A veteran of
the late war, is a native-born citizen of
Pike County, and a son of one of its oldest
settlers. He is now actively assisting in carrying
on its great farming interests, owning and operating - a farm in Spring Creek Township. He was
born in Pleasant Hill Township, January 7, 1840.
His father, Austin O. Buchanan,was born and reared
in Allen County, Ky.
The paternal grandfather, John Buchanan, was
a native presumably of Bourbon County, Va.,
and an early pioneer of Kentucky, settling near
Scottsville, and there carrying on operations as
a farmer and miller. He went from that State
to Ray County, Mo., in the year 1825, but subsequently removed to Tennessee, and in the fall
of 1832 came to Illinois. Locating near the boundary lines between Pike and Calhoun Counties on
the Mississippi River bottom, he there dwelt until
his death two years later. He was the father of
the following children-Nancy, John E., James,
Henry P., Stanton, Austin O., Valentine A., and
Sallie. Stanton died in infancy. The paternal
great-grandfather of our subject came from Scotland.
The father of our subject was born December
28,1810, in an humble pioneer home in Kentucky.
After attaining manhood he married Sarah W.
Roachell. For some time he was engaged in rafting
on the river in winter and farming in the summer.
He was one of the pioneers of this county, and
lives in Spring Creek Township at a ripe old age,
respected by all who know him. His wife, who
was born in South Carolina, was a daughter of
Nathaniel Roachell. The latter had a family including two sons and four daughters, and was a consistent member of the Baptist Church. He died
December 23, 1860, in Spring Creek Township,
Pike County.
The parental family included the following children: William V., our subject; Nancy A., Richard
Whitworth, Sarah F. (Mrs. A. W. McConnell),
John S., Mary Ann, wife of James Gunterman;
and Elvira, Mrs. Edward Looper. The subject
of this notice was reared on a farm with the exception of three years spent in Tennessee. He
has always lived in Pike and Calhoun Counties,
and received a common-school education. The
self-reliant lad was early put to work, as the
father was poor and the children had to help to
maintain the family. He began plowing when
only seven years of age and continued to assist
his father until his marriage, October 3, 1862, to
Nancy Jane Sidwell, a daughter of John and Sarah
Sidwell, of Calhoun County, I11,
The happy and contented wedded life of our
subject and his wife has been blessed to them by
the birth of nine children, namely: Alexander
M., who is married and lives in California;
Charles E.; Sarah A., who died at the age of ten
years; Ella A.; Francis L. died at the age of two
years; Olive M., wife of Joseph Scranton; Otis
A., John 0. and Lester A. Our subject and his
wife are among the most esteemed members of the
Christian Church, to which their eldest son and
two of their daughters also belong. They are
ever active in any good work for the social and
religious elevation of the township.
Mr. Buchanan has served as Road Commissioner
and School Trustee, and he is a member of the
Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he
votes with the Democrats. His service in the
army began in the month of February, 1865, when
he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Illinois Infantry. He was in the service
several months, displaying courage and capability
as a soldier, whose fidelity could be depended
upon in any emergency. He was honorably discharged September 5, 1865, when he returned to
his home and quietly resumed his old vocation.
After their marriage Mr. Buchanan and his estimable wife loeated on a farm belonging to his
father-in-law, but after his return from the army
he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on
section 25, Spring Creek Township. Two years later
be disposed of that and bought another quarter on
section 36. In 1870, selling that at a good advan-
tage, he purchased seventy-two acres in Calhoun
County, where he resided until 1879. In that
year he returned to Pike County, and bought one
hundred and twenty acres on section 35, Spring
Creek Township. He has since added to his orig-
inal purchase and now owns two hundred acres of
rich and productive land, one hundred and thirty-five of which are under good cultivation.
Found at Rootsweb List Pike County IL
