My Genealogy Hound

PETER BUFFENBARGER bears the name which has been well known in Clark County since the early part of the present century. The family is of German ancestry and the early home in America was in the Old Dominion. From the vicinity of Petersburg, George and Hannah (Hawes) Buffenbarger came to Ohio in 1804, locating within a mile of where our subject now lives, near what is known as the Buffenbarger bridge. His homestead contained eleven hundred acres of land lying along the Little Miami River. Upon it are still standing trees raised from seed brought by Grandmother Buffenbarger from Virginia. It was very difficult to start an orchard as rabbits and other animals were great enemies to young fruit trees.

The first wheat sold by Grandfather Buffenbarger brought twelve and a half cents per bushel. The first brick made in Clark County, was the work of the old pioneer and as there were no brick-masons in the county he built his own brick house, although he had never even seen a brick laid. He went thirty miles to get a mason’s trowel seventy-five years ago. He was in the War of 1812 and while absent from home Indians visited the house where his wife was alone and stole everything they could carry away with them, including the provisions, his gun, axes, etc. He lived to the extreme age of ninety-four years and his hair was as black on the day of his death as it had ever been. Grandmother Buffenbarger reached the age of eighty-one years. The next in the direct line of descent was Washington Buffenbarger, who was one of the first Buckeye boys born in Clark County, and took delight in telling that fact. The year of his birth was 1809, and the place the old homestead, of which he inherited a share. His own homestead comprised three hundred acres in Clark and Auglaize Counties. He lived to the age of sixty-six years, rearing a family of five children. His wife was Mary, daughter of John Gowdy, of Greene County. She was born in Addison, Champaign County, and died June 16, 1890, at the age of eighty-two years. Washington Buffenbarger was a Captain in the militia and was Justice of the Peace for twenty-seven years, holding the office from his first election until his death. His family was made up of the subject of this sketch; Hannah, now the wife of Seth S. Briggs; Priscilla, wife of Milton Ryan; Mahala Ann, who lives on the old homestead, and Francis M., who is married and has one child.

The gentleman whose name heads this biographical sketch was reared at Dolavarden, on the old homestead and received his education in the schools of the county. He became well versed in practical knowledge, early in life acquiring an understanding of agricultural pursuits, in which he engaged when he had reached a suitable age. He began his life-work on the Buffenbarger estate after his marriage in 1853, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Kiser, who has proved an efficient helpmate and devoted mother. Their family comprises twelve children whose record is as follows: Napoleon B. resides in Charleston and holds the office of Constable; Jane is the wife of Madison Pepple and the mother of two children — Ralph and Lawrence; Alice is the wife of Charles Merritt, a farmer near his father-in-law, their family comprising three children — Buelah Ellen, Thomas Edward and Esther Alice; Jennettie lives with her parents on the old place; Stacy married Miss Jessie Dick, of Springfield, and has two children — Jessie and James Frederick; Ella, a young lady, is living with her parents; Jones married Miss Cora B. Arnett; Simington, Anna, Mamie, Sally and Harley are at home and complete the family circle.

Mrs. Buffenbarger is the oldest child of John and Sarah (Taylor) Kiser who were natives of Winchester County, Va., and who had accompanied their respective parents to Ohio early in the present century. John Kiser was a son of Jacob Kiser who settled west of Selma about 1809 and lived to be eighty-four years of age. The son was a great hunter in the days of flint-lock muskets and his eldest son has a gun which was brought by the family from Virginia and used by him. Mrs. John Kiser was a daughter of John Taylor who, with his two sons — Samuel and George — entered twelve hundred acres of land in this vicinity and who died fifty-two years ago at the age of one hundred and ten years. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Buffenbarger are John Kiser now living near Selma; Sarah E., Jane, George, Anna Eliza and Laura.

Mr. Buffenbarger possesses great faith in the principles of Democracy and never fails to cast his vote in behalf of the candidates who arc pledged to support them, he has the respect of his fellow-citizens as an energetic and successful farmer, reliable citizen and a man of excellent character. The Kiser and Taylor families, which his estimable wife so worthily represents, have long been identified with the Methodist Church.