Bio: Buffington, George A. (1881)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Buffington, Jones, Smith

----Source: History of Northern Wisconsin (Eau Claire County, Wis.) 1881, page 317

GEORGE A. BUFFINGTON, vice-president of the Valley Lumber Company, Eau Claire, was born in the town of Little Valley, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., June 29, 1825, and lived in Onondaga Co., N. Y., from his seventh to his nineteenth year. At that time, he came with his parents — Isaiah and Sophia Buffington — and settled on Big Foot Prairie, Walworth Co. His father died in Stephenson Co., Ill., in 1877; his mother lives with her son George, though still claiming Stephenson County as her home. He was married in the town of Sharon, Walworth Co., April 12, 1846, to Pluna L. Jones, who was born in Ithaca, N. Y. They have three children — Clarence M., Ida C. and Byron A. After his marriage, he went to Illinois and opened a farm ten miles west of Freeport, remaining there until the Fall of 1849. when he came to Oak Grove, Dodge Co., and engaged in general work until 1853, when he removed to Horicon, and was in the grocery business a year and a half, and in the livery business until Oct. 1, 1856, when he came to Eau Claire. In June, 1857, he bought the Niagara House, running it at intervals for ten years. In the Winter of 1858-9, he built the steamboat "Chippewa Valley," and was captain of that boat during the Summer of 1859, running between Reed's Landing and Eau Claire. In the Fall of 1859, he purchased one-half interest with Fred. L. Smith in the mill, at that time known as the Ball & Smith Mill. Three years later, Mr. Smith died, and his brother, C. M. Smith, became a partner with Mr. Buffington in the mill. After the organization of the Valley Lumber Company, they sold one-half interest to that company, which partnership still continues. Mr. Buffington has engaged in general merchandising several times since his arrival in Eau Claire, and was in the mercantile business from 1868 to 1877. He at present is one of the directors of the Dells Improvement Chairman of the town of West Eau Claire before the city. Was Mayor of the city, and is serving his third term as Alderman.