Husband Joseph Kerr Buchanan 1 2 3
Born: 23 Jan 1830 - Hancock Co, WV 3
Christened:
Died: 30 Aug 1894 - Beaver Co, PA 3
Buried:
Father: John Buchanan (1798-1830) 1 4
Mother: Margaret Chambers (Abt 1803-1833/1834) 5 6 7
Father: Aaron Moore ( -1879) 1 3
Mother: Polly Stevens ( -1874) 1
Marriage: 16 Feb 1865 1 8
Wife Martha T. Bigger 1 2 8
Born: 19 Apr 1830 - Hanover Twp, Beaver Co, PA 1 8
Christened:
Died: 16 Jan 1909 - Hanover Twp, Beaver Co, PA 8
Buried:
Father: James [2] Bigger (Abt 1786-1861) 9 10 11 12
Mother: Mary Biggart ( - ) 11 12
Children
1 M Rev. Aaron Moore Buchanan, D.D. 1 8
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Sarah Wiley ( - ) 8
2 M James Bigger Buchanan 1 8
Born: 2 Sep 1863 - Hanover Twp, Beaver Co, PA 8
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Hettie Swearingen ( - ) 13
Marr: 29 Aug 1888 13
General Notes: Husband - Joseph Kerr Buchanan
He was born in Hancock County, West Virginia, near Chapman's Landing. His father died when he was three months old, and, at the age of three years he was left an orphan by the death of his mother. At the age of four years, he was bound out to Aaron Moore. In the article of indenture it was stipulated that he should be bound to Mr. Moore until age of seventeen; should receive board and clothing, and be sent to school till he could learn to read and write and cipher "till the single rule of three." He was treated as a son by Mr. and Mrs. Moore. At the age of fourteen he went into the mill owned by Mr. Moore, asthma having prevented Mr. Moore's active life there, and he continued to operate the mill until after he was seventeen years old, and helped to pay off a debt incurred by Mr. Moore in building a house.
His father died in the year of his birth and he was left an orphan at the age of three years, when his mother died. He was then, as was the custom of the times, bound out to Aaron Moore and his wife, Polly, of Hanover township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, they pledging themselves, in return for his services, to see that he "be taught to read and write and cipher to the single rule of three." Mr. and Mrs. Moore received the boy as their son, educated him as well as the limited facilities of the time would permit, and in all things made his life happy and care-free, never letting him want for parental love. He, in turn, rewarded them with a son's fidelity, and as, in the evening of life, the steps of his foster parents became slower and more uncertain, he repaid to the full their watchful care over him by a devotion, simple and whole-hearted, and smoothed for them the way to the grave, keeping them free from any of the material wants that so often accompanying decrepitude. The last kindness of Aaron Moore was the bequest of his farm and mill, to which Mr. Buchanan added adjoining land, continuing to acquire surrounding property until he was the owner of seven hundred and seventeen acres in one body, land later owned by his sons. The dwelling on the original property was erected by Aaron Moore in 1840 and was still in excellent condition into the twentieth century.
Mr. Buchanan was the chief promoter of the Mill Creek Hill Cemetery, a charitable enterprise, and he labored so diligently in behalf of that project that it was finally successfully incorporated and became one of the institutions of whose history the region may well be proud. He was a Democrat in political persuasion, but never held public office, and was a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which, from an early age, he was a trustee. For many years he was superintendent of the Sunday school of the church, and in this capacity took the greatest interest, preferring Sunday school work to any other department of church service. With a personality that attracted those of youthful age, he was fond of all children, especially boys. To many lads he pointed out the safe course to pursue through life, and ever mindful of his own boyhood, assisted others in much the same manner as he had been helped, his sympathetic advances typically meeting with a friendly reception, the object of his attention recognizing in him a kindred spirit and one with whom he had much in common. In 1869 he was chairman of the building committee, the result of their efforts taking the form of a substantial brick house of worship.