James Sibree Anderson was born on Christmas day, 1841 near Glasgow, Scotland. In 1852, he settled with his family in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Anderson enlisted in April 1861 as a private in Co. A., 5th Wisconsin Infantry and served until July 1864 being thrice wounded and twice promoted, to corporal and sergeant.
An 1870 graduate from Lawrence College at Appleton, Anderson studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1871. He served as police judge and city attorney of Manitowoc, Wisconsin assemblyman in 1889, and county judge of Manitowoc County, 1895 to 1901.
Anderson was also a well known public speaker and writer as evidenced by presentations and accounts of his Civil War experiences and his work as editor of the Manitowoc Lake Shore Times from 1883-1886 and as author of Pioneer Courts and Lawyers of Manitowoc County, Wis. (1921). Anderson's paper, “Indians and Indian Remains of Manitowoc County,” was published in the Wisconsin Archeologist and also in the Wisconsin Historical Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
