Catherine McCauley Anderson (1868-1929)

Hans Anderson (1867-1941)

Edited page of the 1920 US Censes for Lanesboro, South Dakota

At the time of the 1920’s US censes, Hans and Catherine Anderson were living on a farm in Lanesboro, South Dakota.  They resided there with their two children Laura (16), whose name was entered as Flora, and Waldermar (15).  According to Robert Anderson, Hans had purchased the 240-acre property in 1915 and kept a dozen milking cows.  Robert also told a story regarding that period of time that was passed on down through the Anderson family.

The farm also had a bull. By nature, they can be both aggressive and unpredictable.  One day will in the cattle pen, the bull becomes aggressive to Hans, colliding with him with such force as to ground him, with injuries that made it difficult to stand and pull himself out of the pen.  The family dog then went to work to keep the bull at bay so as not to inflict further hard to Hans. The dog continues to bark and protect his master. 

Catherine is working in the house, probably the kitchen as the neighbors of the time frequently praised her baking and cooking. Catherine hears the commotion that the dog is making and by that time maybe other animals are adding to the din.  She rushes to the pen to discover Hans injured on the ground and having difficulty exiting the pen.  Catherine arms herself with a metal rod, whether it is a rod discarded from a thresher or a tire iron, it is her source of protection.  Catherine enters the cattle pen with the dog still working to keep the bull at bay.  While approaching Hans the bull breaks to once more attack both Hans and Catherine.  With quick maneuvering Cathrine is able to meet the bull and strike a blow to his head. The blow is strong enough to break the end of the bulls horn off.  This action and the dogs continued vigilance, offer enough of a distraction for Catherine to assist Hans out of the cattle pen.   

Hans recovered from those injuries.  For both Catherine and Hans, this must have been a jarring event.  One takes for granted the seemingly low-level risks, until you are staring them directly in the face.  The adrenaline that must have run through their bodies.  Hans, injured, and desperately maneuvering away from an enraged bull to save his life. Catherine, alarmed to discovery and acting quickly to save her husband as her own personal risk. The dedication to their way of life and each other are apparent in this episode.  When your beloved is in danger, one does what they must.

My sincere appreciation to Robert Anderson, Catherine’s grandson, for taking the time to grant me an oral interview. During that conversation he shared this remarkable story. These are the antidotes that make the documented history come alive!