BUCHANAN, Robert

BUCHANAN, GODDARD, KEARNS, GRAY, WREN

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 3/23/2006 at 15:26:06

Cherokee Democrat, June 26, 1895

ROBT. BUCHANAN DEAD.

The End Came After A Three Week’s Struggle

Brought to Cherokee for Interment-Something about the Life of this Unique Character.

The news of the death of Robert Buchanan, although it was expected, was a shock to the people of this community. He passed away at his home in Sioux Falls at 8:30 Saturday evening, after a three week’s struggle for life. The remains were brought to Cherokee Monday night and the funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church at 1:30 yesterday, conducted by Rev. Kearns. The business houses were closed during the services and a large number of the old friends of the family attended the funeral.

The Sioux Falls Argus-Leader has this to say of the deceased:
Robert Buchanan was one of the most unique as well as one of the most aggressive and forcible characters that South Dakota journalism and politics have ever known. He was a born fighter and from his pen flowed such streams of wit, or humor, or invective or argument, as suited the case or pleased the writer. Mr. Buchanan did not know what fear or policy were, and he followed his own course regardless of criticism or past associations. He snapped his fingers at consistency for consistency’s own sake, preferring to do what he deemed to be right and refusing to continue in a path simply because he had started upon it. For that reason he was very positive man-greatly beloved by his friends and cordially disliked by his enemies. He had plenty of both and often remarked to the writer that the true measure of a man was the friends and enemies he had made. Proud, uncompromising, witty, sarcastic, an eloquent speaker, a powerful writer, a keen manager in politics, he was at the same time a big hearted friend to those who won his confidence and esteem. Many a man in Sioux Falls who has gotten a terrific trust from Mr. Buchanan’s rapier will drop a tear to know that the hand which dealt the blow is now helpless, for they have learned to love a man who never pretended a friendship he did not feel, and who fought openly and fairly with every antagonist. He was the ideal of the family circle and to them his death is almost an overwhelming blow.

Robert Buchanan was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, 59 years ago. He came to Canada when he was six years of age and was educated there, graduating from the Canadian university at Toronto when 28 years of age. In 1863 he came to this country, starting the Post at Appleton, Wis., which he conducted for several years and then he went to Michigan where he was burned out, losing all the property he had accumulated. In 1869 he went to Cherokee, Ia., before that place had a railroad. His entire property at that time consisted of a rack of type, a small hand press and $250 in cash. He established the Cherokee Times, and made a great business success of it. Along in the 70’s he sold out the Times and secured control of the Pantagraph of Sioux Falls, out of which the Sioux Falls Press has grown. He took part in that memorable campaign which started the factional fight in Sioux Falls politics. The old settlers will remember it well. Meantime the sale in Cherokee fell through and Mr. Buchanan again took charge of his paper there until 1884 when he bought the Gazette at Davenport, Ia. In 1885 he came to Sioux Falls and bought the Leader, which two years later was sold to W.W. Goddard, and consolidated with the Argus, as the Argus-Leader of which Mr. Buchanan was for a short time the editor. After that he went into the real estate business with J. H. Gray, his son-in-law, and acquired considerable property. Had it not been for the panic and the consequent collapse of values he would have left an extremely valuable estate. In 1890 he was elected to the legislature and he needed only one more vote to make him speaker of the 1891 legislature. In that body he was easily the leader. In 1893 he started the publication of the Forum, a populist paper. Last year he was temporary chairman of the Populist state convention at Mitchell, and he could have secured the gubernatorial nomination from that party had he not refused it.

Mr. Buchanan was married in Canada to Miss Agnes Wren, who survives him. There are six children living. Mrs. J.H. Gray of Luverne, W.T. Buchanan of Elk Point, C.W. Fred, Lavinia and Lillian.