Arkansas]], Biographical Appendix for Franklin County.

Robert M. Anderson, farmer and stock raiser, was born in LaFayette County, Miss., August 4, 1839. His father, William Anderson, was born and reared in Tennessee. When a young man he went to Mississippi, and there married Nancy C. Smith, a native of Mississippi, who died in that State in 1854. In 1867 Mr. Anderson left his farm in Mississippi, and coming to Arkansas located in Boston Township, Franklin County, where he lived until his death in 1874. He enlisted in the first company of cavalry which left Mississippi during the war, and served until the end as a private. To himself and wife three sons and three daughters were born, all save one sister, now deceased, being residents of Franklin County. Robert M. Anderson passed his youth in Mississippi, and in 1861 enlisted in the First Mississippi Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war, when the regiment was disbanded at Gainesville, Ala., May 12, 1865. He fought in a number of skirmishes, but the only battle of importance in which he participated was that of Corinth. In 1859 he was married in Mississippi to Susan E. Slaughter, a native of Georgia, who died in 1862. After the war Mr. Anderson farmed in Mississippi, and in 1863 married his first wife's sister, Amanda, a native of Alabama, and daughter of Butler Slaughter. Mr. Anderson now has a family of ten children: Newton F., married; Laura, wife of William Spicer; W. E.; Hulett, married; W. G., married; R. Ira, A. H., Emma D., Lillie M. and Idus C. In 1867, in company with his father's family, Mr. Anderson immigrated to Franklin County, Ark., and two years later moved upon the farm he now owns, which he proceeded to clear and improve. He has 160 acres, ninety being under cultivation, and his house and out-buildings are commodious and comfortable. His orchard contains 700 peach and 100 apple trees. Mr. Anderson is a prominent man in the politics of his township. In 1873 he was elected county supervisor, and the following year made justice of the peace, to which position he has since been elected at different times. He has often served several terms in succession, and is now completing a second term. He has been a member of the school board a number of years, and was appointed by the Governor to represent his county in the board of equalization. In polities he is a Democrat. He is an active member of the Free-will Baptist Church, of which his wife is also a member.