Martha Elizabeth Sodergren (Anderson) - first daughter of August and Carrie (Hauenstein) Sodergren

Martha Elizabeth Sodergren

Birth: 28 Jan 1908 in Olds, Henry, Iowa, USA
Death: 7 Sep 1985
Marriage: Elsworth (Andy) A. Anderson, 5 Dec 1932

Children (5) of Martha and Andy


They are the great, great, great grand-children of Peter Persson SODERGREN, the great, great grand-children of Peter Magnus Persson SODERGREN, great grand-children of Per (Peter) Johan (John) August SODERGREN, grand children of August Amon SODERGREN, and children of Martha Elizabeth (Sodergren) and Elsworth Anderson.

Elva Marie Anderson Waters - b: 1 JUN 1934 at Perry, IA - d:
Marriage: 10 OCT 1958 to Norman Richard Waters - b: 22 SEP 1932 at Crawfordsville, IA - d:
Children (2)
Jo Ellyn Sue Waters - b: 17 JUNE 1959 at Mt. Pleasant, IA - d:
Marriage: 28 JUNE 1980 to Robert D. Owens

Children (1)
Erin
Elizabeth - b: 31 MAY 1987
Scott Richard Waters - b: 28 AUG 1963 at Mt. Pleasant, IA - d:
Marriage: 11 APR 1987 to Peggy Alma Lynn Doyle - b: 13 JAN 1963

Alice May Anderson - Died at birth in 1936, buried Center Cemetary

Richard Leroy Anderson
- b: 7 JUL 1938 - d:
Marriage: 24 SEP 1965 to Jeanette Marie Mangler

Children (4)
John M
Tammie
Mark
Paul


John Robert Anderson - b: 5 MAR 1940 - d: 12 MAY 1981 - buried at Silent City Cemetary, Monroe, Iowa
Marriage: 29 FEB 1964 to Clara Margaret Vaught

Baby boy Anderson, died at birth in 1945, buried Center Cemetary


Martha E. Sodergren Anderson
Olds IA Henry County
Bio:
Martha Elizabeth Sodergren Anderson was born to August and Carrie Hauenstein Sodergren on January 28, 1908 on a farm in Wayne Township County of Henry near the town of Olds, Iowa. Martha had a sister, Esther Blanche Sodergren Duncan, born on September 7, 1912 at the same location. Esther died of Leukemia on December 1, 1984.

Martha attended her grade and high school years in Olds, Iowa where she graduated from Olds Consolidated High School in May 1926. She attended Iowa State College from fall quarter 1926 thru winter quarter 1929, where she stayed in Margaret Hall. Margaret Hall has been torn down, and the present Home Economics building was extended to the area which previously had been the sight of Margaret Hall. Martha majored in Home Economics and was a member of the group of girls who was known as, "The Gang."

The gang's members were Martha Sodergren Anderson, Martha Canby, Cory Osa Young, Cory Giddeon, Esther Bakehouse, Fern White, Alice Whetstone, Soultz (Marion) Hilda Block, Marian Isminger Branson, and Nadine Drayer. Martha then transferred to Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls for spring and summer of 1929 in order to begin her teaching career. Martha taught at Toddville, Stanwood, Crawfordsville, Consolidated Winfield-Mt. Union WACO, and Mt. Pleasant Community Schools.

Martha married Elsworth A. Anderson on December 5, 1932 in Elizabeth, Illinois. To this union was born five children: a daughter, Elva Marie Anderson Waters, on June 1, 1934; a stillborn daughter in 1936; a son, Richard Leroy Anderson, on July 7, 1938; another son, John Robert Anderson, born on March 5, 1940 (and died on May 12 1981); a stillborn son in 1945. J. Robert Anderson worked in the business office at Iowa State University while his wife Clara was attending and graduating from Iowa State University. Martha taught home economics, second grade, and special education. She graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1963. Later, she continued her education at the University of Iowa, working on a Master's degree.
Martha had six grandchildren: John M. Tammie; Mark and Paul Anderson; and Jo Ellyn Waters Owens, a graduate of Iowa State University in Accounting in 1981; a grandson-in-law, Robert D. Owens, graduated from Iowa State University in Construction Engineering in May 1984; and a grandson, Scott Richard Waters, who attended Iowa State University for three years.
Jo Ellyn, Robert and Erin Owens Scott Waters, and daughter Elva Anderson Waters are the ones responsible for the brick with Martha E. Sodergren Anderson's name and donation to the "Carrie Chapman Catt Foundation."

Martha's most proud moment was when she had three grandchildren go to Iowa State University and graduate. Martha found it necessary to graduate from another college, but her true love was always ISU, and if she were alive today (she died Sept. 7 1985 on her sister's birthday from Pancreatic Cancer), she would be overwhelmed with joy at being one of more than 2,500 women honored in "The Plaza of Heroines", honoring the renovation of "Old Botany" on the Iowa State University campus.

-By Elva Anderson Waters 5/95
Honored by: Jo Ellyn, Robert and Erin Owens Scott Waters, and daughter Elva Anderson
Brick Location Section: E Row: 5

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