John Alexander M. Buchanan1,2,3

b. 4 May 1827, d. 20 December 1910
FatherJohn Buchanan4 b. 1784, d. 14 Sep 1858
MotherMary Ryburn5 b. 2 Apr 1785, d. 5 May 1858
Birth4 May 1827 John Alexander M. Buchanan was born on 4 May 1827 in Smyth County, Virginia.6,7,8 
Name Other John appears to have used his middle name Alexander or the initials "A.M." on most records created during his lifetime, however his father's will and his own obituary referred to him as John Alexander Buchanan. 
Cens-185022 Jul 1850 When the 1850 census for Smyth County, Virginia was recorded, Alexander was living at home with his parents and working as a laborer.9 
Cens-186023 Jul 1860  Ten years later he was living with his sister Rosanna and her husband Ezra Witten in Tazewell County, Virginia.10 
  A few months after this census was enumerated Alexander married Ezra's sister.11 
Marriage27 Dec 1860 He married Sarah Witten, daughter of James Witten and Rebecca (?), on 27 Dec 1860 in Tazewell County, Virginia.12 
Military Not long after his marriage Alexander left home to fight in the Civil War as a member of the 45th Virginia Calvary, Company H, Confederate States of America.13,14 
Cens-Sum  Following the war Alexander and Sarah settled in Tazewell County, where they farmed and raised four children: Margaret, Rebecca (Rose), John and Mary. James Witten, born in the 1790s and presumed to be Sarah's father, was enumerated with them on the 1870 and 1880 census.15,16,17 
Heir Alexander, along with his siblings, inherited their father's share of the joint estate of their uncles, Robert, James and Mathew Buchanan. Alexander's share, which he received starting in 1878, was about $620.18 
Milit-Pens21 Apr 1908 In 1908 Alexander applied for a pension based on his military service. He stated that the exposure he suffered during the war left him with severe rheumatism and that he had been unable to work for several years.13,14 
Death20 Dec 1910 Alexander died on 20 Dec 1910 at the home of his daughter Margaret Buchanan Howrey near Pisgah, Tazewell County, Virginia, at age 83.3,6,8 
Burial He was buried at Whitman-Peery Cemetery in Tazewell County, Virginia.19,8 

Family

Sarah Witten b. 9 Mar 1830, d. 6 May 1901 or 8 May 1901
Children
  • Margaret J. Buchanan16,3 (circa 1862 - )
  • Rebecca Rose Buchanan16,3 (24 Dec 1865 - 2 Jan 1952)
  • John Witten Buchanan16,3 (circa 1868 - 13 Apr 1954)
  • Mary Eugene Buchanan16,3 (Feb 1875 - )
ChartsDescendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited28 Oct 2011

