Buxton, Rathan Page

The following data is extracted from Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire Biographies.

Rathan Page Buxton, a wellknown resident and a prominent agriculturist of Henniker, was born March 5, 1829, on the farm and in the house where he now lives, son of Daniel and Abigail (Page) Buxton. He comes of substantial New England stock. His grandparents, David and Ruth (Peasley) Buxton, came to Henniker from Newton, Mass., in 1800. They settled on the farm now owned by the Baker family, and there spent the remaining years of their long lives.

After marriage Daniel Buxton lived for a few years in that part of Danvers, Mass., now in Peabody, engaged as a tiller of the soil. In 1826 he traded with his wife's brother, Enoch Page, his farm in Danvers for the Nathan Page Buxton, now lives. Having followed his chosen occupation on this farm until pretty well advanced in life, he bought a house in North Weare, the early home of his wife; and there both died at the age of sixty-seven years, his wife, who was three years older than he, passing away first. They had eight children, namely: Peace, now the wife of David Osborne, of Port Huron, Mich.; Lydia, who never married, and died at the age of fifty-four; Eliza, now deceased, who married William H. Gove, also deceased; Maria M., now residing in Bound Brook, N.J., who is the widow of James Denison, late of New York City; Abbie and Hannah M., both unmarried, who reside in Weare; Nathan P., the subject of this sketch; and Daniel M., a house-mover of Hillsborough, N.H. Both parents were original members of the Society of Friends in Henniker.

Nathan Page Buxton, the only member of his parents' family left in Henniker, was reared and educated on the homestead. From the age of twenty-one years until his marriage he carried on the home farm in company with his brother. When ready to establish a household of his own, he bought the adjoining property. On this he subsequently resided for thirteen years, making essential improvements and greatly increasing the value of the estate. Laboring industriously and managing prudently, he acquired some money, and in 1876 bought the homestead from his brother. He retained possession of the other farm until about two years since. The house in which he now lives, save for a few alterations made by his father, is the same that was occupied by his grandfather. It is in a fine state of preservation, owing to the substantial quality of the material put into it. Mr. Buxton has one hundred and four acres of land, well adapted to general agriculture. He makes a specialty of dairying, shipping his cream to Boston; and he raises his own cows, his favorite grade being the Holstein crossed with the Jersey. On the property is a fine orchard, which yields a good deal of fruit.

On April 1, 1862, Mr. Buxton married Miss Cynthia Daniels, of Henniker, who was born in Shipton, P.Q., Canada. She died three years later, leaving two sons, namely: Clinton Averill, who is a machinist and an electrician, and resides in Winchester, Mass.; and Frank Edgar, who is engaged in garment cutting in Holyoke, Mass. Mr. Buxton contracted a second marriage on August 10, 1865, in Deering, N.H., with Hannah M. Clough, daughter of Elijah and Abigail Clough, of that town. The children of this union are: Elmer E., who assists in carrying on the farm; Maurice E., who is employed in a shoe factory of Auburn, Me.; and Alberto, who resides at home. Mr. Buxton has been a firm supporter of the Republican party since early manhood, and he has been a delegate to several conventions. While not an aspirant to office, he served acceptably for two years as Supervisor of the town. Still adhering to the religious faith in which he was reared, he attends the Quakers' meetinghouse, which stands near his farm. Mrs. Buxton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Henniker.

Source: Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire Biographies

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