When Samuel Anderson was born on 15 May 1854, in Kentucky, United States, his father, William M. Anderson, was 45 and his mother, Rebecca Dale, was 43. He married Fannie Freedom Thompson on 31 December 1882, in Portis, Osborne, Kansas, United States. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 5 daughters. He lived in Marion Township, Harrison, Missouri, United States in 1870 and Grant Township, Osborne, Kansas, United States in 1915. He died on 20 March 1934, at the age of 79, and was buried in Alton, Osborne, Kansas, United States.