Husband of Louisa M.(Button) 31 March 1861, San Bernardino,CA.(1842-1868)*

Father of 2 daughters
Mariette Anderson Survis (1862-1947)*

Married to Elizabeth Mathis(1852-1871)*
Father of
Lavina Jane Anderson (1869 - 1870)*


Married to Elvira Jane Mathis Anderson(1854-1932)*in San Bernardino, CA May 2, 1871
Father of
Francis Marion Anderson(1872-1948)*
Anna Louisa Anderson Heath(1873-1870)*
William Wesley Anderson(1877-1951)*
James Clarence Anderson(1880-1941)*
Ernest Ingersoll Anderson(1883-1934)*
Elizabeth Elinor Anderson Welton(1887-1939)*


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Reuben James Anderson was born in the Mohawk Valley of New York, in 1831, to William and Lavina Anderson. At the age of 22, he took ship to California and arrived in San Francisco in 1853. He went directly from San Francisco to San Bernardino.

Whether Reuben was a part of the Mormon movement when he left New York is unknown, but he certainly had strong connections with the Mormon community after he arrived in San Bernardino. The Mormon's had an established colony in San Bernardino between 1851 and 1857; and apparently, Reuben is hauling supplies between Southern California and Utah after his arrival in Southern California. In the 1860 U.S. census, Reuben is listed with the household of Montgomery Evans Button in Beaver, Utah and he is working as a teamster. The Buttons are members of the Mormon Church, and Reuben marries their daughter, Louisa Button, on March 31, 1861.

Reuben and Louisa had two daughters before Louisa died in August 1867. Reuben's second wife is Elizabeth Mathis; she belongs to another Mormon family. They are married September 20, 1868, but she dies in late 1870 or early 1871. She is listed in the 1870 census (June 1870) and Reuben marries for the third time on May 2, 1871. His last wife is Elizabeth's sister, Elvira Jane Mathis. Reuben and Elvira have six children. All three of Reuben's marriages take place in California.

In 1870, Reuben purchases 18 acres of land located a half mile from San Bernardino on the Base Line. His first home was destroyed by fire in 1895 and he rebuilds with a cottage of five rooms and a bathroom. He became a school trustee in 1868. He worked as a teamster, miner and farmer while in California. He was a sufficiently prominent citizen to have a biography included in a 1907 book on the history of Southern California.

Reuben died in 1912 and is buried in Pioneer Cemetery in San Bernardino, although only the general location of the grave is known. His first wife Louisa is also buried in Pioneer Cemetery; the burial location of his second wife, Elizabeth, is unknown; she is not listed in the records of Pioneer Cemetery. Elvira is buried in Glendale, California.

Sources:
History of the State of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, 1907, page 2161
US Censuses 1860-1910
California, County Marriages, 1850-1952
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In California he is listed in the old fort as Anderson- Before that he is listed as Lingenfelter. The connection between Reuben James and his parents was not easily established. For some unknown reason, Reuben changed his surname from Lingenfelter to Anderson.

There are several bits of evidence that support a connection between Reuben and his parents, but not conclusively. Reuben’s biography appears in a 1907 History of Southern California; according to the biography he moved to California in 1853. In California he uses the surname Anderson, not Lingenfelter. The biography identifies his parents as William Anderson, born New York; and Lavina Simmons, born Rhode Island. His own birth place is given as the Mohawk Valley of New York State. This account matches fairly well with William and Lavina Lingenfelter, other than the difference in surname.

Reuben is a name used repeatedly in the Seamans Family; Lavina’s father and grandfather were named Reuben. Reuben James names one of his daughters Lavina Jane. In addition, Reuben’s birth date fits well with the 1840 Census.

However, the definitive proof of the connection between Reuben James and his parents comes from DNA technology. DNA test results link Reuben’s GG Grandson to both the Lingenfelter and Seamans families.

_____......per Find A Grave contributor Anonymous.........