ONLINE EXHIBIT
John A. Buchanan
1843 - 1921
John A. Buchanan was born on October 7, 1843 near
Groseclose in Smyth County. He attended the "old field"
school, and local academies at Chatham Hill and Marion. During
the Civil War, he served as a Private in Company D, Virginia
Infantry, Stonewall Brigade of the Confederate Army. He was captured
at the Battle of Gettysburg and remained a prisoner until February
of 1865. Adter the war, he attended Emory and Henry College,
graduating in 1870. He then studied law at the University of
Virginia and was admitted to the bar in 1872. He began his law
practice in Abington.
From 1885-1887, he was a member
of the State House of Delegates. He was elected as a Democrat
to both the 51st and 52nd Congress from 1889-1893. He declined
to be a candidate for election to the 53rd Congress. He returned
to his law practice and was elected Associate Judge of the Court
of Appeals of Virginia in 1895. Judge Buchanan served in this
position until 1915.
