Buchanan Stories and events in family history

Buchanan Overview:

Janet is a Buchanan, one of the oldest of the Scottish/Irish clan names. Clan Buchanan is a worldwide group of people claiming the Buchanan surname. Since before the advent of writing, since before Christianity, since before anyone kept records of anything, Janet’s people were in the Irish and Scottish territories in the British Isles. The name Buchanan itself dates back with some degree of authenticity to the mid 13th Century . Depending on your tolerance for historical research without a lot of proof points, Buchanan flows back to approximately the year 1035 A.D. in Scotland, but the precursors to the name go back as far as anything in genealogical history. Related to the Irish Kings, there are lines that are traced with varying degrees of authenticity back as far as your tolerance for educated guess, mythology, and legend will take you.

The Ancestral Castle of the Buchanan Clan in Scotland. No Buchanan’s ever lived there. It's part of the Clan lore of the Buchanan's. The roof was removed in the late 1800’s to avoid paying property taxes, hence the castle fell in to ruins. Dumb idea. Even though it's called Buchanan Castle, it has little to do with the Buchanans at all.

Because Buchanan is an ancient and honorable surname it has been searched and researched by many lineage societies, including the International Clan Buchanan. This brings great benefits to families seeking their place in the Buchanan universe of names. It means if one can research only about 8 generations of ancestors with care and accuracy one can then link up with a member of the Clan Buchanan that has already been vetted all the way back to the source of the surname. It is similar in nature to researching a name that will hook up with one of the Royal bloodlines. One doesn't need to prove the whole line back to a King, one just needs to prove a pathway to a gateway ancestor that is already proven. I say you need about 8 generations of research because I happen to find a gateway ancestor at the 8th generation. You may find one sooner, or much later in the chain. Our gateway ancestor is Samuel Buchanan, born 1705. He's the first in our lineage to move from Ireland to the United States (before there was a United States).He's hooked up all the way back as far as Buchanan goes.

We have several recurring names within our branch of the American Buchanans. One is William Hamilton Buchanan, another David Buchanan, with the third being Samuel Buchanan. Listed further down on this page are a few biographical sketches of some of our more prominent American Buchanan ancestors. But first I suppose we have to mention President Buchanan just to get that out of the way.

President James Buchanan

The most famous American Buchanan would probably be President James Buchanan, the 15^th President of the United States (1857 – 1861). He's also a lightning rod for American genealogy research on Buchanans. It seems everyone has to take a shot at being related to the President. Let us just say right here and now: YOU ARE NOT A DESCENDANT OF PRESIDENT BUCHANAN. HE NEVER MARRIED. HE NEVER HAD CHILDREN. IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROVEN: NO KIDS MEANS YOU ARE NOT HIS DESCENDANT. Sorry for shouting. Plus, he was one of the worst Presidents in American history. His inaction and inability to govern led to the American Civil War. Oh and another thing about President Buchanan. As part of the Buchanan Real Estate Scam lore, he was also never head of the Buchanan Clan either.

Samuel Buchanan (born 1740) Overview

Samuel Buchanan. with his wife and son John came from Lancaster County. Pa., to Hopewell, Independance Township, in 1783 and purchased the property of Joseph Worley, who received the tract on a Viriginia certificate granted Jan 28 1780, which recites that it is situated "in the county of Ohio, on the waters of Buffalo Creek", to include his settlement made in the year 1773. It was assigned by Mr Worley to Samuel Buchanan and surveyed to him as "Comfort", containing 300 acres on the 19th of April 1785. The creek on which it was situated was known as Worley's Run. Joseph Worley returned to his home in the East and died there within a year.
.
After coming to this township three sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan--William, Samuel and David. They, with the son John, inherited the property at the death of the parents and all settled in this township. John buchanan, as assignee of Henry Nelson, took up the tract of land called "Dundee", adjoining the lands of Henry Levens and John and Philip Doddridge wich was surveyed March 27, 1786, as containing two hundred and twenty five acres. John Buchanan died in ths township.

Samuel, who lived upon his fathers farm, died there in 1805 or 1805. William removed to Zanesville, Ohio, where he lived and died. David buchanan married a daughter of Robert Cummins and also settled upon a portion of the homestead, where he built a tannery in 1810, but a son of his being drowned in the vat in 1817 he soon after discontinued the business. His son, David Jr, now lieves in Independance Township, and owns the old Buchanan farm, which is occupied by John McAllister and his son George came in to possession of "Dundee", which he sold to his cousin, Robert Buchanan, in 1840, when re removed to Indiana. About six years ago the property passed in to the hands of William Craig, who still owns the greater portion of it.

Captain David Buchanan (born 1780) (Captain of Militia, French and Indian War of 1812)

On Monday, Aug. 24, 1812, information came by express to Washington County that a large force of British and Indians (estimated at five thousand) had landed from Lake Erie at the mouth of Huron River in Ohio, and had advanced to within a few miles of Cleveland, having, as was supposed, the intention of marching on Pittsburgh. The alarm was sounded through all the county, producing the most intense excitement, which resulted in the raising of nearly one thousand men in the county ready for duty, among whom were the infantry companies of Capt. David Buchanan, Capt. Thomas, and Capt. Benjamin Anderson ; the cavalry troop of Capt. Shouse, of Mo-nongahela City (then Williamsport), and two other companies of cavalry from the central and western part of the county. Under a call for a further quota of troops that was made immediately afterwards most of the men who thus volunteered joined the command of Gen. Richard Crooks, which rendezvoused at Pittsburgh, destined for duty in the West under Gen. William Henry Harrison. (William Henry Harrison later became President Harrison)

Robert Cummins Buchanan (born 1864)

R.C. BUCHANAN, A well-known citizen of Hopewell township, was born in 1864, in Independence township, this county. He is a grandson of David, whose father was Samuel Buchanan. The latter came with his wife and son John from Lancaster county, Penn., to Independence township, this county, in 1783, and on April 19, 1785, purchased 800 acres of land on " Worley's Bun" of Joseph Worley, who returned to the East. After settling in Independence township, three sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Buchanan, namely: William, Samuel and David, all of whom remained in Independence township. John took the tract of 225 acres (adjoining the farms of Henry Levens and John and Philip Doddridge) and died upon this farm; Samuel died about 1804 on the old homestead; William settled in Zanesville, Ohio, where he died. David Buchanan settled on a part of the old homestead upon which he built a tannery iu 1810, but on account of a fatal accident, by which a son was drowned in the vat, he gave up the business in 1817. His son, David, afterward inherited the old Buchanan farm, now occupied by John McAllister.

