Robert Sanders Anderson (1809-1881)

Josiah Jordan Anderson was the fifth or sixth child of Robert Sanders Anderson (1809-1881)|Robert S. Anderson]] and Sallie Wooten. He was known as "Joe" or "J. J.".  He served in the Civil War under his brother Capt. Ruel W. Anderson as a private and guidon (flagbearer).  Their unit, Co. B of the 14th GA Light Artillery, was known as "Anderson's Battery".  It saw significant action before he joined on February 27, 1864, shortly before he turned 18.  He joined a group of veterans of Murfreesboro, Tullahoma Campaign, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga and Chattanooga.  He would serve with them as they fought in and around Atlanta, during the Savannah Campaign, including the Battle of Griswoldville, and finally in the Carolinas Campaign.  A biography of him makes note of his actions during Griswoldville.  With the flagpole "shot to splinters", Joe rashly decided to stand on his horse and wave the flag where it could be seen. Quickly, the horse was shot down, landing on Joe's legs. Thinking him dead, his fellows removed the horse and Joe rose up, took the flag and proceeded to continue waving it as high as he could. After the war, Joe married Miss Laura Shepard of Hayneville in neighboring Houston Co. He settled into life as a large landowner and planter. While his brother Ruel became the town's most prominent businessman, Joe was content to stick to his roots. He and Laura had six living children and numerous grandchildren. His bio states that he and Laura "left a rich legacy of an honorable and useful life."

Children

 * colspan="5" bgcolor="#FFfce0" |Josiah Jordan Anderson and Laura L. Shepard
 * colspan="5" bgcolor="#FFfce0" |Josiah Jordan Anderson and Laura L. Shepard