History in
a Pecan ShellBuchanan
was named for the U.S. President (before he was elected) and replaced Wardville
(another ghost) as the Johnson County seat of government in 1856. Buchanan was
chosen for its more central location. A post office opened there in 1857 and a
log courthouse heard trials and dispensed justice. A jail was in place the following
year. Buchanan
served for slightly more than ten years. The town had insufficient water and in
1866 an agreement was reached with the new (adjoining) county of Hood. Johnson
County gave land to Hood, causing a readjustment of the county center.
With
Buchanan no longer within six miles of the center, in March of 1867, an election
was held and Buchanan felt the pain it had inflicted on Wardville.
Voters chose Camp Henderson (which was to eventually become Cleburne),
the population relocated to the new seat and the post office closed its doors
in 1868. A few diehard residents remained but by the 1890s, Buchanan was deserted.
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Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos of their town/subject, please contact
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