Our subject is of Pennsylvania birth and antecedents. His father, David Buchanan, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1792. His grandfather, David Buchanan, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, came to this country in Colonial times, when he was eighteen years old, and after living in Eastern Pennsylvania, became a pioneer of Westmoreland County, in 1791, locating on a tract of land in the woods. He cleared it of the primeval forest trees that stood upon it and was very successful in his attempts to evolve a farm from the wilderness, and at the time of his death, in 1817, had accumulated a comfortable property. He was a Presbyterian Elder in the church of that denomination at Congruity.

The sire of our subject was a blacksmith by trade and had a shop in Salem Township, where he also engaged in farming, having there one hundred acres of land. During the War of 1812 he acted as teamster, drawing wood for the use of the soldiers. His oldest brother was lieutenant of a company that took part in that conflict. Mr. Buchanan lived in his native State until 1869, when he disposed of his property in order to take up his residence in Illinois. After coming here he bought eighty acres of land on section 17, Trivoli Township, which he was engaged in improving until his wife died. He then lived with his children until his death in 1880 at the age of eighty-eight years. He was a man of firm and lofty principles, and was a strong Republican and a sturdy Presbyterian.

The maiden name of the mother of our subject was McBride, and she was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., on the Loyal Hannah Creek. She was a daughter of James McBride, who was a farmer there. Her death occurred here on her husband’s homestead in 1872, at the age of eighty years. A true Christian woman, she was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. She was the mother of nine children, of whom we record the following: James is a retired farmer in Westmoreland County, Pa.; Jane, Mrs. Ralston, died here; D. Wilson lives in Kansas; Martha, Mrs. Irwin, died in Colorado; Alexander; Mona, Mrs. Marshall, died in Farmington; Prudence, Mrs. Sloan, lives in Westmoreland County; Margaret, Mrs. Rainey, died in Westmoreland County; Elizabeth, Mrs. Cunningham, lives in Yates City.

Alexander Buchanan was born in the town of Congruity in the county of Westmoreland, Pa., July 25, 1825. He passed his early years on his father’s farm and in attendance at the district school, which was at first conducted on the subscription plan in a rude log house, with slab seats, puncheon floor and mud and stick chimney. Hard work at farming was his portion. He remained at home until he was thirty years old and then started a general store at Harvey’s Five Points, with a capitol of $100. He remained at the corners until 1864, then moved to Murrysville, where he was quite successful in the same business in which he had invested some $4,000 or $5,000. He also ran a huckster wagon to Pittsburg twice a week and made that venture profitable.

In the spring of 1867 Mr. Buchanan sold out his business intending to engage in farming, but he could not come to terms with his father, and in the fall he emigrated to this county, shipping his goods to Farmington, where he arrived October 3, 1867. He bought one hundred acres of his present farm in Trivoli Township for $7,5000. This was counted the bet farm in the county, and after it came under his management he kept it in a good condition, kept the buildings in good repair and made money from its fertile soil. The next year he bought twenty-five acres more, and later forty acres, and then fifteen acres, and in 1888 ten acres on section 17. He now has one hundred and ten acres in one body, having given eighty acres of his land to his son. His land is all tillable and is under fine cultivation, is fenced and hedged into five fields. He has a large house and a commodious barn, 30x64 feet in dimension, windmill and tank, groves and an orchard, constituting in all one of the finest improved places in the vicinity. He raises corn and grain but his hobby is horses and hogs. He has bull-blooded Short-horn cattle and fine draft horses.

The first marriage of our subject, which took place in Alleghany County, Pa., in 1854, was with Miss Martha Irwin, a native of that county, and a daughter of Henry and Catherine Irwin. Her father was a farmer there until his death, while her mother died in the home of our subject, at the remarkable advanced age of ninety years. December 23, 1884, death crossed the threshold of the home of our subject, and removed the wife who had traveled by his side thirty years. Four children had been born of their marriage, namely: James, a prominent farmer here who is represented in this work; Margaret L., Mrs. VanPatten, a resident of this township; John, a clerk in Elmwood, and a child died in infancy.

The second marriage of our subject was to Miss Margaret Mcwhirter, and was celebrated November 20, 1888, in his native county. Mrs. Buchanan was also born in Westmoreland County, near Congruity, her father, John Mcwhirter, having been a prominent farmer there until his death in 1882. His father came to this country from Ireland. Mrs. Buchanan’s mother was Jane McChesney before her marriage, and she was a native of Westmoreland County and a daughter of William McChesney, who was also born in that county. His father came to this country from County Antrim, Ireland. The mother died in 1888, leaving four children: Margaret, Mrs. Buchanan, Mary L., Sarah J., and Anise, the latter three living in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Buchanan is a true gentleman in all respects. He is a deep thinker, is well informed, and is an interesting conversationalist, while his wife is a lady of culture and has a most loveable disposition, and both are very highly regarded by the entire community. He does not aspire to office, although he is a strong Republican and has taken an active part in politics as a delegate to county and State conventions. He has been Trustee of the Presbyterian Church at Farmington and is one of its most prominent members.

Pages 239-240