COL George Wayne Anderson

COL George Wayne Anderson was born 10 Jul 1863 in Edgehill, Virginia in Albemarle county. He was the 2nd of the 5 children of Edward Clifford and Jane Margaret (Randolph) Anderson. His father was from Savannah, Georgia and at the time of George's birth his father was serving as a Major in the 7th Georgia Cavalry (CSA) ultimately rising to the rank of Colonel and commanding the regiment. His mother from Edgehill and was a granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson. After the war his father returned to the business of banking and served for a time as mayor of Savannah dying of yellow fever in 1876.

George educated in private schools before attending and graduating from the University of Virginia and the University School of Law in 1888. He moved to Richmond to practice law and lived there the rest of his life. George married Estelle Marguerite Burthe on 19 Dec 1889. The couple would have 3 children. He joined the Virginia militia (not yet the National Guard) in 1890 as a 2LT but was already a CPT in May 1891 commanding F Company 1st Virginia Regiment resigning in March 1895 as ordered by the Adjutant General of Virginia. However, by November of that year he was a LTC and in May 1898 became commander of the 1st Virginia Regiment as it mobilized for the Spanish-American War but did not receive a command in any of the 4 Virginia Regiments sent to Federal service. He became active in politics and was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1899 where he supported a constitutional convention. Promoted to Colonel and assigned as commander of th 70th Virginia Regiment in 1900, he would serve in that position until 1906 when he retired from military service. He was then elected to the state Senate in 1901. George was city attorney of Richmond, Virginia 1921-1922 when he died of cancer on 30 Dec of that year. He was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

Both sons served in the first World War. 1LT Edward Clifford Anderson served in the 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Division and was awarded the Silver Star medal. CPT George Wayne Anderson Jr. was serving with the 313th Field Artillery 80th Division when he was killed in action on 1 Nov 1918.

George has his own Wikipedia page!