My Genealogy Hound

Capt. William J. Buxton, farmer, of Big River Township, was born in Manchester, England, in 1832, and is the elder of two sons born to John and Elizabeth (Ravenscroft) Buxton, natives of England, born in 1811 and 1812, respectively. [For further particulars of parents see sketch of John Buxton.] William J. was educated in the Manchester schools, and at the age of twenty came to St. Louis, but in 1854, just two years later, returned and married Miss Mary Jane Dillon, daughter of Patrick and Ellen Dillon. Twelve children were born to this union, eleven of whom are now living. The year after his marriage Capt. Buxton returned to Jefferson County, in 1855, locating in Meramec Township, and in 1861 purchased the farm upon which he is now living. This consists of 500 acres of fine land, and is situated nine miles northwest of Hillsboro. At the breaking out of the late war he took a firm stand for the Union, and in 1862 organized Company E, Eightieth Enrolled Missouri Militia, which he commanded for about two years, when he joined the United States service in command of Company B, Forty-seventh Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and operated along the line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, and at Pilot Knob during the invasion of Gen. Price. In 1864 he went with A. J. Smith and operated from Nashville to the Alabama line. He remained in service until March 29, 1863, when he was mustered out at Benton Barracks, Mo. About the time he was ordered to Tennessee he was notified of his election to the office of collector of Jefferson County, in 1864, but having already been chosen captain of his company, in which capacity he was then serving, he chose to remain in the service of his country. Since the war he has devoted his time exclusively to agricultural pursuits, at which he has been quite successful. He is a stanch Republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for A. Lincoln, in 1800. He is commander of the John B. Rahye Post, No. 314, at Cedar Hill. He was the founder of the Germania Council, Union League of America, in 1863. The family are members of the Catholic Church.