Henry O. Anderson, born November 15, 1842, in Sweden, emigrated to the United States in 1866 after completing a cabinetmaking apprenticeship in Norway. He initially settled in Wisconsin, later moving to Yankton, South Dakota, in 1870, where he became involved in public affairs and served in the state legislature. After various ventures, including a successful planing mill, Anderson moved to Sturgis in 1884. There, he established a flourishing hardware and furniture business, H. O. Anderson & Son, with his son Albert. Anderson was active in local politics and community organizations. He married Inga M. Nordgran in 1867.
Henry O. Anderson is a native of Sweden, born November 15, 1842, and in his native land, he grew to the age of eighteen and received his education. At the age named, he moved to Norway, where he remained five years and served his apprenticeship at cabinetmaking. In 1866, he emigrated to the United States and located for a year at Waupun, Wisconsin, then moved to Neenah, in the same state, where he remained three years working at his trade. In the spring of 1870, he came to South Dakota and took up his residence at Yankton, having made a trip through this section in the previous fall for inspection. He took up land near Yankton, but while developing it, worked at his trade, living in the city. He at once became active in the public affairs of the county in which he lived and in 1873 was elected to the lower house of the state legislature and was re-elected at the end of his term, being the candidate of the Republican party. During the last two years of his residence there, he was engaged in conducting a meat market and butchering business. In the spring of 1876, he left Yankton for the Black Hills, making the trip by way of Pierre and settling at Deadwood where he worked at his trade for a year. The next spring, he returned to Yankton and formed a partnership with three other men for the purpose of installing and conducting a planing mill in the Hills. This was known as the Gayville Planing Mill and was a profitable undertaking. Mr. Anderson was connected with it until 1883, when he sold his interest and in 1884, he moved to Sturgis, putting up a frame house for business where his business block now stands. He formed a partnership with J. G. Wenke and together they carried on an extensive hardware trade until 1889, when Mr. Anderson bought his partner out and after that, until 1891, he conducted the business alone. It grew in magnitude and flourished to such an extent that in 1893 he was obliged to enlarge the store, which he did by erecting a brick store on the adjoining lot and then added a stock of furniture to what he already had and also opened high-grade undertaking parlors. In the autumn of 1891, he took his son Albert into partnership with him and the firm name became H. O. Anderson & Son. The establishment is one of the largest and most progressive in this portion of the state and is a popular emporium for everything in its various lines of trade. The firm is also extensively engaged in the stock industry, having a large and well-developed ranch on Elk Creek. He has always taken an active and patriotic interest in politics on the Republican side, and although averse to public life in every way, consented once to serve the town as mayor, but he has here steadfastly declined to become a candidate for any other office. On November 15, 1867, he was married to Miss Inga M. Nordgran, a native of Sweden, the marriage occurring at Neenah, Wisconsin, during his residence there. They have two children, Albert and Edna. Mr. Anderson belongs to the Odd Fellows and the United Workmen, holding his membership in the lodges of these orders at Sturgis.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.