The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-01-13
WHERE BUCHANAN WAS BORN.

How few Pennsylvanians ever stop
to reflect that the Keystone State has
given birth to but one President of
the United States, James Buchanan.
Franklin county claims the distinction
of being the birthplace of this notable
Executive. He was born in a gorge
in the mountains just off the turnpike
which leads from Mercersburg to Nc
Connellsburg on April 23, 1891.
The house in which he first saw
the light of day Considering that
there were but two tiny windows to
admit the light, the expression seems
rather paradoxicaD was little log
cabin. In late years this cabin has
been removed to Mercersburg where
it still stands, in Fayette street, and
is now occupied by a colored family.
Think of the policies for which
Buchanan stood touching the negro
race, ana tine faSs ti1ess~negFOS HOW
live in the edi6ce of that Presidents
nativity and surely you have the
irony of fate in one of its most start
ling twentieth century exemplifica-
tions
A few Of the foundation stones are
left to mark the place where the
Buchanan cabin stood in the noun
tains, but most OF them have been
used for the foundation of school
house near by. At the time of his
birth the turnpike had not been made,
hut there are still traces of packers
path which ran OH one side OF the
house and of wagon road on the
other side. Stony Batter, as his
birthplace is called. was one of the few
places in those days where farmers
from the western counties came with
pack horses laden with the products
of their lands which they exchanged
for the necessaries of life brought
there from the city of Baltimore.
Near where the cabin stood flows
little stream called Trout Run, and
all around the mountain peaks tower
aloft in surprising grandeur and sub
Unity.
These mountains were and are even
at the present time infested with
bears, panthers and wildcats, and
there is a tradition that the solicitious
mother of Buchanan was wont to tie
around little Jimmy's neck bell so
that she might know in the midst of
her house hold cares that her boy
safe.
In the year Of 1869 Mr.. Buchanan
removed with his family to the vii
lage of Mercersburg, where he sought
a wider field for his business career
that of country merchant. At this
time young James was about S years of
age, and here he attended school and
was instructed in Latin and Greek
until the year 1907, when he was
sent to Dickinson College, Carlisle,
from which institution he was gradu-
ated with honor in 1900.
An amusing incident is told regard
ing his trip to Carlisle, which he
made on horseback behind his father.
AS they left the town a neighbor
woman ran out of her house crying
"If you take James to that bad school
he will be ruined and come home good
for nothing"
There are many reminders of the
Buchanan house in the town. Here
is the old Buchanan, house on Main
street, now used as a hotel. and so
changed from its original state that
it would not be recognized. Just op-
posite is the Lane house, where Har-
riet Lane Johnson, Buchanan's
beautiful and accomplished niece, who
afterward presided at the White
House, was born and lived. One of
the oldest men in the town we'll re-
members having played with her
when they were children together.
Here on West Seminary street the
spire of the Presbyterian Church is
stenciled against the background of
mountains. At this church, which
is one of the Oldest in the valley, the
Buchanans the Irwins, the maternal
ancestors of Benjamin Harrison, Gov
Findlay and manp others who in later
years rose to eminence, attended SER
vices. s.-Phizadelbhia Reto,d.