Friday, March 6, 2009

"Long Ago, It Must Be; I Have A Photograph..."





These are pictures of my great-grandfather, George Edward Anderson, individually and with his family. He was born in Salt Lake City on October 28, 1860. My grandmother, Eva Anderson Noyes, was his oldest child, and she often told us stories about him, many replete with humor and adventure. I wish now that we had written down each one of these for posterity. He was apprenticed at the age of 17 to Charles R. Savage, a highly regarded photographer. Near that time, he married Olive Lowry and settled in Springfield, Utah, the town where my grandmother was born.

"Ed" Anderson was known as the "curly-haired bishop with a camera." He was a loving father to his children and would often invite one or more of them to travel short distances with him as he worked. Over his lifetime, he took many important historical photos for the Church and was, in fact, on an assignment in Arizona when he died of heart failure. He frequently traveled with church leaders to document significant places and events, and many of these photos can be found in the George Anderson Collection at BYU's Harold B. Lee Library.

Wasn't he a handsome man? He surely was a talented one, and my Grandma Noyes thought he was wonderful. 

"...Preserve your memories. They're all that's left you" (Paul Simon).

6 comments:

Em said...

sue! our families must have known each other!!! brigham young sent a note to my great grandfather, Otto Mehr, to settle springfield, utah. i wonder if your gr grandpa knew mine? how cool, we were meant to be friends sue!;-) also, they name "moab" and started to first post office there.

jen said...

Love the song reference. So perfect for this post.
It's weird how you can come to love relatives you never knew through their pictures and stories.
Yes, he was talented, and yes, he was handsome. Are you sure they were pioneers? Most pioneers took a few turns with the ugly stick. . .

Lisa Loo said...

Wow--cool! Famous ancestors! My husband's great-great grandfather was the man who drove the cart with the barrels of beans that Joseph Smith hid the plates in. But--I love old photos best--

Snarky Belle said...

Jen's comment made me laugh right out loud. But, it's true. Yes, he was very handsome. I absolutely love old photos. I also love the Paul Simon song quote.

Heather Anderson said...

I love the photos and to think he did all this before digital and photoshop :) I love the vintage photos and he did amazing work

Beck said...

He WAS a a handsome man! How lovely to have those.
My American relatives - my paternal grandfather and his people - are largely unknown to me, but thanks to the lovely internet, I know have pictures!