William A. Anderson (October 19, 1873 – December 12, 1954) was a politician and judge who served as the 30th mayor of Minneapolis.

Life and career

Anderson was born to Daniel and Cynthia Anderson on October 19, 1873 in Adams County, Wisconsin. After working as a teacher for several years, he moved to Minneapolis in 1909 to work in the grain milling industry. He attended the

Northwestern College of Law The Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College (also known as Lewis & Clark Law School), is an American Bar Association-approved private law school in Portland, Oregon. The law school received ABA approval in 1970 and joined the Ass ...

and was admitted to the bar in 1914. After graduating he became a law professor and also became involved in politics, winning election to the Minneapolis Park Board in 1916. In 1919, North Dakota governor

Lynn Frazier Lynn Joseph Frazier (December 21, 1874January 11, 1947) was an American educator and politician who served as the 12th Governor of North Dakota from 1917 until being recalled in 1921 and later served as a U.S. Senator from North Dakota from 192 ...

asked Anderson to relocate there to support the development of the

North Dakota Mill and Elevator The North Dakota Mill and Elevator is the largest flour mill in the United States. It is located in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Established by the state government when it was led by Nonpartisan League representatives, it is the only ...

(citing Anderson's experience in both grain milling and law). He later served as the Assistant

North Dakota Attorney General The North Dakota Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the North Dakota state government. The Attorney General's office represents the state government in court cases and issues opinions of points of law upon request. Drew Wrigley was appo ...

and the secretary of the state's industrial commission. While working there, Anderson also became involved in the formation of the

Nonpartisan League The Nonpartisan League (NPL) was a left-wing political party founded in 1915 in North Dakota by Arthur C. Townley, a former organizer for the Socialist Party of America. On behalf of small farmers and merchants, the Nonpartisan League advocate ...

. He returned to Minnesota in the mid-1920s and formed a law practice. In 1931, he was elected mayor of Minneapolis as a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party. Anderson ran on a law and order platform pledging to improve the performance of the city's police department. During his term he refused to interfere in the Arthur and Edith Lee House race rioting, and banned the play ''Crazy Quilt'' starring

Fanny Brice Fania Borach (October 29, 1891 – May 29, 1951), known professionally as Fanny Brice or Fannie Brice, was an American comedienne, illustrated song model, singer, and theater and film actress who made many stage, radio, and film appearances. S ...

from being performed in the city. In 1933, he was challenged for mayor by local theater promoter

A. G. Bainbridge Alexander Gilbert "Buzz" Bainbridge (September 4, 1885 – March 14, 1936) was a theater manager who also served as the 31st List of mayors of Minneapolis, mayor of Minneapolis. Life and career Bainbridge was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in ...

and was defeated. Following his tenure as mayor, he went on to work with the state's income tax department and as a special investigator with the state tax commission. He was appointed a municipal judge in 1936 and a district court judge in 1943. Anderson retired from his judgeship in 1952 and died at his home in Minneapolis in 1954. He is buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, William A. 20th-century mayors of places in Minnesota People from Adams County, Wisconsin Mayors of Minneapolis Minnesota state court judges Methodists from Minnesota 20th-century Methodists 1873 births 1954 deaths Minnesota Farmer–Laborites