The Biographical Dictionary of America/Anderson, Elbert Ellery

ANDERSON, Elbert Ellery, lawyer, was born in New York city, Oct. 31, 1833, and was graduated at Harvard college, 1852. He was admitted to the bar in 1854, and practised in New York city. He was one of three commissioners appointed by President Cleveland to examine into the relations of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways to the U. S. government, and wrote the majority report. He was for several years counsel to the committee which conducted successfully the re-organization of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railway. He was originally a member of Tammany hall, but defected and aided in forming the county democracy, co-operating in the movement with W. C. Whitney, Abram S. Hewitt and Edward Cooper. In 1894 he was made receiver of the Chicago, Peoria, and St. Louis railroad. After determining the condition of the road he resigned the receivership in order to save to the creditors the expense of his salary, which was $6000 a year. In 1875 he was chosen one of the trustees of the public schools of New York city. He died in New York city, Feb. 24, 1903.