Joseph X. Buffington (1776 - 1849)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 2 Buffingtons in Louisa County 2.1 Notes 3 Sources

Biography

Joseph Buffington was born on August 16, 1776 in Romney, Virginia, now in Hampshire County, West Virginia. His parents were Joel Buffington and Elizabeth Logan.

He married Chloe Harvey. Together they had 14 children:

Their children were: 1. Elizabeth Buffington 2. Mary Ann Buffington 3. William Buffington 4. Joseph F. Buffington 5. Philip Jefferson Buffington 6. Susan Buffington 7. Margaret Buffington 8. Amelia Buffington 9. Chloe Buffington 10. Samuel W. Buffington 11. James Q. Buffington 12. Laura Amanda Buffington 13. Magdalena Buffington 14. Abraham C. Buffington

He died on January 15, 1849 in Louisa County, Iowa. He is buried at Buffington Cemetery in Louisa Co., IA.^[1]--Harvey-2679

He left a Will as follows:

"IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN: I, Joseph BUFFINGTON, of the County of Louisa, in the territory of Iowa......GIVE....to my daughters Elizabeth RARDIN, Mary Ann BOWMAN, Susanna WOODS, Margaret EDWARDS, Amelia LITTLETON, Chloe LASLEY, Amanda ROWLEY, and Magdalene DAUGHERTY four lots of land each containing eighty acres more or less. Three of said lots being situatte in Van Buren County, Iowa Territory in Township 68, North Range 9 West. The other being in the County of Washington and Territory afore said in Township 74 North Range 7 West....to my sons William H. BUFFINGTON, Joseph F. BUFFINGTON, and Philip J. BUFFINGTON Fifty Dollars together with fifteen acres of land off the west side of the Northeast quarter of the Northeast quarter of Section 23 in Township 74, North of Range 5 West..... to my two sons Samuel W. BUFFINGTON and Abraham C. BUFFINGTON all the ballance of my Land together with my horses cattle and stach of all kinds with my household and kitchen furnitu! re together with everything belonging to me not otherwise disposed of. It is my Will that my Executors have a reasonable time to settle with heirs of my estate....."

He appointed his sons, Samuel W. and Abraham C., to be executors and signed the will 22 February 1841. The witnesses were Samuel WOODSIDE and Henry BOUGHTEN. When the will was probated in 1849, James Q. BUFFINGTON signed the papers as Administrator of Joseph's estate. Samuel, on of the Executors appointed, had died in the interim, and the other Executor, Abraham, moved to California about this time. James asked the Court on 5 March 1849 to allow the widow, Jane, to use and benefit of a list of personal property belonging to the estate. This included furniture, such as a table and stand, appraised at $4.50, spinning wheel and churn, $3.50, bed and bedding, $21.00, 50 bushels of corn, $5.00 and many other items. This was immediately allowed and Jane accepted 8 March 1849. On 11 March 1852, James Q asked the Court to have the accounts taken care of and when this was done the estate was settled. Charles W. Harvey -Harvey-2679

Buffingtons in Louisa County

Info by Norma Jennings

Members of the Buffington family first came to Louisa County in 1837. They also had land in Van Buren, Mahaska and Lucas Counties, and perhaps others as well. Several died prior to the 1850 Census , and at least four had been buried in the private Buffington Cemetery in Elm Grove Township of Louisa County. Both Joseph and Chloe were there, as well as their son Daniel (Samuel ) Wilson Buffington and his sister-in-law Mary.

Joseph X. Buffington (Joel1), born 13 Aug 1776, Hampshire County, Virginia; died 15 Jan. 1849, Louisa County, Iowa; Buried Buffington Cemetery , Louisa County, Iowa. He married (1) Chloe HARVEY b. ca. 1775, d. Sept. 12, 1840; and was married (2) about 1842, to Jane UNKNOWN. I think that all of the Louisa County Buffingtons I have documented trace their descent from Joseph Buffington and his wife Chloe Harvey(1). ( Ed Gentzler has another child listed, a daughter, Elizabeth Buffington, born 1796, married to a Reuben Tubbs on June 13, 1819.

Chloe, Joseph's wife, died in Louisa County 12 September 1840. In 1844 he married Mrs. Jane Elliot. On 15 January 1849 Joseph died in Louisa County and is buried in Buffington Cemetery, Elm Grove Township.

Notes

1. Ref. birth date for Joseph X. Buffington, Gentzler Family Genealogy cites 13 Jun or 16 Sep.

2. Hampshire County, Virginia at one time comprised all of today's Hampshire, Hardy and Mineral Counties in West Virginia; as well as part of today's Morgan County, West Virginia. Hardy County was formed in 1786. Morgan County was formed in 1820. West Virginia was formed in 1863. Mineral County was formed in 1866.

