Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 795
ALMOND C. BUFFUM

It is probable that there is not a man in Harrison County, Iowa, who has traveled over the United States more extensively than Almond C. BUFFUM. He located in Harrison Co. in 1893. He has worked in at least a dozen states of the Union and has traveled all the way from coast to coast more than once. Born and reared in the state of New York, when he was 16 years of age, he went to Michigan where he worked for a while, later going to the state of Washington where he worked for a time. He worked in various other states in the west before he finally came to harrison County to make his permanent home. Since coming to this county he has engaged in general farming and stock raising and nw owns a well-improved farm of 100 acres in Taylor Township.

Almond C. BUFFUM, son of Daniel T. and Maria (MITCHELL) BUFFUM, was born March 31, 1850, in Erie Co., New York. His parents were both natives of the same state, his father being a son of Wheeler BUFFUM, a native of Rhode Island. The BUFFUMs are one of the Colonial families of the eastern states and were prominent in the early history of the United States. The town of Colton, New York, was formerly known as BUFFUMtown, having been named after one of the members of the family who located there when the town was started. Daniel T. BUFFUM was twice married and had two sons by his first wife, and seven sons and three daughters by his second marriage.

Almond C. BUFFUM is the eldest of ten children born to his father's second marriage. He received a good common school education in the schools of hs native states, and when 16 years of age began to work out by the month for his uncle, Joseph BUFFUM. A short time afterward, he went to Michigan to live with his brother, Joseph, and remained with him three years. He then in 1882, in company with his half-brother, Charles, went to the state of Washington, on the Pacific coast. There he worked in the pine forests and also in the saw mills and coal mines in that state. He remained three years on the Pacific coast and then went to Echo Canyon, Utah, where he worked in the Union Pacific Railway Company's coal mine for a few months. The company gave him a pass and he went to Chicago, and thence to his old home in New York. A few months later, the wanderlust again seized him and he started west and did not stop until he reached California. He worked there a short time, but became dissatisfied and returned east, stopping off at Council Bluffs, Iowa. A short time afterward, he came to Harrison County, Iowa, locating at Little Sioux where he lived for four years. Again becoming dissatisfied, he went to Salt Lake City, Utah, and worked there a short time and then went to Denver, Colorado, where he worked for three years.

In 1893 Mr. BUFFUM returned to Harrison County a second time, and has since made this county his home. He worked in the Missouri Valley shops for one year, after which he bought 80 acres of land in section 1 of Taylor township, where he is now living. He has since added 20 acres and now has a 100 acre farm which is known throughout this section of the county as Sunnyside Farm. He engages in general farming and stock raising and handles only the best quality of livestock.

Mr. BUFFUM was married on February 20, 1894, to Lillian BROWN, who was born in September 1874 in Muscotah, Kansas, daughter of Luther D. and Emma (PETT) BROWN. Her father was born in Vermont and her mother in England, coming to the United States when she was 18 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. BUFFUM are the parents of four children: Almond D., E. Maud, Marie, and Charles W., all four still living with their parents.

Mr. BUFFUM is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Magnolia, and Red Cloud Encampment at Missouri Valley. he and his wife are both members of the Daughters of Rebekah and Mrs. BUFFUM is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps. Mr. BUFFUM gives his hearty support to the Republican party, but has never had any desire to be a candidate for public office. Few men in the county have wider experience or passed through more trying times than has Mr. BUFFUM. He is genial in nature and whole-souled in his manner and highly regarded in the community where he has made his home for more than 20 years.

Return to 1915 Biographical B Surnames Index

Back to 1915 Biographies Index