R. C. Buchanan spent one year at Canonsburg Academy, also a year at Bethany College. He left school at the age of nineteen years, and commenced farming in partnership with his brother, remaining in Independence township until 1887, In 1884 he was united in marriage with Miss Cora Denny, daughter of Walter Denny. The grandfather of Walter Denny was born in eastern Pennsylvania, and there married Esther Maxwell. In 1788 he located near Canonsburg, this county, where his children were reared, as follows: Catherine, Martha, Margaret, Esther, Eleanor, James,
county. In 1814 he was married to Lydia Mc-Jfannis, who bore him children, as follows: Walter, Anne, Esther, James, Bobert, Elizabeth, William and Catherine (twins) and Lydi*. Of this family, Esther, James, Bobert and Elizabeth are deceased. Walter Denny was born April 30, 1816, in South Strabane township, this county. In 1842 he was married to Mary, daughter of John Welch, of Chartiers township, and their children were Mary Jane, Elizabeth Ann, Margaret L., Sarah L., Sarah E., Bobert M., John W. and Laura (twins), Samuel T., Alice, Agnes, Cora and Martha. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Denny passed their first years of wedded life in South Strabane township, then went to Hopewell township, finally locating on the farm one mile and a half west of West Middle-town, where they are now living.

To the union of R.C. and Cora (Denny) Buchanan children have been born as follows: Fannie, born in August, 1885; a son (deceased in infancy); Mary, born March 2, 1888; and Nellie, born in August, 1890. In 1887 R. C. Buchanan moved to his present home, situated two miles northeast of West Middletown. He devotes his principal attention to raising Spanish Merino sheep, also raising horses and cultivating 131 acres of land. He votes the Democratic ticket, and has been inspector of elections three years. In religious faith he and his wife are members of the Lower Buffalo Presbyterian Church.

William Hamilton Buchanan (born 1863)

W.H. BUCHANAN, a prosperous and energetic young farmer of Independence township, is a son of David aud Fannie (Hamilton) Buchanan. Our subject was born March 24, 1863, in the house where he is now living, and received his elementary instruction in the common schools; he afterward attended Bethany College, West Virginia, and also college at Canonsbnrg, Penn. He and his brother then began farming on the home place. On June 1, 1887, he was united in marriage with Winnie, daughter of C. C. Rea, of Cross Creek township, this county. She attended Cross Creek Academy, and taught school five years, being an educated and intelligent lady.

They have two children, Elizabeth Lenore and David Rea, both living at home. Since his marriage W. H. Buchanan has resided on the home farm, consisting of 300 acres of well-improved and valuable farm land; he gives considerable attention to sheep raising, having many very fine animals, some of which are registered in the United States and the Delaine Registers. Mr. Buchanan belongs to the progressive type of farmers and is a public-spirited citizen, well fitted to manage the extensive real estate which he owns. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion he and his wife are members of the Lower Buffalo Presbyterian Church at Independence.

These are some of the sketches we have so far.We have much to do to make the Buchanan research more complete. It is such a large family, with enormous numbers of people within it, that summarizing a lineage may be more useful than putting everyone in it. The Buchanan’s in Janet’s line are also some of the original Americans. Buchanan’s migrated from Scotland to Washington County Pennsylvania (that’s the lower left hand corner of Pennsylvania) in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s. Buchanan’s served in the Revolutionary War, and we have service records of some of those early patriot soldiers. Stay tuned for more results as we find them.

Gist Overview:

Also part of Janet’s line, the Gist family goes right back to the first days of the United States. It is reported that Christopher Gist was the first white man to walk and survey in the area that is now West Virginia for roads, and later railroads. Christopher Gist surveyed lands, and plotted the route of the first railhead in West Virginia in a place called Rosby’s Rock, West Virginia in the late 1700s. What is most interesting about this is that we have ancestors from the Martin/Manning line (from Corrine Amitis Kennett (Schoepke)) that were the first settlers in the area of Rosby’s Rock West Virginia. It appears we may have a situation where we have ancestors from Janet’s family (in Christopher Gist) that helped to build the town where ancestors from my family (in the Martins) became the founding members. That would mean they most assuredly knew of each other, and may have even met each other: over 300 years ago in the mountains of West Virginia.

Wheelers and Boice Overview:

From Janet’s matriarchal line we have the Wheelers and the Boyce (Boice) folks. To study these lines is to study Mormon History from its beginnings. Wheelers and Boyce relatives were with the Prophet Joseph Smith almost from the beginning. And from a genealogical point of view, there were a number of plural marriages and that’s always a challenge to keep track of. The Wheeler line is another true-blue American History family that has been on American shores since the 1600’s and the first settlers and Pilgrims. Wheelers continue back to England, and go back to the late 1400’s A.D. This is a family that is rich in history and information, and we hardly do them any justice here in this collection. It is entirely possible that the collection of information on Wheelers alone could exceed the size of everything we have collected to date.