San
Joaquin County
Biographies
WALTER SCOTT BUCHANAN
In 1907 Walter Scott Buchanan took
up his permanent residence in Manteca and has been active and progressive in
the development of this locality. He is
engaged in the real estate and insurance business and the steady progress and
success which he has won indicate the persistence and energy of his
character. He was born on May 1, 1869,
near Shampoeg, Oregon, the first capital of Oregon, settled by French
Canadians, and where the territorial legislature assembled before Oregon became
a state. His father, John C. Buchanan,
was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, August 1, 1827. At the age of twenty-one he was graduated
from the Edinburgh University as a mining engineer. From Scotland he went to Australia where he
followed his profession for five years, then returned to his native land and in
1857 came to America. For six years he
was connected with mining in western Idaho, but later gave it up and engaged in
farming in the Willamette Valley, Oregon.
He married Miss Rosa A. Barnhart, a native of Canada and a niece of
Colonel William Cody, known as Buffalo Bill.
There are three sons in the family:
Walter Scott, the subject of this sketch; John C., Jr., an extensive
land owner in northwestern Oregon; and Charles B., who owns and operates the
largest warehouse and lumber mill in Oregon, located at Hillsboro. The father passed away in 1898 while the
family was residing in Oregon; the mother now makes her home with our subject
near Manteca.
The education of Walter Scott
Buchanan was obtained in Oregon and in 1884 he entered the Pacific University,
where he attended two terms; then he entered the printing shop of Dana Thomas,
editor of the Pacific Pharos, and there he spent eight years. On June 13, 1895, he enlisted in the U. S.
Regulars, Fourth Infantry Headquarters Company, and was sent to Fort Sherman,
Idaho. His regiment belonged to the
Fifth Army Corps, the first to be transported to Cuba, and Walter Scott
Buchanan was made a sergeant in his company.
During his stay on the island he was employed in a printing shop most of
the time and while there he became personally acquainted with General Leonard
Wood, at that time a colonel in the Fifth Army Corps. In the spring of 1901 he returned to the
United States and after his arrival in San Francisco he reenlisted in the
Twenty-ninth Infantry and was made a first sergeant; he was immediately sent to
the Philippine Islands on board the S. S. Buford, and his foreign service
covered a period of twelve months. His
army record includes four enlistments and service up to 1907, when he was
honorably discharged at Fort Mason on June 30.
He then settled in Manteca and for four years was engaged in development
work on the West & Wilhoit vineyard.
He then purchased twenty acres and developed it to vineyard, which he
has since sold. He owns his home and a
small ranch located on the corner of Hogan and Veritas
roads three miles south of Manteca.
The marriage of Mr. Buchanan united
him with Miss Lucy Keen, and they are the parents of one son, Millard E., who
distinguished himself during the World War with the A. E. F., and is the fifth
in line since 1812 to serve the U. S. Government. Mr. Buchanan is a Republican in politics and
a member of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce and contributes to the local
newspapers as a special writer.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
1452-1455. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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