1854-????
Adoniram Judson Buchanan
Musician/Composer MO/??
Adoniram Judson Buchanan was born in 1854 in Linn County, Missouri, the son of Joseph Buchanan and Sarah Elizabeth McComb, both natives of Kingston, TN.
In 1867, shortly after the American civil war, the Buchanans moved to a community near Sherman in Grayson County, Texas, purchasing several acres of land and settling near the Elmont Community, a few miles west of Van Alstyne, Texas. They moved to be near Mrs. Buchanan’s brother, minister Thomas Benton McComb, who had moved to the area in the 1850’s to get the Baptist church established in Texas.
Buchanan was a hymn writer and composer. Hymnary.org credits him with 23 texts and 28 tunes.[1]
Some his more famous lyrics and tunes were published in hymns named “Beautiful Home of the Blest,” “The Beautiful Pearly Gate,” “Only a Little While,” “Seeking the Lost” (a hymn he wrote after hearing a sermon by J. H. Boyet on James 5:20 in 1889), “Sinner, Come to Jesus,” “Death is Only a Dream,” in 1892, “On the Silent River,” “Shall We Meet?” “The Beautiful Eden Above,” “The Dead in Christ Shall Rise,” “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood,” “Seeking the Lord,” and many more.
A search of Dallas, Texas, city directories reveals these facts about Mr. Buchanan.
In 1893 he is described as a traveling salesman for Alcott and Maynor while boarding with Mrs. V. DeGrazia.
The next year he is listed in the books and stationery business at 374 1/2 Elm and residing at 852 Live Oak.
In 1896 no career is listed but his residence remains the same at 852 Live Oak
In 1897 Buchanan is working for C. H. Edwards Music Company and living at the NE corner of Elm and Hill Avenue.
Adoniram Judson Buchanan was in Colorado City, Texas, in 1889, and Kansas City, Missouri, in January 1931.[2]
We found no further information on his domestic life or about his passing.
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[1] A. J. Buchanan, Hymnary.org.
[2] Adoniram Judson Buchanan, http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/b/u/c/h/buchanan_aj.htm
Could he be in Hunt County, Texas, in 1900, listed as a minister? With wife and two sons?
Thank you Sara. This may be the clue I needed to learn Rev. Buchanan’s story. I will work on this later this week and report it back in his Entry. I am very grateful for your interest and for your help. JBC
Sara, It is possible that my Adoniram Judson Buchanan was in Hunt County, TX, but I cannot prove it yet. AJ’s parents moved to Texas to support the work of Rev. Thomas Benton McComb, the brother of AJ’s mother. Here is what I discovered about him today. He has ties in Hunt County.
Rev. T. B. McComb while unassuming in his manner, is in some respects a remarkable man. He came to Texas in 1853 and located in Grayson county, where he now resides, at the age of 70. That was then the frontier of Texas. Being a minister of the gospel, he saw before him a large field for useful work. He organized and assisted in the organization of the Missionary Baptist churches in Grayson, Cook, Denton, Montague, Wise, Collin, Dallas, Hunt, Hopkins and Lamar counties, and was for years President of the “Sister Grove” Baptist Convention. He is said to have baptized over six thousand persons and officiated at the marriage of more than three thousand couples in Texas. He and his wife are both living, and notwithstanding their advanced age are active and in fine health. They have raised and educated a family of six children, the youngest being now 34 years of age. They are all married and have families, but one; this old couple have twenty-four grand-children living, and there has never been a death in the family. Source: Texas Genealogy Trails website
Contributor: Sherry (47010546)
Rev Thomas Benton “T B” McComb
Born to Jacob Shaw McComb (born in Ireland) and Sarah “Sally” Hayden (Evans) McComb
(born in Georgia). He was born (according to gravestone and other records) on November 5, 1820
in Kingston, Roane County, TN the 10th of 13 children.
(Note: The 1900 US Census indicated his birth as August 1821 (?))
T B McComb married Mary Elizabeth Jackson on May 7, 1845 in Tuscumbia, Miller County,
MO.
1850 Census, Miller Co, MO– TB is a Farmer and has 3 children: Mary, John, Jacob
1855 Moved family to Grayson County, Texas
1860 Census, Sherman, Grayson Co, TX – TB is a Minister and has 6 children
1870 Census, Sherman, Grayson Co, TX – TB is a Farmer
1880 Census, Grayson Co, TX – TB is a Preacher and a Farmer
1900 Census, Van Alstyne, Grayson Co, TX – TB is a Landlord
1910 Census, Van Alstyne, Grayson Co, TX – TB is now 90
The Census years indicate that Rev Thomas “T B” McComb was a Preacher and Farmer
That he was married for 68 years to the same woman and they would have 8 children together
(only 6 would survive)
Mary J, John Evans, Jacob Woodson, William P, Joseph R and James B (twins).