3. Editor's Note: General Comments on the whereabouts of Joseph Buffington between 1800 and 1814.

• Information regarding the whereabouts of Joseph Buffington between 1800 and 1814; and subsequently the birth places of his children are conflicting.
• The Buffington family was certainly active in the Buffington Island area by 1800; with Joseph Buffington owning land in Washington County (later Meigs) by 1800. He apparently functioned in some sort of judicial capacity in 1809. Still investment and occupational interests do not establish residency, per se.
• At least two references suggest that Joseph Buffington resided on Buffington's Island for a time. The Buffington Cemetery records in Louisa County, Iowa make it a point to note that son Philip was born on Buffington's Island. Census record for Susannah Buffington Woods consistently cite Ohio as her birthplace in 1804.
• At this point, I am using Hampshire County, Virginia up to 1800; Washington County, Ohio Territory for Joseph F. based on the 1850 Census; Buffington's Island through 1804; and Ohio thereafter.

4. Ref. Joseph Buffington's whereabouts as cited by Don Bowman.

• 1800 Ohio Tax List: William & Joseph Buffenton (sic) appear in Gallipolis Twp., Washington Co., OH.. as does Samuel Buffington.
• Editor's Note: Washington County, Ohio was the first county formed and named after the first President of the United States. It covered virtually all of Ohio that was inhabited by European Americans. Today Gallipolis is in Gallia County, south and west of Meigs County.

5. Ref. Joseph Buffington's whereabouts 1809 as cited by Don Bowman.

• 10 April 1809 – Joseph approved the will of John Seisle of Letart Twp., Meigs [Gallia] Co., OH.
• Editor's Note: Lebanon Township was formed from Letart Township, Gallia County, Ohio in 1813. Meigs County, in turn, was formed from Gallia and Athens Counties in 1819.

6. From Pioneer History of Meigs [Gallia] County, extracted from J. H. Stewart's Sketch of Long Bottom.

• Lebanon township was formed in 1813, taken out of Letart township, and possesses a greater river boundary than any other township in Meigs county. It was a dense forest at the time of its organization. Trees of great size, and timber of the finest quality, covered the rich bottom lands of the Ohio river. . . while the hills bore the best yellow pine and spruce for lumber. The sugar maple, hickory, black oak and white oak, poplar, beech and sycamore excelled in size and quality any forests of Europe. The black walnut, white walnut and wild cherry were favorite woods for the manufacture of furniture, and for inside work of the best houses. Black walnut and cherry were used particularly for the making of coffins in those early days. So these trees of Lebanon had special attractions to the commercial eyes of later emigrants. More than one farm was paid for by cordwood cut and sold to steamboats for fuel. . .

7. Ref. to Joseph Buffington and lumbering in and around the Buffington Island area.

• Joseph built the first sawmill in Meigs Co., OH . . .
• Editor's Note: Depending when the sawmill was built it would have been in Washington County (prior to 1803), Gallia County (prior to 1819) or Meigs County (after 1819).

8. From Pioneer History of Meigs [Gallia] County

• Joseph Buffington came from Hampshire County, Virginia [to Gallia County, Ohio] in 1814 [&] bought a farm. Jacob Buffington also, located on the Ohio bottoms, opposite and below the island. They both had large families of sons and daughters. They were a well-do-do, industrious, hospitable people - good neighbors.
• Editor's Note: The island referenced above is Buffington Island, purchased by Joel Buffington in 1797. At the time, what became known as Buffington Island was part of Kanawha County, Virginia. Mason County, Virgina was formed in 1804. The area became part of Jackson County in 1831. West Virginia was formed in 1863.

9. Ref. Joseph X. Buffington's purchase of land 1814 in Gallia County, Ohio as cited by Don Bowman.

• 7 April 1814 – Joseph bought 100 acres in Meigs [Gallia] Co., OH from Daniel Watrous of Colchester, New London, CT, through his power of attorney, Paul Fearing.
• Editor's Note: Meigs County was formed in 1819 from Gallia and Athens Counties. Both had been formed earlier from Washington County. Gallia County in 1803. Athens County in 1805.

10. Ref. Joseph X. Buffington's purchase of land 1818 in Lebanon Township, Gallia County, Ohio as cited by Don Bowman.

• 6 July 1818 – Joseph bought 2 tracts in Lebanon Twp. (one 100 acres and one fractional section totaling 640 acres) from Earl Sproat of Monroe Co., OH for $1200. Land in the name of Jacob R.Reveca.

