Buell Family Reunion, July 1877

The Buell Family Reunion

 Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, Norwich, NY, July 7, 1877

On Friday last it was our pleasure with others to be present at a family reunion of the Buell family, at the hospitable residence of Mr. Elijah K. Buell, the old Buell homestead, at King Settlement [Chenango Co. NY].  It may not be generally known that this family is of exceedingly ancient origin and unlike most of our American citizens they are able to trace their genealogy with a tolerable degree of accuracy.

The original stock is of Welsh extraction and the ancient orthography of the name was Bwyl.  The Welsh Buells (or Bwyls) were furnace men and emigrated from Pembrokeshire Wales to Staffordshire England, about the year 1546, whence a branch of the family went to Somersetshire in 1489, where the name is still perpetuated. The English Buells are "small freeholders," That is to say owners of their homes or farms in fee simple and not leasehold tenants.  Their Farms are located a few miles southwest of the town of Old Bridgewater and about thirty-five miles from the city of Bristol.  They were staunch Roundheads in politics though not strict Puritans in religion and eagerly followed the standard of Cromwell when raised against the Stuart dynasty. Those of the family who remained in England after the Restoration joined the Duke of Monmouth in his ill-starred rebellion against King James II.  After the battle of Ledgemoor, their freeholds were sequestrated by Lord George Jeffreys and themselves driven out of Somersetshire.  But William of Orange, when he came to the throne of England, restored their land and subsequently Queen Anne made various small grants to those who had already settled in the then colonies of Connecticut and New Jersey.

The Buells of this country are literally "to the manor born."  Their ancestor, William Buell, with his brother, Ralph [Buell], emigrated from near Old Bridgewater, Somersetshire, England, immediately after the restoration of the Stuart family to the English throne, and settled, on in what is now New Jersey, and the other near Stonington, Connecticut.  They had both been soldiers in Cromwell's army and had fought at Worcester, Dunbar and Marston Moor.  William, who settled in New Jersey, reared a large family, and one of his sons, Elijah [Buell] by name, settled in what is now Dutchess County [NY], near Amenia, in 1704, so that the members of this branch of the family have been in New York for 173 years [in 1877]. Elijah raised several lusty boys, one of whom was killed in the Old French War, in the battle of Fort Ticonderoga.  According to the register preserved in an ancient family bible (which is a rare curiosity and is now in the possession of Mrs. Lydia Barnes of this village, eldest daughter of the late Elijah Buell, of King Settlement) Grover Buell, grandson of the original settlers in Dutchess and great-grandson of the man who had served under Cromwell, married Miss Jerusha Buck, in February 1758.  She bore him three sons, the second of whom was born in 1763, and was named Simon [Buell].  This was the father of Elijah Buell, of King Settlement, and grandfather of the family whose reunion we attended on Friday.  Old Grover Buell, the great-grandfather of the present family, served with his five brothers in the Revolutionary war, and one of them was an officer in the second New York Line (Continentals).  Grover himself was a militiaman and was in active service in the campaign of 1777 against Burgoyne and in Gen. Sullivan's expedition against the six nations.  But he had an uncle and several cousins, his father's brother and family, who lived on Manhattan Island and were Tories.  There was in consequence a bitter feeling between these two branches of the family which continued for a long time after the Revolution.

Elijah Buell, the head of the family in this vicinity, was born in Dutchess County [NY] in 1787 and came to King Settlement [Chenango Co. NY] in 1808, his baggage consisting, as he used to relate, of a rifle, axe and a pair of saddlebags.  He made the journey on horseback by way of the Susquehanna valley.  Like all the pioneers, Elijah was a man of iron frame and powerful constitution, qualities which were imperatively needed to grapple with the hemlock forests that used to fringe the Chenango hills.  He knew but one way to make a fortune and that was to earn it.  So, as the years passed by, the forest in the midst of which he built his first cabin gradually disappeared and gave place to the broad meadows and wide pastures which now make up what is known far and wide as the old Buell Homestead.  He died in 1867, within a few months of four score, leaving six sons and three daughters, all of whom are now living. Some of his descendants may surpass him in mental culture, in travel and knowledge of the world, but none of them in the essentials of manhood, self-reliance, charity and courage.

Approaching the old homestead our eyes were greeted with a scene of beauty and activity in keeping with the beautiful day which favored the reunion. the talismanic words "Welcome Home," greeted all comers from over the broad entrance to the spacious old residence. But there was no occasion then to enter, for the cordial greeting which one met with on every side from the members of the family congregated in the pleasant door yard, made him feel completely at home in such beautiful surroundings.  In front of the house was a photographer's apparatus with which the shadow of the company had just been caught and scattered hither and yon were family groups engaging in congratulations and fighting the battle of youth over again.  Two immense tables were spread upon the lawn and at two o'clock these were well filled, again and again, and when all had partaken of the bounteous repast another cheerful aspect of the reunion presented itself.  The day selected was the fiftieth birthday anniversary of Mr. Charles A. Buell, now of Meadville, Pa., who had been long absent from the old homestead. To signalize his return and give him something to carry away with him which would ever and anon prompt kind thoughts of those he leaves, each brother and sister had prepared a beautiful gift for himself and family. These were tastefully arranged upon a stand between the tables and when uncovered dazzled the eye with their brightness.  By request, the writer in a few appropriate words on behalf of the donors, presented the gifts to "Charles."  Too full for utterance, Mr. B. called upon Rev. C.C. Williams who was present, who fittingly and beautifully responded.

