SOLOMON S. BUCKLAND

& THE BURNHAM FAMILY

BIOGRAPHY

AS RECORDED IN:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES.

PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 473

SOLOMON S. BUCKLAND, one of Scotland’s well known agriculturists and representative citizens, was born at Windsor Locks, then the town of Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn., May 25, 1828.

Hiram Buckland, father of Solomon S., was also a native of Hartford county, and was a farmer and land owner in the town of Windsor where his life was spent. Hiram Buckland’s political affiliations were originally with the Whig party, but after the formation of the Republican party he cast his ballot in its support. His wife Harriet Grant, was a descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent families in Windsor, and a near relative of General Grant. Hiram and Harriet (Grant) Buckland were the parents of eight children, as follows: Solomon S.; John W., who resides in Kansas; Andrew, who died in Kansas; Mary Adaline, deceased; Elizabeth, who married Andrew J. Barnard; George W., who resides in Kansas; Albert, deceased; and Julia, who married William H. Filley, a prominent citizen of Windsor.

Solomon S. Buckland was educated in the district schools of his native town, Windsor, and at the schools in Ellington. He taught school for many years in Windsor and Bloomfield, and became well known in the educational world for his peculiar fitness for the teacher’s profession. He had an intuitive understanding of the pupil’s difficulties and with infinite patience explained them clearly away.

After he gave up teaching Mr. Buckland went West as a salesman of books and traveled through the western States for several years. He found the East more congenial, however, and returning to his native place located at Rainbow, Hartford county, where he engaged in a general merchandise business. After four years of indifferent success Mr. Buckland sold out, and in 1857 he moved to Scotland, Windham county. There he located on the Marcus Burnham farm where with the exception of four years spent in Los Angeles, Cal., he has ever since been engaged in general farming, stock raising and dairying.

While in no sense a politician Mr. Buckland is a staunch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and was one of the first Republicans in Scotland. He was present at the inauguration of President Lincoln March 4, 1861. Mr. Buckland has always been a careful reader and a close student of public affairs. He has lived the life of a Christian gentleman but is not identified with any religious denominations.

In 1854 in Scotland, Mr. Buckland was married to Charlotte Burnham, only child of Marcus and Achsah (Holt) Burnham. To this union was born one child, Mary Elizabeth. She married Arthur E. Brown, by whom she has had six children: Arthur Buckland, who died aged eight years; Florence May; Harold Burnham; Ruth Clark; Marcus Holt; and Kenneth Grant. Mr. and Mrs. Brown and their family reside in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., California.

THE BURNHAM FAMILY, of which Mrs. Buckland is a member, was an early settled family of Windham county. Marcus Burnham, father of Mrs. Buckland, was born in Windham July 27, 1806, a son of William and Lois (Grow) Burnham. He was reared on a farm in that part of Windham county now known as Scotland. He attended the district schools, and then turned his attention to farming which he followed all his life. After his marriage he settled on the Abner Robinson farm now operated by his son-in-law Mr. Buckland.

Mr. Burnham lived to a ripe old age, but at the age of eighty-three he fell near his home and broke his back, dying in 1889 from the effects of the accident. He was buried in Scotland cemetery. A good man, of upright morals, and with broad charity for the faults and foibles of others, he had many friends and was highly respected by all who knew him. Mr. Burnham married Achsah Holt, daughter of Capt. Jona and Achsah (Hammond) Holt. She died in Scotland and was buried there. One child blessed their home, Charlotte Lois, now Mrs. Solomon S. Buckland.

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel – great-great granddaughter of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct.