Captain Robert Sanders Anderson, youngest son of John I. and Maridley Mayo Anderson, was born in Pulaski County, July 7, 1842. When just a boy he enlisted in Company K, 49th Georgia Infantry, Lee’s Army, of the War Between the States. In a short time, for his bravery, he was commissioned First Lieutenant, then Captain, and at the close of the war was acting as Colonel, his colonel having been killed in battle. At the Seven Days’ Battle, near Richmond, the latter part of June, 1862, he was wounded in the arm, but was soon back with his company. At the Battle of the Wilderness, on May 6, 1864, he was again wounded.
While home on a furlough, he was married on August 3, 1864, to Charity Frances Brown, daughter of James Williams and Janie Kendrick Brown. The heart of this young bride of seventeen was touched by the needs of the Southern soldiers, and she was active in all war relief work. On one occasion she furnished the uniform of the chaplain of her husband’s company in order that he might continue his good work among the soldiers of that company.
Captain Anderson was with Lee at the surrender at Appomattox on April 12, 1865, at which time he was presented with his sword, which has remained a cherished possession of this family.
The railroads having been demolished and all transportation closed, he was forced to walk the entire journey home to his young wife. With slaves and fortunes swept away, under new conditions, they started anew in the old home of his mother, the Mayo homestead, where Jefferson Davis was in hiding during the war.
Eleven children were born of this union: Robert Williams, John Inlow, Hardy Brown, Lawrence Mayo, James Thomas, Cora Frances (Mrs. J. W. Arnold), Ora Geraldine (Mrs. J. N. Hardin), Edwin Holmes, Janie (Mrs. J. I. Cofield), Mary Valenteen (Mrs. 0. L. Reeves), Lillian Lucille (Mrs. C. S. Glisson).
Captain Anderson served as Sheriff of Pulaski County for several years. His health failing, he retired to the farm and died April 7, 1887. Again the young wife was left, this time alone and brokenhearted. Nobly she took up the broken threads and bravely did her part, imbuing into the souls of her children the principles of right living. She reared them to be grown, four preceding her to the grave. She died as she had lived-a devoted and earnest Christian July 5, 1921.
Only four of these children are living today, the youngest of whom is Lillian Lucille, who resides in Hawkinsville. Her husband, Charles Stedman Glisson, was born and reared in North Carolina. Realizing the wonderful advantages of Pulaski County, he moved here in 1914, where he has since lived. They have five children: C. S. Glisson, Jr., a doctor in New York City; Lillian Lucille (Mrs. R. L. Ruff), of Atlanta; James Robert, Mildred Angelyn, and Frederick Merle.