EBENEZER BUCHANAN, a retired farmer of West Alexander, Penn., was born July 7, 1815, in Ohio county, W. Va. He is a son of John Buchanan, whose father was a native of Ireland, and the first of the family to emigrate to America. He located in Pennsylvania, where his son John was born, who there grew to manhood, and was united in marriage with Catherine Blayney, of Ohio county, W. Va. After his marriage, Mr. Buchanan remained in Ohio county some time. In 1816 he moved to Champaign county, Ohio, becoming a pioneer of that county, where he died in the following year. He had seven children, only three of whom lived to an adult age, namely: George (deceased at the age of seventy years), Ebenezer (subject of this sketch) and Martha (living on the home farm). After the death of her husband, Mrs. Buchanan and her three living children removed to Belmont county, Ohio, where she lived for some time, thence proceeded to her native place in Ohio county, W. Va. She died in 1870, at the age of eighty-six years, and is now buried in the U. P. graveyard, at West Alexander. Ebenezer Buchanan is the youngest of a family of seven children. He was but a small boy when his father died, and at the age of twelve years he began to learn the tanner's trade at Taylorstown, Penn. After serving his apprenticeship, he began business for himself in 1836, at Good Intent, Washington county. In the year 1838 he was married to Jane Templeton who was born November 12, 1818, in West Finley township; she is the daughter of Alexander Templeton, a a pioneer. Alexander Templeton was born in 1786, one mile east of Washington, Penn., of Irish parentage. He married Charity McClain, of Pigeon Creek, in 1816, settled on a farm in West Finley township, and to them were born two sons and four daughters. Their sons became Presbyterian ministers. Samuel M. married Margaret, daughter of Rev. James Dickey, and died in 1867. Milo married Agnes Rentoul, of Montrose, Scotland, and died in 1863, both leaving families. The daughters are all married, and are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan have had the following children: Malvina C. (Mrs. William Henderson, of Ohio Co., W. Va.), John Alexander (whose health was wrecked in the Civil war, is an apiarist of Holiday's Cove, Hancock Co., W. Va.), Elmira J. (deceased at the age of ten years), Theresa C. (deceased at the age of twelve years), Caroline V. (also deceased in her twelfth year), George Milton (deceased when seven years of age) and Ellsworth (a groceryman of Claysville, Penn.). After his marriage Mr. Buchanan farmed in Marshall county, W. Va., until 1847, when he removed to Ohio county. In the year 1865 he came to Donegal township, Washington Co., Penn.. and located on the borders of West Alexander. Since the town has increased in extent, Mr. Buchanan has practically become a citizen. In 1885 he retired from active life, and with his wife is now enjoying the fruits of fifty-five years of toil. He is an enthusiastic member of the Republican party, but though nominations have been tendered him, he prefers to give his time to his private business. Both Mr. Buchanan and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at West Alexander.

Text taken from page 1241 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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