11. Ref. Joseph and Chloe Buffingtons' sale of land 1818 in Lebanon Township, Gallia County, Ohio as cited by Don Bowman.

• 17 September 1818 – Joseph & Chloe of Gallia Co., OH sold 100 acres in Lebanon Twp. to Hamilton & Nancy Nighswonger of Gallia Co., OH for $450. Land in the name of Jacob R. Reveca.
• Editor's Note: The Nighswonger family was among the first to settle in Ohio and their name was known in the area. Joseph's sister Susannah married Reisen Nighswonger in 1804.

12. Ref. Joseph and Chloe Buffingtons' sale of land 1820 in Lebanon Township, Meigs County, Ohio as cited by Don Bowman.

• 8 March 1820 – Joseph & Chloey (sic) of Lebanon Twp., Meigs Co., OH sold part of the fractional section of 640 acres to Caleb Price of Meigs Co., OH for $450. Jacob Buffington witnessed the deed.
• 7 April 1820 – Joseph & Cloa (sic) of Meigs Co., OH sold 84 acres (part of the fractional section of 640 acres) to David Sleath of Mason Co., VA for $950. Joseph F. Buffington witnessed the deed.
• Editor's Note: Two of Joseph and Chloe Buffingtons' sons would later marry Sleath's. Philip Joseph married Mary Ellen Sleath on 1 Jan 1826. James Quincy married Eliza Ann Sleath on 29 Oct 1835. James and Eliza would later have a son, David Sleath Buffington. It may be that the David Sleath cited above is the father of Mary Ellen and Eliza Ann Sleath.

13. Ref. Joseph Buffington's other activities in 1820 as cited by Don Bowman.

• Joseph built . . . the first grist mill for cracking corn in 1820 on Groundhog Creek.

14. Ref. Joseph Buffington's land sales in 1826 as cited by Don Bowman.

• 31 March 1826 – Joseph of Meigs Co., OH sold 140 acres (40 acres of fractional section and 100 acres purchased from Daniel Watrous in 1814) to Jacob Buffington of Mason Co., VA. James Littleton & William H. Buffington witnessed the deed.
• Editor's Note: Jacob Buffington was the brother of Joseph X. James Littleton was his son-in-law, married to Amelia Buffington. William H. was his son.

15. Ref. to Jospeh Buffington's land purchases in 1833 as cited by Don Bowman.

• 1 July 1833 – Joseph bought two plots (658 acres and 238 acres) along Little Sand Creek bordering the Ohio River from Isaac B. & Nancy Sherman of Jackson Co., VA for $400. Land formerly owned by Henry Banks.
• Editor's Note: Currently, the USGS does not list a Little Sand Creek feature in and around the Buffington Island area for either Ohio or West Virginia. It does however list a Sand Creek Bar on the Ohio River in Meigs County, close to Ravenswood, which likely in the general locale cited above.

16. From Mary L. Ayers

• In 1833, Joseph, son of Joel, began to purchase his brothers' and sisters' share in the island, a consolidation made with the goal of selling the property. Two years, later, the process was completed and on August 8, 1835 Joseph Buffington and his wife, Chloe, sold the entire island to James Williamson of Jackson County for $2300.

17. Buffington Island History, as cited by Jim Hier:

• Joel died in 1821 and he left his estate to all of his children including Magdalena Buffington DeWitt. Magdalena's brother Joseph, began to purchase his siblings shares in the island and by 1835 he owned the island; but then Joseph and his wife Chloe Harvey Buffington sold the island to James Williamson of Jackson Co., for $2,300.

18. Ref. to the sale of Buffington Island as cited by Don Bowman.

• 18 February 1834 – Meigs Co., OH deed records – James Williamson of Washington Co., OH “secured a bond for the release of Buffington Island (in Jackson Co., VA) from the estate of Levi Barber, dec'd… $2000 bond on claim held by Barber's estate against Joseph Buffington… the estate has already paid Buffington $300 for a proper deed.” It appears that Joseph tried to sell the island first to David Barber, executor for the estate of Levi Barber, dec'd of Marietta, Washington Co., OH and there was some kind of problem with the deed.

19. Ref. to Joseph Buffington's purchase of his siblings shares in Buffington Island, preparing for its sale, as cited by Don Bowman.

