Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 633 - 634 

JOHN BUFFINGTON, one of the numerous self-made men who are prominently indentified with the farming and stock raising interests of this county, resides in Ninnescah Township. There he possesses a valuable farm on sections 17 and 20, on which he has resided since 1881. He was born April 8, 1832, in Adams County, Ill., and Asa and Elizabeth (Hume) Buffington were his parents. To them were born four children, of whom three are now living, as follows: John; James, of California, and Abraham, of Graham County, Kan.

            The subject of this sketch was left an orphan when quite young, by the death of his father and mother, the former dying when he was a child of six years, and the latter four years later; by this bereavement he was left at the age of ten without the guidance and watchful care of his natural guardians. He was then taken charge of by his cousin, Solomon Nighswanger, of Pike County, Ill., with whom he made his home until he attained his majority. He grew to manhood in his native county, receiving such rude educational advantages as were afforded by its early schools. In 1851 he removed with Mr.  Nighswanger to Marshall, Ill., and there resided for some years. He was a young man of good habits, endowed with much strength and vigor, inheriting from his worthy parents those characteristics of industry, frugality and stability, that have been important aids to him in overcoming every obstacle in the pathway to success that he has encountered since he started out in the world a poor man, with no other weapons, to fight life's battles by himself. In a few years he had gathered together a sufficient sum of money to enable him to establish a home of his own, and to the woman, Miss Cynthia Sellers, whom he invited to share its comforts, he was united in marriage in June, 1857, in Marshall County, Ill. She was born June 7, 1837, in Pike County, Ill., and was a daughter of Howell and Margaret (Conner) Sellers, who were natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. Her father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died when she was quite young.

            After marriage our subject and his wife continued to reside in their native State, making their home in Stark, Marshall County, for many years. There they endured the struggles and trials that fall to the lot of young people just starting in life together, who have their own way to make in the world, and in bravely facing them, conquered them by hard work, close economy and wise management, established their home on a sure foundation, and became moderately prosperous. There four children were born to them, three of whom are living, namely: Ida, Elizabeth and Charles. Elizabeth is the wife of George B. Withrow, of Ninnescah Township; they have one child.

            In 1881 Mr. and Mrs. Buffington decided to leave the place where they had dwelt over thirty years, around which many pleasant associations clustered, and where they had made many warm friendships, and take up their abode in Kansas. Accordingly they came to Sedgwick County, and in Ninnescah Township Mr. Buffington purchased their present place of residence. This property comprises a good house, ample out-buildings, and 280 acres of highly fertile land, which, with the assistance of his devoted wife, our subject has succeeded in placing among the most valuable and best managed farms in this township noted for its fine farms. They are now in their declining years, but owing to their early labors they can now take life leisurely, and enjoy the many comforts of their well-earned home. They are people of good social standing in this community, and Mrs. Buffington is a valued member of the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Buffington favors the Democratic party with his cordial support.

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