My Genealogy Hound

Samuel Buchanan, a prosperous farmer of Oakland County, owns and cultivates a fine farm of 142 acres in section 7, Avon township. Mr. Buchanan was born in Albania, Genesee County, New York, August 21, 1842, and is a son of Philip and Margaret (Grow) Buchanan, the former of whom was born in New Jersey and the latter in Pennsylvania. The Buchanan family originated in Scotland and has given America many prominent citizens, one of these being James Buchanan, President of the United States, who was a cousin, once removed, of our subject. The father died in New York in 1854, aged two months beyond 52 years. The mother died in 1887 at the home of our subject, aged 78 years. Their family consisted of seven children, the four survivors being: Samuel and a brother and two sisters, who reside near St. John’s, Michigan.

Mr. Buchanan was reared on the home farm in Genesee County, New York, and lived with his mother until 22 years of age, when he engaged in farming for himself; after his marriage his mother made her home with him. In 1867 Mr. Buchanan came to Michigan and settled on his present farm, buying a quarter section of land, which he still owns. At the time of purchase, it was covered with a valuable growth of walnut and oak and he has devoted himself to the clearing of this land and to general farming, devoting time and attention also to the buying, feeding and selling of considerable cattle and stock. He is one of the practical and successful agriculturists of Avon township, the owner of a fine farm, the head of a creditable family, and a first class citizen.

In 1863 Mr. Buchanan married Orpha Jane Woolcott, a native of Genesee County, New York, who died shortly after their marriage. Mr. Buchanan then married Martha Jones, who was born in Avon township, Oakland County, and the children of this union were: J. P.; Mary, wife of George Axferd of Rochester, Michigan; Jesse (George); and Mattie. The third marriage of Mr. Buchanan was to Sarah Ball, who was born in Ontario, Canada, and they have a family of five children, viz: Ernest, Carrie, Mabel, Walter and Jennie.

Mr. Buchanan is a Democrat in his political views and served three years as highway commissioner of Avon township to the satisfaction of all concerned. He was defeated by a very small majority for supervisor. He has never been desirous of public office but has been anxious at all times to do his full duty as a citizen. He cast his first presidential vote for that fine military commander, Gen. George B. McClellan. At the age of 22 years he was made a member of the Masonic fraternity, in the State of New York, and he belongs also to the Knights of the Maccabees. Mr. Buchanan has seen a large portion of the United States, having made trips on a number of occasions, mainly through the South.