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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.