Buffington was born on May 31, 1817, in Cambridge, New York, the son of William Buffington Sr. and Harriet Churchill.[1]
Buffington moved to Marcellus with his family in 1818, and then to New Albion in 1826. He attended common schools in the latter place and spent a few months in a high school in what later became Gowanda. He was elected inspector of schools while still relatively young and later became elected town superintendent of schools for five consecutive terms.[2] He began working as a farmer when he was twenty. When the New York and Erie Railroad was established, he built and ran a hotel in the village of Cattaraugus.[3]
Buffington represented New Albion as town supervisor in 1849, 1850, and 1857.[1] He was originally a Whig, and his first vote was for William H. Seward for governor in 1838. In 1854, he was the sole delegate from his assembly district to the convention in Saratoga Springs that formed the Republican Party in New York.[2] In 1857, he was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing the Cattaraugus County 2nd District. He served in the Assembly in 1858[4] and 1859.[5] In 1861, after Abraham Lincoln became president, he was appointed mail agent on the route from Dunkirk to New York City over the Erie Railroad. He served in that office for several years, resigning in favor of his son Henry C. He later owned and occupied a farm in Elm Creek, near East Randolph.[2]
Buffington was active in the temperance movement, serving in various temperance organizations for decades and frequently giving addresses on the subject. He was a member of the Baptist church. In 1850, he married Eleanor Ballard. Their children were Francis S., Henry C., Mary C., George H., Ava V., and Morand D. P.[2]
^ abAdams, William, ed. (1893). Historical Gazetteer and Biographical Memorial of Cattaraugus County, N.Y. Syracuse, N.Y.: Lyman, Horton & Co. p. 512 – via Google Books.
^ abcdHistory of Cattaraugus Co., New York. Philadelphia, P.A.: L. H. Everts. 1879. p. 224 – via Google Books.
^Murphy, William D. (1858). Biographical Sketches of the State Officers and Members of the Legislature of the State of New York in 1858. Albany, N.Y.: J. Munsell. pp. 155–156 – via Google Books.
^The Evening Journal Almanac, 1858. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Co. 1858. p. 27 – via Internet Archive.
^The Evening Journal Almanac, 1859. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Co. 1859. p. 48 – via Internet Archive.
^"Hon. William Buffington". Elmira Daily Advertiser. Vol. XXVIII, no. 25. Elmira, N.Y. 29 January 1881. p. 4 – via NYS Historic Newspapers.
william, buffington, 1817, january, 1881, american, farmer, hotel, keeper, politician, from, york, member, york, state, assembly, from, districtin, office, 1858, 1859preceded, byrufus, crowleysucceeded, byjames, smithpersonal, detailsborn, 1817, 1817cambridge,. William Buffington Jr May 31 1817 January 21 1881 was an American farmer hotel keeper and politician from New York William Buffington Jr Member of the New York State Assembly from the 2nd districtIn office 1858 1859Preceded byRufus CrowleySucceeded byJames M SmithPersonal detailsBorn 1817 05 31 May 31 1817Cambridge New York U S DiedJanuary 21 1881 1881 01 21 aged 63 Life editBuffington was born on May 31 1817 in Cambridge New York the son of William Buffington Sr and Harriet Churchill 1 Buffington moved to Marcellus with his family in 1818 and then to New Albion in 1826 He attended common schools in the latter place and spent a few months in a high school in what later became Gowanda He was elected inspector of schools while still relatively young and later became elected town superintendent of schools for five consecutive terms 2 He began working as a farmer when he was twenty When the New York and Erie Railroad was established he built and ran a hotel in the village of Cattaraugus 3 Buffington represented New Albion as town supervisor in 1849 1850 and 1857 1 He was originally a Whig and his first vote was for William H Seward for governor in 1838 In 1854 he was the sole delegate from his assembly district to the convention in Saratoga Springs that formed the Republican Party in New York 2 In 1857 he was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican representing the Cattaraugus County 2nd District He served in the Assembly in 1858 4 and 1859 5 In 1861 after Abraham Lincoln became president he was appointed mail agent on the route from Dunkirk to New York City over the Erie Railroad He served in that office for several years resigning in favor of his son Henry C He later owned and occupied a farm in Elm Creek near East Randolph 2 Buffington was active in the temperance movement serving in various temperance organizations for decades and frequently giving addresses on the subject He was a member of the Baptist church In 1850 he married Eleanor Ballard Their children were Francis S Henry C Mary C George H Ava V and Morand D P 2 Buffington died at home on January 21 1881 6 References edit a b Adams William ed 1893 Historical Gazetteer and Biographical Memorial of Cattaraugus County N Y Syracuse N Y Lyman Horton amp Co p 512 via Google Books a b c d History of Cattaraugus Co New York Philadelphia P A L H Everts 1879 p 224 via Google Books Murphy William D 1858 Biographical Sketches of the State Officers and Members of the Legislature of the State of New York in 1858 Albany N Y J Munsell pp 155 156 via Google Books The Evening Journal Almanac 1858 Albany N Y Weed Parsons amp Co 1858 p 27 via Internet Archive The Evening Journal Almanac 1859 Albany N Y Weed Parsons amp Co 1859 p 48 via Internet Archive Hon William Buffington Elmira Daily Advertiser Vol XXVIII no 25 Elmira N Y 29 January 1881 p 4 via NYS Historic Newspapers External links editThe Political Graveyard New York State Assembly Preceded byRufus Crowley New York State Assembly Cattaraugus County 2nd District1858 1859 Succeeded byJames M Smith Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Buffington Jr amp oldid 1191324965, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