• 1834-1835 – Jackson Co., VA deed records -- Joseph bought the claims of his siblings in the 150-acre Buffington Island, 8 shares at $300 each. (It is curious that his older brother, William, apparently had no interest in the island when it was sold.)
• a. (18 Feb 1834) – Jacob Buffington of Meigs Co., OH to Joseph of Jackson VA.
• b. (2 April 1834) – Asa & Elizabeth Buffington of Pike Co., IL for $300 to Joseph of Jackson VA.
• c. (2 April 1834) – Richard & Polly Brown [Buffington] of Pike Co., IL for $300 to Joseph of Jackson VA.
• d. (2 April 1834) – Reason & Susannah Nightswanger of Pike Co., IL for $300 to Joseph of Jackson VA.
• e. (2 June 1835) – Abraham & Margaret Buffington of Jefferson Co., IL to Joseph of Meigs OH.
• f. (4 June 1835) – Philip C. & Elizabeth Buffington of Gallatin Co., IL toJoseph of Meigs OH.
• g. (8 Aug 1835) – Jacob & Amelia Buffington of Meigs Co., OH to Joseph of Meigs OH.
• h. (8 Aug 1835) – Thomas & Magdalena Dewitt of Jackson Co., VA to Joseph of Meigs OH.

20. Ref. to the sale of Buffington Island 8 Aug 1835 to James Williamson as cited by Don Bowman.

• 8 August 1835 – Joseph sold Buffington Island to James Williamson for $2300.
• 12 April 1837 – The deed for the island had to be rewritten and recorded for some reason. It is filed in both Jackson Co., VA and Meigs Co., OH.

21. Ref. Joseph Buffington's religious practices as cited by Don Bowman.

• A religious man, Joseph held regular Methodist meetings in the second story of his frame house on Buffington Island.

22. Ref. to the Buffington's moving from the Buffington Island area to Louisa County, Iowa Territory 1837 as cited by Don Bowman.

• After selling the island, he and Chloe moved to Iowa in 1837 along with five of their children: William Harvey, Philip J. & his wife Mary; Samuel Wilson; James Q. & his wife, Eliza; and Magdalene & her husband Isaac Daugherty. Chloe died in 1840 and is buried in Buffington Cemetery in Louisa Co., Iowa.

23. Ref. to Joseph Buffington's 1841 land sales as cited by Don Bowman.

• 3 May 1841 – Joseph sold another 100 acres on Little Sand Creek back to Isaac B. Sherman.
• 3 May 1841 – Joseph & Chloe of Louisa County in the Iowa Territory sold 100 acres on Dead Man's Creek in Meigs Co., OH to Joseph F. Buffington.

24. The Buffington Cemetery

• The Buffington Cemetery is located approximately five miles south of Columbus City, back in a field in Elm Grove Township (Twp. 74N R4-5W). Many years ago a man in the vicinity of the Buffington Cemetery built a new barn and needing some foundation stones for his barn, he used the tombstones from the Buffington Cemetery. Fortunately, a record of that cemetery has survived through the family records of the Buffington Family. The Buffington Cemetery is one of the oldest family cemeteries in Louisa County with the first burial made in 1840.

Property:

• He paid taxes age 23 Gallipolis Township
• Age 37 he had 100 acres in Gallia County, Ohio in April 1814
• He is listed as having 2 tracts of land (100 acres July 6 1818 in the Lebanon Township, Gallia County, Ohio

His occupation in 1840 was a farmer in Louisa County, Iowa age 63^[2] Marriage took place with Jane Elliott on 23 July 1844 in Washington county, Iowa, United States of America^[3] Name: Joseph X. Buffington. Given Name: Joseph X. Surname: Buffington. A Given name was found in addition to a first name in the NAME tag. FSFTID LZFR-7PF. Buried JAN 1849. Columbus City, Louisa, Iowa, USA.

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #20936737
2. ↑ United States Federal Tax records and Census
3. ↑ United States Iowa County Marriage register

• BUFFINGTON, JOSEPH F. * 52-4-431

BUFFINGTON, NANCY * 52-4-437 1920 census Fairview Illinois BUFFINGTON Joseph 69 BUFFINGTON Margaret 69 DEATH: Interment Record for Joseph Buffington Name: Joseph Buffington Sex: M Born: 1777 Died or Buried: 1849 Age: 72 Buried: Buffington (township = Elm Grove) County/State: Louisa, IA Military Service: none Book: LCC ©1990 - page EG-11 Notes: d. 15 Jan 1849, aged 72 yrs., 4 mos., 29 days--

• Source: S1 UPD 21 JUL 2015 17:31:46 GMT -0500 Author: Richard C. Casey Title: Casey Web Site Text: <p>MyHeritage.com family tree

  Family site: Casey Web Site

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