Citations

  1. [S124] David Trimble, Buchanan and Gillespie, p. 209. Trimble cites records belonging to Miss Mary Sewell Helvey as his source for information on the family of John Buchanan and Mary Ryburn (John Alexander M. Buchanan).
  2. [S17] "Smyth Co. Deaths with Washington Co. Births", p. 9. John Buchanan d. 14 Sep. 1858, Rich Valley, cancer, 74y 26d, s/o John and Ann Buchanan, b. WCV, "Mary Ryburn", wife; John A.M. Buchanan, son.
  3. [S932] Lester, "Descendants of John Alexander Buchanan". Peggy cites an obituary published in the Clinch Valley News located on microfilm at the Tazewell Library.
  4. [S849] John Buchanan will (recorded 1858), Smyth Co., Virginia Will Book 3: 123. John's will was dated 20 June 1858 and recorded 21 Sept. 1858.
  5. [S124] David Trimble, Buchanan and Gillespie, p. 209. Trimble cites records belonging to Miss Mary Sewell Helvey as his source for information on the family of John Buchanan and Mary Ryburn.
  6. [S1146] Ruth Boyd Wilson and Thurman Robert Wilson, Tazewell County Cemeteries Vol. 2, p. 52. Stone reported to read: Alexander M. Buchanan May 4, 1827-Dec. 20, 1910.
  7. [S1144] Pauline Haga, Tazewell Co., Virginia Marriage Book 3, p. 20; provides place of birth.
  8. [S1639] Rose Brown Peery and Betty T Hollowell, Tazewell Co., Virginia - Some Old Cemeteries, p. 116. Stone reported to read: Alexander M. Buchanan b. Mary [sic] 4, 1827, d. Dec. 20, 1910; cemetery reported as Whitman-Peery Cemetery.
  9. [S465] John Buchanan household, 1850 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., VA, pop. sched., p. 165b, dwelling 132, family 134, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2002, image 20 of 169. Enumeration records: John Buchanan 65 farmer, real estate $3,000; Mary 65; Ann 42; Jane 36; Sarah 34; Alexander 22; Mary I or J. Ward 10; Sarah F. Ward 8; James F. Ward 7; Jesse Davis 50 Black; all born Virginia.
  10. [S930] Ezra Witten household, 1860 U.S. census, Tazewell County, Virginia, population schedule, Western District, page 821 (script), dwelling 909, family 894; National Archives micropublication M 653, roll 1381, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul. 2004, image 25 of 104. Enumeration recorded: Ezra Witten, 36, farmer, owns real estate valued at $360, personal property of $2,890; Rose A., 30; Mary E., 10; James, 8; John, 6; Robert, 4; Rebecca, 2; Sally, 3/12; Alexander Buchanan, 25, farm laborer, owns personal property of $102; all born VA.
  11. [S932] Lester, "Descendants of John Alexander Buchanan."
  12. [S1144] Pauline Haga, Tazewell Co., Virginia Marriage Book 3, p. 20. Alexander M. Buchanan, 25, b. Smyth Co., son of John Buchanan & Sarah Witten, 21, b. Tazewell Co., dau of James and Rebecca Witten; marr 27 Dec. 1860 by J. Lyons - under a heading saying "certificates of marriages irregularily returned."
  13. [S932] Lester, "Descendants of John Alexander Buchanan". Peggy cites the pension application of Alexander Buchanan, dated April 21, 1908, pension form #2 for Disabled by Disease or Old Age.
  14. [S932] Lester, "Descendants of John Alexander Buchanan". Peggy cites a Nov. 5, 1898 list of ex Confederate soldiers living in Tazewell Co.: Buchanan, A.M., age 70, sgt Co. H. 45th VA Cavalry; enlisted April 1863 for 2 years.
  15. [S929] James Witten household, 1870 U.S. census, Tazewell County, Virginia, population schedule, Maiden Spring township, page 262b (stamped), dwelling 53, family 53; National Archives micropublication M 593, roll 1680, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 8 of 93. Enumeration recorded: James Witten, 73, farmer, owns real estate valued at $3,000, pers. prop at $450; A.M. Buchanan, 43, farm laborer; Buchanan: Sallie, 40; Margaret 8; Rebecca R., 4; John W., 2; Nancy George, 13, mulatto, domestic; all b. VA.
  16. [S933] Alex N. Buchanan household, 1880 U.S. census, Tazewell County, Virginia, population schedule, Maiden Spring District, Enumeration District (ED) 90, page 295a (stamped), dwelling 352, family 352; National Archives micropublication T-9, roll 1393, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 41 of 55. Enumeration reports: Alex N. Buchanan, 53, marr, farmer; Sarah, 50, wife, marr; Margaret J., dau, 18; Rose R., dau, 14; John B., son, 12; Mary E., dau, 6; James Witten, 88, widowed; all born VA; all parents b. VA.
  17. [S934] Alexander Buchanan household, 1900 U.S. census, Tazewell County, Virginia, population schedule, Jeffersonville Mag. Dist, Enumeration District (ED) 97, sheet 6 A (p. 128 stamped), dwelling 99, family 100; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 1730, viewed online at Ancestry.com, July 2004, image 11 of 78. Enumeration reads: Alexander Buchanan, b. May 1827, 73, marr 40 yrs; Sallie, wife, b. Mar 1830, marr 40 yrs, mother 4 children, all living; Gee, dau, 25, b. Feb. 1875, sgl; all b. VA, all parents b. VA.
  18. [S1015] Washington Co., Virginia probate records for James, Mathew and Robert Buchanan.
  19. [S1146] Ruth Boyd Wilson and Thurman Robert Wilson, Tazewell County Cemeteries Vol. 2, p. 52. Stone reported to read: Alexander M. Buchanan May 4, 1827-Dec. 20, 1910; cemetery described as Whitman Community Cemetery.