Jefferson County Historical Society

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Lieut. John Buxton, teacher of instrumental music, notary public and 
pension agent at Cedar Hill, is a native of Manchester, England born
in 1835, and is the second son of John and Elizabeth (Ravenscroft)
Buxton, native of England, born in 1811 and 1812, respectively.  They
were married in 1831, and in 1855 came to the United States, locating
in Jefferson County, on Big River, in Meramec Township, where the 
father died in 1857.  He was a cotton spinner, but after coming to
Jefferson County engaged in agricultural pursuits.  He was a man of
education, and a member of the I. O. O. F.  In 1858 Mrs. Buxton married
Mr. D. Pitzer, who was killed by bushwhackers in 1864.  The mother is 
still living on the old farm near Cedar Hill.  Young John was educated 
in the Manchester schools, and came with his parents to Jefferson
County, where he farmed until the breaking out of the late war, when he 
enlisted in Company I, Thirteenth Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and
was mustered out as first lieutenant, in September, 1865, after over four
years of hardship and suffering.  He took part in the battles of Forts 
Henry, Donelson, first Nashville battle, Shiloh, Corinth, and through 
the siege of Vicksburg. In July, 1862 his regiment was consolidated with
the Twenty-second Ohio, and the Thirteenth Missouri was no more.  He was 
discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio. In 1866 he returned to England, where he 
married Miss Sarah, daughter of James and Elizabeth Turner, and to them 
were born four sons: Frank J., Louis U., William J. and Edward.  The same 
year of his marriage Mr. Buxton returned to Jefferson County, and settled 
at the mouth of Belew's Creek, where he lived until 1885, when he located 
at Cedar Hill, and devoted his attention to music. Since 1887 he has been 
notary public, and for several years has been pension agent. He is a 
Republican in politics, and his first vote was cast for A. Lincoln, in 
1860. He is a member of the G. A. R., of John D. Rahye Post, at Cedar Hill,
of which he is quartermaster.