Author. Born the third of seven children of Erwin and Emma Anderson in Camden, Ohio. Anderson attended school intermittently, while helping to support the family by working at various odd jobs. He finally left school at fourteen and worked as a laborer until at seventeen he enlisted in the army and served during the Spanish-American War. After his service he returned to Ohio before he moved to Chicago where he took a job in advertising and indulged in radical political views. His first novel, ‘Windy Mcpherson’s Son’ was published in 1916, to be followed by ‘Marching Men,’ in 1917 and perhaps his most famous work, ‘Winesburg, Ohio’ in 1919. In 1921 Anderson received the first Dial Award for his contribution to American literature. His only best seller, ‘Dark Laughter’ was released in 1925. He traveled extensively before settling in Marion, Virginia where in 1927 he bought both of the town’s weekly newspapers and served as editor for two years. His later novels such as ‘Beyond Desire’ published in 1932 and ‘Death in the Woods’ published in 1933 failed to achieve either critical or popular success. On an unofficial good-will tour to South America, Anderson died of peritonitis at Christobal, Canal Zone, Panama. His memoirs and letters were published posthumously in 1969’s ‘The Memoirs of Sherwood Anderson.’ (bio by: Iola)  Family links:  Parents:  Irwin McLain Anderson (1845 – 1919)  Spouses:  Elizabeth Norma Prall Anderson (1884 – 1976)*  Eleanor Gladys Copenhaver Anderson (1896 – 1985)*  Cornelia Platt Lane Anderson (1877 – 1967)*  Children:  Robert Lane Anderson (1907 – 1951)*  Marion Anderson Spear (1911 – 1996)* *Calculated relationship