The afternoon was then whiled away in pleasant socialites, croquet, etc., and by the younger portion of the family with a miniature Fourth of July celebration, showing that the blood of the Revolutionary fathers still courses in their veins.  At early sundown, guests and family, all went to the family burial ground, passing the old red house on the hillside erected by the father many years ago, and which is yet in a tolerably good state of preservation.  Arriving at the graveyard, flowers were strewn over the places where rest the parents, though we have little doubt in spirit they were mingling with the throng.  The grave of the brave Sergeant, Thomas Clancey, who fell nobly battling for the union, on Fredericksburg's bloody field, was so kindly and patriotically remembered.  The flowers strewn, the man of God addressed the Throne of Grace, all united in a praise song, the Benediction was pronounced, the party returned to the homestead to separate each to his or her home, all feeling nobler and better, because of the pleasures of the day.  Each of the family vied with Mr. and Mr. Elijah K. Buell in pleasant and courteous attentions.

The family consists of six sons and three daughters, all of whom were present with the exception of Albert [Buell], who by reason of infirmity was unable to be present.  There has been no death in the family for forty-five years and upwards, except those of the parents.  The following are the names of the brothers and sisters present:  Lydia Buell Barnes, Norwich; Geo. Buell, Elijah K. Buell, Charlotte Buell Hollister, Simon Buell, King Settlement; Betsy A. Buell Brown, Norwich; Charles A. Buell, Meadville Pa., and William R. Buell, King Settlement.  The names are given in the order of their ages.  Among the grandchildren present were Buell Barnes, Geo. H. Buell, William, Lewis and Lottie Buell; Mrs. Devillo Adams and her husband, and Mr. and Mrs. Sheff of this village.  Mr. Marquis Brown (husband of Betsy) and several children were also present.  There were present a large number of the younger members whose names we did not get.  Hon. Augustus C. Buell of Washington, eldest son of Simon [Buell], arrived the same evening, too late however, to enjoy the occasion.

The entire affair was well conceived and most happily executed.  We are glad to add one word more.  Large as is the family of the elder Elijah Buell, all bear the respect, confidence and esteem of those who know them.  All are striving to fill the allotted sphere with credit to themselves and honor to their noble ancestry.  May they live long to enjoy many more such reunions and may "ye reporter" never fail to be present is the wish of the Telegraph.

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Obituary - Elijah K. Buell

Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, April 29, 1897

Elijah K. Buell was born at King's Settlement in the town of North Norwich, N.Y. [Chenango Co. NY], in the month of September 1818, and died in Norwich, N.Y., April 23, 1897.

He was the last but one of a family of six boys and three girls.  Charles Buell of Blooming Valley, Pa., is the only survivor.  The parents of these children were of New England stock, strong, sturdy, stalwart, and to their children they imparted these qualities with good and wholesome training.  The subject of this notice spent his life on the farm near the spot where he was born, until a few years past, when he has resided in Norwich village.  He was the father of four children, two of whom together with his wife are left to mourn their loss.  Mr. Buell was a quiet man, never using more words than needful to express himself; naturally timid, shrinking form public notice.  This, however, was not because he was not a man of judgment and ability.  He was a man of uprightness, indeed, an exemplary man of honesty and fidelity.  He had opinions and they were good ones, invariably of a high order.  A good citizen, a true friend and a kind neighbor.  For many years he was in public office of responsibility, a railroad commissioner for the town of North Norwich from the time the town was bonded to build the Midland railroad until a few years past and received the highest commendations from competent sources for his business ability and integrity.  He was also supervisor of the same town for many years.  Politically, he was a Republican, staunch and true, a constant reader of The Chenango Telegraph and the New York Tribune for many years.  His political views, like everything he held, were a part of himself.  His religious life was not as public in proportion as we could have wished, nor as he himself told me it ought to have been.  During the severe illness of a lovely daughter, some sixteen years ago, he learned to read the Bible beside the sickbed for the dying girl.  Afterward he went to Ocean Grove and there experienced religion.  On coming home, he said to his wife "it was too bad that that lovely lamb had to be slain to bring me to Christ" (referring to the death of the daughter) "perhaps if I had not been so stubborn, she might have lived."  He told the writer last summer that one time in the church at King's Settlement he made a public profession, and ought then to have united with the church, but his natural timidity or shrinking from publicity seemed to hold him back.

Such is a brief sketch of a life of seventy-eight years and seven months.  Between the lines of this sketch you may fill in with words of strength and beauty, words of patience and love, words of toil and anxiety, words of suffering and sorrow.

Then comes the finish.  On Thursday evening he sat quietly listening to this wife reading the latest news from the Greco-Turkish war, and also of the Cuban struggle, holding a lively interest in all the events of the day.  Then wearied from the day's toil he retired to his bed; slept for a little time, awoke with pain.  After a brief struggle, quietly fell asleep--that sleep that knows no waking in this clime.  It was a sad night to the faithful, loving wife, alone with her dying husband.  And then in her sadness to go out to call the neighbors, but He whose arm is Almighty was her strength, and will be to the end.

Good-bye husband, friend, brother, citizen, good-bye.  We will meet you in a little while, when the morning dawns.

Funeral this afternoon at 1 o'clock from his late residence on North Boad Street.  Interment in the family plot in king's Settlement.