My Genealogy Hound

James T. Buford was born in Bedford County, on Goose Creek, Va., near the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountain, in the year 1827. His father, Abraham Buford, was a native of Virginia, and of French descent, His wife, whose maiden name was N. Erdson, was a native of Virginia, and of Irish descent. The parents were married in their native county, where he was engaged in early life farming. During the war of 1812 he was appointed to superintend the buildings for winter quarters, etc. He resided in Bedford County, Va., all his life, and was engaged in farming, carding wool, burning lime, etc. His politics were old line Whig. He was a member of the Baptist Church for more than forty years, and died a happy death, trusting in Christ until called home to meet his reward, which was in the year 1846. His widow, N. Buford, lived afterward for nearly twelve years. She passed away in 1857, in the triumph of faith, to meet her companion who went before, dying in Bedford County, Va., and was buried in the graveyard on their farm. Our subject, while yet in his teens, left the parental roof in Bedford County, Va., and immigrated to Knox County, Mo. After staying for a few years he returned to his place of birth, Bedford County, Va., remained there for a short time, then returned to Missouri, and in 1852 he emigrated to California, and spent the most of his time in mining for four years. Receiving word that his mother was not expected to live, he returned to old Virginia (but she had passed away before he arrived), spent a few months with sister and brother, and then returned to the northern part of Missouri, and the following year he married Miss May L. Glasscock, a native of Loudoun County, Va., and the daughter of Bailey Glasscock, whose sketch appears elsewhere in these pages. In 1860 our subject was mustered into service, and was made captain by the vote of the men enrolled in the service of State guards under Gov. Jackson, then governor of Missouri. His sympathies were with the South, but he loved the old flag, not the principles of the North. He was in several battles; some he was on the winning side of, others he lost. In 1862 he was sent back to Northern Missouri, recruiting, and was captured, placed under bond of $12,000, not to aid the South—a hard price, yet he took it, and never shouldered a gun in behalf of the South again. He remained a paroled prisoner during the war, and for the safety of his family and himself he moved to Iowa in 1805. In December, following, he came back to Knox County, Mo., remaining there farming for two years, then located on the place where he now lives in Clark County, Mo., farming for a living. He lost all he had during the war. To our subject and wife were born eight children, all of whom are yet living: Fanny E. Buford, Virginia E., Lutz T., Wellington M., Mary, Nanny A., Robert W. and Joseph L. Buford. Mr. Buford is a Democrat, politically, and he and wife have been members of the Missionary Baptist Church for twenty-eight years.