Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 35.
 
HON. J. A. BUCHANAN

     Hon. J. A. Buchanan, judge of the municipal court of Astoria, is a member
of one of the worthy old families of this state and has been actively identified
with public affairs as educator, lawyer, jurist and legislator. In the Portland
Daily Journal of July 10, 1928, Fred Lockley, after an interview with Judge
Buchanan, printed the following: "'My father, Rev. Amos Buchanan, was a minister
in the Christian church. He received a salary of five hundred dollars a year
and, as there were thirteen children in our family, we were not over-indulged in
luxuries. I was born October 2, 1863, in Iowa. In 1875, when I was twelve years
old, we came to San Francisco and from there on the steamer "Ajax" to Portland.
In those days Monmouth was headquarters for Oregon of the Christian
denomination. I went to school to the Christian College, of which Rev. T. F.
Campbell was president. His son, Dr. Prince L. Campbell, was later president of
the college at Monmouth, and still later was president of the University of
Oregon. My father did evangelistic work here in Oregon, and also in Idaho. I
graduated from the Monmouth Normal School in 1887'. In 1888 I taught school in
Amity. I taught two years at Amity, three years at Yamhill, three years at
McMinnville and two years at Dallas.
     "'While teaching at McMinnville I read law with 0. H. Irvine. I was
admitted to the bar in 1896. In 1898 I began the practice of law in Roseburg. I
practiced my profession at Roseburg nineteen years. I represented Douglas and
Jackson counties in the state legislature and for fourteen years served as
school director of the Roseburg public schools. I was captain of the Fourth
Company of Coast Artillery, and when we declared war on Germany I was sworn into
federal service. During the war I was stationed at Fort Stevens most of the
time. I was commanding officer at Fort Columbia during the last four months of
the war. After being mustered out of the service, I began the practice of law
here in Astoria. For the past six years I have been municipal judge of Astoria.
     "'I was married in 1900 in Roseburg to Madge Bond Ragsdale. We have two
children, both daughters. Maurine married Richard T. Carruthers, of Astoria, and
they have a son, Richard T., III, born June 16, 1928. Louise graduated from the
University of Oregon, with the degree of Bachelor of Science, in 1928.
     "'I presume you have seen my book, issued in 1905 in San Francisco,
entitled "Indian Legends." I have another book ready for publication. I am
intensely interested in the early history of Oregon. In fact, the study of
Oregon history is my hobby. I would like to see more attention paid to it and
more records of the pioneers recorded and preserved for the coming
generations."'
     Rev. Amos Buchanan died at Roseburg, Oregon, and the mother also passed
away there. Mrs. Madge Buchanan was born in Missouri and is a daughter of Peter
J. and Mary E. Bond, who came to Oregon in a very early day and located at
Roseburg, Douglas county. Her father was a jeweler by trade and conducted that
line of business in Roseburg for several years. Later he engaged in farming on
the Umpqua river for a number of years, and then returned to Roseburg, where his
death occurred. Judge Buchanan is a member of the American Legion, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World, while Mrs. Buchanan is a
member of the Women of Woodcraft, and D. A. R. and Order of Eastern Star. The
Judge has been secretary of the Kiwanis Club for the past ten years, is
secretary of the board of trustees of the Young Men's Christian Association,
organized the Americanization Council of Astoria, of which he became president,
is a member of the state Americanization commission, and was one of the
organizers and is secretary of the Clatsop Pioneer Association. The Judge has
written much, in both poetic and prose form, relating to Oregon pioneer days,
and is the author of the official Oregon state song. He and his wife are members
of the Presbyterian church and give their active support to everything that is
calculated to promote the best interests of the people. Judge Buchanan is a man
of stalwart character, consistent life and agreeable personal qualities and
throughout the community honored by his citizenship he commands the uniform
respect of his fellowmen.

 
*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.