My Genealogy Hound

Lieut. John Buxton, teacher of instrumental music, notary public and pension agent at Cedar Hill, is a native of Manchester, England, born in 1835, and is the second son of John and Elizabeth (Ravenscroft) Buxton, natives of England, born in 1811 and 1812, respectively. They were married in 1831, and in 1855 came to the United States, locating in Jefferson County, on Big River, in Meramec Township, where the father died in 1857. He was a cotton spinner, but after coming to Jefferson County engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a man of education, and a member of the I. O. O. F. In 1858 Mrs. Buxton married Mr. D. Pitzer, who was killed by bushwhackers in 1864. The mother is still living on the old farm near Cedar Hill. Young John was educated in the Manchester schools, and came with his parents to Jefferson County, where he farmed until the breaking out of the late war, when he enlisted in Company I, Thirteenth Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and was mustered out as first lieutenant, in September, 1865, after over four years of hardship and suffering. He took part in the battles of Forts Henry, Donelson, first Nashville battle, Shiloh, Corinth, and through the siege of Vicksburg. In July, 1862, his regiment was consolidated with the Twenty-second Ohio, and the Thirteenth Missouri was no more. He was discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio. In 1866 he returned to England, where he married Miss Sarah, daughter of James and Elizabeth Turner, and to them were born four sons: Frank J., Louis U., William J. and Edward. The same year of his marriage Mr. Buxton returned to Jefferson County, and settled at the mouth of Belew’s Creek, where he lived until 1885, when he located at Cedar Hill, and devoted his attention to music. Since 1887 he has been notary public, and for several years has been pension agent. He is a Republican in politics, and his first vote was cast for A. Lincoln, in 1860. He is a member of the G. A. R., of John D Rahye Post, at Cedar Hill, of which he is the quartermaster.