1850 COPYBOOK OF EVAN M. BUCHANAN, SPRING MILLS SCHOOL, CENTRE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
This copybook belonged to Evan M. Buchanan, son of Brigadier General George Buchanan. It contains many handwritten model forms, poems, a number of diary entries, and drawings dating from 1850 and 1851. E. M. Buchanan attended the Spring Mills School, Gregg Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. The copybook measures 8 x 12 1/2 inches. There are 25 (two-sided) pages with some very interesting reading. A couple pages have had areas cut out.
Research on George Buchanan, Evan's father, reveals the following:
From the History of Centre & Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania by John Blair Linn, published in Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1883, pg. 182:
"Buchanan, Gen. George, died at his residence at Auchentorlie Farm, near Penn Hall, this county, on the 9th of June, 1879, aged eighty-two years, ten months, and twelve days.
He was a son of Dr. George Buchanan, of Baltimore, and was a grandson of Governor Thomas McKean, brother of Admiral Buchanan, of the Confederate navy, who was badly wounded during the naval battle in Mobile Bay, Admiral Farragut commanding the Federal fleet. He was also the father of Lieut. Evan M. Buchanan, of the United States army, who gave his life for his country in the war of the Rebellion, and Commander Thomas McKean Buchanan, who was killed in a naval battle in Bayou Teche, La., during the late war. Both these youthful heroes sleep their last sleep in the beautiful cemetery at Bellefonte. A daughter, who had been married to a Mr. Everett, from Massachusetts, lies also buried here. A third son, G. Lloyd Buchanan, rests in the graveyard at Spring Mills. In religion, Gen. Buchanan adhered to the Episcopal Church; in politics he was an ardent Whig until that once great party was dissolved, when he attached to the Democratic party, with which he acted up to the time of his death.
He held the office of prothonotary of Centre County for a time by appointment by the Governor. He also served for several terms as justice of the peace in Gregg township, where he had his home for many years."
In the Atlas of Centre County Pennsylvania (from actual surveys by and under the direction of Beach Nichols) published by A. Pomeroy & Co., Philadelphia, 1874, the map of Gregg Township, page 25, shows the residence of George Buchanan as P.O. Penn Hall. Under the "Gregg Township Business Notices," George Buchanan is listed as President of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
Also in Linn's History of Centre and Clinton Counties, pg. 289, talking about the early surveys and settlements of Gregg Township: "Returning to the western portion of Gregg, we find the survey on the application of James Potter, order No. 8, Aug. 1, 1766, surveyed Sept. 26, 1766. This was patented to Thomas McKean, afterwards Governor McKean, and remained in his family until the death of Gen. George Buchanan, when "Auchentorlie," as the place was called, was sold to Maj. J. B. Fisher."
SOLD
