WILLIAM V. BUCHANAN, 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 R., 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, Ill.
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 O. 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 located 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 he disposed of that and bought another quarter on section 36. In 1870, selling that at a good advantage, 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 original purchase and now owns two hundred acres of rich and productive land, one hundred and thirty-five of which are under good cultivation.
Extracted 08 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Album of Pike and Calhoun Counties, Illinois, published in 1891, pages 230-231.
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