Hans Alfred Anderson was born in Sonfjord, Norway, on March 4, 1855 and immigrated with his family to the United States and Trempealeau County, Wisconsin in 1867. On December 10, 1877 he married Oline Fristad. Largely self educated he passed the state teacher's examination. Struck with a desire to study law, he left for the University of Wisconsin in 1887, having by now a family with four children. He completed the two-year course in one year, and passed his bar examination in 1888.
Mr. Anderson returned to Trempealeau County in 1888 to become one of its most esteemed citizens, attaining the positions of state assemblyman, county judge, and district attorney. Judge Anderson was also the founder of the Trempealeau County Historical Society. He died on October 9, 1939 in Whitehall, Wisconsin, where he had spent most of his life.
