Bios:  BUCHANAN, Harvey S., Indiana Co, PA

SUBJECT: BUCHANAN, HARVEY S.
SUBMITTER: E.K. Warner
EMAIL: wgene@twd.net
DATE: Jul 23, 2000
PASSWORD>
SURNAMES: Buchanan, Elkin, Irwin, Waltmire, Wolf
as recorded by Prof. J. T. Stewart in
“Indiana County, Pennsylvania - Her People, Past and Present”
Published by J. H. Beers & Co., 1913 Reformatted by E.K. Warner, July
2000

HARVEY S. BUCHANAN, former auditor of Indiana county and a well-known
resident of Indiana, where he has maintained his home for the last
fifteen years, was born in Rayne township, this county, Oct. 3, 1860,
son of George Buchanan and grandson of William Buchanan. The family
is of Scotch-Irish extraction, and Mr. Buchanan's grandfather was
born in County Tyrone, Ireland, of Scotch parentage. He and his wife
came to this country from the North of Ireland, after their marriage,
and settled first in Butler county, Pa., where he followed farming
and distilling. Thence they removed to Westmoreland County, Pa., where
he died, in Loyalhanna township. His children were: William, Arthur,
John, George, Frances, Margaret, and maybe others.

George Buchanan. father of Harvey S. Buchanan, was born in 1810 in
Butler County, Pa., and in his youth attended the country schools
near home. When a boy he would gather hickory bark after his work
was done, to make a fire bright enough to enable him to study evenings,
and by perseverance he became a well-educated man, following school
teaching for some time. He learned the trade of carpenter, and was
engaged principally as a cabinetmaker and farmer. After his marriage
he located in Loyalhanna township, Westmoreland county, where he was
employed at his trade, and thence removed to Rayne township, Indiana
county, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying there in
1861, when fifty-one years of age. He was a devout member of the Wesleyan
Methodist Church and became quite well known in that denomination,
being a local preacher. But his absorbing public interest was the
subjection of slavery and the slave traffic. He threw all, his influence
into the antislavery cause, and being endowed with considerable talent
as a campaigner and public speaker took considerable part in the abolition
movement in that capacity, as well as in his connection with the "underground
railway," by means of which he helped many slaves to escape and
gain their freedom. He was always outspoken and uncompromising in
his stand against slavery, and having the courage of his convictions
and the gift of presenting his views well was a strong influence in
the antislavery ranks for a number of years. In his earlier manhood
Mr. Buchanan was a Free-soiler, the only one in Loyalhanna township,
and he joined the Republican party upon its formation. His wife, Ann
(Irwin), was born in 1820 in Ireland, and early left an orphan, coming
to America with her father's people when twelve years old. She died
April 2, 1892, in Mechanicsburg, Indiana county, aged seventy-two
years. She, too, was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Mr.
and Mrs. Buchanan had a family of six sons and three daughters, the
daughters dying in infancy The others were: William L.; James S.,
of Rayne township; George, who is deceased; Dr. John I., deceased;
Cyrus A., of Indiana; and Harvey S.

Harvey S. Buchanan obtained his primary education in the public schools
and later was a student at the Kelleysburg academy, taught by Judge
J. P. Elkin, and at Marion Center academy, taught by Prof. Samuel
Wolf, at one time county superintendent of schools. Mr. Buchanan then
engaged in teaching, which profession he followed for eight years
in his native county. At the end of that time he went West, to the
State of Kansas, and after teaching there for three terms went out
to Colorado, where he taught one term. Returning to Kansas he settled
at Waldo, where he engaged in general merchandising, carrying on that
business for one year, until he returned to Indiana county, Pa. Settling
at Mechanicsburg, he became interested in mercantile business there,
in 1887, continuing same until 1895 at that point. He then purchased
a store at Claridge, Westmoreland county, which he conducted for one
year, and during the next year he was connected with a coal company
store at Matewan, W. Va., returning thence to his home county. He
has since made his home in Indiana borough, having purchased the property
at No. 326 Thirteenth street, where he resides.

Mr. Buchanan served two terms of three years each as county auditor,
to which office he was first elected in 1902, being honored with reelection
in 1905. He served with honor to himself and his constituents, making
a highly creditable record in this important office. For six years,
1906 to 1912, Mr. Buchanan was bookkeeper at the Indiana Woolen Mills,
and he is now engaged as a traveling salesman. In every association
he has proved himself a man of honor and capacity, and he is esteemed
by all who know him. Mr. Buchanan is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist
Church and active in its work, having served as steward. In political
connection he is a member of the Prohibition party.

On Nov. 3, 1897, Mr. Buchanan was married to Venola Waltmire, daughter
of John A. and Susan Waltmire, of Indiana, and they have a family
of five children, namely: Annie Zoe, Alice A., Esther V. and, Marion
W. (twins) and Harvey M.





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