Matthew Anderson was born in Virginia about 1790 and moved into Tennessee where he had one known son, Felix A. E. Anderson.  He moved to Monroe County, Mississippi.  His wife died and he went to Texas to join the army of the Republic at the age of 47 as a private in Capt. Moore’s Company "D" Regiment Rangers in 1837 and served until 1838.  He received 1280 acres of land for his service in the war and two of the tracts of land were in Shelby County, Texas.  He and his son, Felix, and family came to settle near Shelbyville, Texas.  His son bought a store there in the Hamilton community and later deeded it to his son-in-law, William H. Crawford.  Matthew lived with his son and family until his death about 1856 at the age of 66.

Othodell Smith, Descendant