My Genealogy Hound

Joseph L. Buffington, farmer, Newton County, Mo., is a descendant of early settlers of North Carolina, on the mother’s side, and is the great-grandson of Mr. Ward, who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. William Buffington, father of Joseph L., was born in North Carolina, and when a young man went to Georgia. He married Miss Christian Haley, daughter of James and Sallie (Ward) Haley, and to them were born eight children who lived to be grown: Thomas, William, Nancy, Sarah, Eliza E., John, Reuben and Helen. Mr. Buffington died in 1860, a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He passed all his life in the State of Georgia. His son, Joseph L., was born on his father’s farm in Elbert County, Ga., in 1834, and assisted on the farm until of age. He then became an overseer on a plantation, and afterward went to Arkansas, where he followed agricultural pursuits until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company Q, Second Regiment Arkansas Volunteers, participating in the battle of Shiloh. He then returned to Arkansas, and in 1865 went to Illinois. In 1866 he married Miss Mahala Holliday, and then purchased a farm in Bond County, Ill., where he lived for many years. In 1881 he and his family moved to Newton County, Mo. and here they have since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Buffington are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Democrat in political opinions, and is a straight-forward, industrious man.