Jefferson and Mariah Anderson were slaves on a plantation in Mississippi. They were the parents of several children, one of whom was Rev. Daniel Anderson. He was a dedicated servant of God who preached an uncompromising gospel. He stressed the importance of the presence of God in any worthwhile undertaking. Late in the 1800’s Daniel Anderson was married to Sophia. So deeply were their roots established in the Southland and its potentials that not only did they acquire a large farm in Lexington Mississippi, but also purchased a beautiful, white colonial mansion for Priscilla Plummer, his mother-in-law (mother of Sophia). This house was previously the home of a plantation owner who doubtless at one time was a slave owner. Sophia cooked on a fireplace, ironed with charcoal heated flat irons, made soap and let her children and grandchildren play in the old slave quarters.

Priscilla Plummer was a unique lovable person who possessed a wealth of compassion for humanity. As a midwife she possessed a God-given talent for ushering new life into the world.

The marriage of Rev. Daniel Anderson to Sophia Thomas brought together two families, both possessing those qualities that were as essential to a struggling race as life itself. Rev. Anderson was the highly esteemed Pastor of the Pine Grove Baptist Church, near Lexington for forty years. His brother Dennis Anderson was also a dynamic minister and spiritual leader.

Aside from his ministerial responsibilities, Rev. Daniel Anderson possessed amazing talent as a horse doctor. This talent was a great demand in this new era, at a time when animal power was in such great demand in the operation of the farms. Rev. Anderson later taught this invaluable trait to one of his sons, Matthew who also became a very efficient animal doctor.

Sophia Thomas Anderson was a patient, virtuous, Christian woman. Her brother, Buddy Milton, was also a minister of the gospel. Her roots extended deeply into Christianity. Thus with involvement of the Anderson and Thomas families in the spiritual needs of a struggling people, it is obvious that this marriage was the divine will of God. Their subsequent fruitfulness of the family fulfilled the Creator’s command that was issued to all mankind in the Garden of Eden.

In order that the seeds might multiply, Daniel and Sophia Anderson became the proud parents of 16 children; Reginald (Buddy), Millie, Walter, Dewitt (Big Dee), Priscilla (Hun), Charles Spurgeon (Baby), Jay Gould, Fannie, Matthew (Booten), Ezell, Jefferson Davis (Jeff), Annie (Coats), Willie D. (Dea or Son), Zee Alfin (Coot), Houston (Jack). A pair of twins died at birth. Almighty God saw fit to call Jay Gould and Fannie to be with him while they were at an early age.

The children of Daniel and Sophia Anderson were well equipped with the spiritual guidance provided by their parents. They were also made aware of the necessity of education and good citizenship in order to be an asset to a budding, new society that had just opened its doors to receive the dark-skinned children of God. Imbued with an inherent determination to succeed, they set out in search of the light of freedom that could be seen far ahead at the end of the tunnel. They could also see obstacles and tribulations that threatened their goal. But undaunted they forged ahead. After preparing themselves in the field of education, four of them, Millie, Priscilla, Walter D., and Zee Alfin, became teachers in order that they might help prepare others to show the way to a utopian work.