The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-04-01

graphical sketch, written by a Kan
sas City friend who has known him
nearly all his life:
William Johnston Buchan, was born
August 22nd, 1913, at Ashland, Ohio,
and was the oldest of seven children
of Alexander and Parmelia Buchan.
His father was native of Scotland,
and his mother was born in Vermont.
They were Presbyterians. His father
settled in Canada, was engaged in the
"patriots rebellion" of 1888 and COM
PEELED to flee to the United States.
He settled in Ohio and became an
ardent free soiler of the Giddings
school, and an operator in the 'under-
ground railroad" In 1910 he started
from Independence Missouri for Cali
fornia and after two years and half
of mining returned to Ohio and be-
came contractor on the Atlantic and
Great Western Railway. He was
commissary in the Federal Army
during the Rebellion.
William J. Buchan attended the
common schools until he was twelve
years old, and then worked out dur
ing the summers and went to school
two winters. He was for three years
clerk in drug store, employing his
idle hours in studying.
He enlisted as private in Company
II. ~ Ohio Infantry president Gar
fields Regiment on the End day o
December 1861 when but eighteen
years of age, and was mustered
out of the service on the eighth
of March 1866. He was with
Garfield in the pursuit of Humphrey
Marshall, and later participated in
the Cumberland Gap Campaign. He
was with General Cox in the Kama
wha march against General Floyd,
which continued until the enemy was
driven from West Virginia. In 1862
his regiment was transferred to Cen
eral Sherman and joined in the first
attack upon Nicksburg. He partici-
pated in the battles OF Grand Gulf,
Thompson's Hill, Raymond, Cham
pion Hill and Big Black River. In
the terrific and bloody assault of May
lind his Captain, ;. NJ. Barber, fell
tearfully wounded and left upon the
field exposed to the fire of the enemy
and from this perilous position he was
rescued by private Buchan, who
crawled out from the breast works
amid rain OF bullets and carried his
Captain safely from the field. In 1863
he was transferred by order OF Gene
raj Grant to the 3rd Mississippi and
made a First Lieutenant. He was
Post Adiutant at st. Charles, Arlkan-
sas. He did active service for four
years and eight months. He passed
an examination for appointment II
the regular army but he concluded
that Il military life in the time OF
peace would not suit him. In 1865
he planted II cotton crop in Tensas
parish, Louisiana.
MIR. Buchan came to Kansas in
April 1867 and began life as Il brake
man on the Kansas Pacific Railway
He helped survey the line into Den
yer, and from extra pay received as
chairman through hostile Indian
country he accumulated few
hundred dollars, which enabled him
to lay of and read law. He served
four years as City attorney of Wyan-
dotte He entered politics i'm 1872
when he was elected To the House OF
| Representatives. He was elected
again in 1871 and IN 1876 he was
elected to the state Senate and again
in 1880, 1854 and in 1888. This gave
him continuous service in the State
Senate of eighteen years and two
years in the House. For six years he
was Chairman of the Joint Committee
of Ways and Means. He was sustained
by II majority vote of his people for
twenty years each succeeding year
receiving II larger vote and each time
defeating stronger man, and was
pulled down in the general slump of
1892, which knocked out the party all
over the country and brought to Kan
sas Lewelling.
His strength at home comes from
his marvellous success AS legislator
in representing and protecting the
great industries at KawsmOuth and
the thousands depending upon them
for livelihood.
While Mr.. Buchan is well read
lawyer he seldom engages in the
practice, his business inf this line be-
ing look after by his son, his tastes
and iuclinations running more to
farming and stock. He owns and
operates large farm in WyandOtte
County and he has been especially
interested in developing the horse