Anthony was born the oldest of six children to German immigrants. He had become a blacksmith and was still unmarried at the age of 38 when he accepted a contract to work in South Africa. 

He remained in South Africa for three years before making his way to England and buying third class passage on Titanic to return home. 

Anthony perished in the disaster. There was no mention of him in any testimony and his body, if recovered, was never identified.