Capt. Paschal G. Buford

Paschal Buford was a founder of the town of Liberty, now the city of Bedford, VA. He farmed, ran a tavern and contracted for road construction in Bedford and Botetort Counties. He and others are said to have removed from the Peaks of Otter a large boulder which was split and hewn into four pieces, one for the Washington Monument in DC, one for the mileage marker at the Capitol in Richmond, one for the Courthouse in Bedford and the last for his graveyard at Locust Level. Among his descendants was was Martin Burke's a distinguished jurist and scholar, author of "Burke's Pleading and Practice."

Capt. Paschal Buford was well and widely known. His honest, outspoken nature made him a man to be remembered in social and everyday life. He had no concealments and no disguises, but spoke out with honest independence whatever was in his thoughts. For deception, pretense, or false pride he had no toleration. He was natural, and wished others to be so. He loved his broad acres, fat cattle, and blooded horses. As a farmer and breeder of fine stock, he was well known throughout the state. A lifelong success crowned his efforts in these departments of industry, and he leaves the fruits behind him in an ample estate. No Virginia home was ever the center of more generous and bounteous hospitality than his. In the War of 1812 he was an officer, and commanded a company at Crany Island. In the Civil War his hand and heart were with the South and her soldiers. By his invitation the wife (Mary) and daughter of General Robert E. Lee spent a summer (1863) at his home during the war between the states. In 1867 General Lee, then President of Washington and Lee University (Washington College at the time), accompanied by his daughter, Miss. Mildred, paid a visit to Captain Buford and his family. When General Lee returned to Washington College, which is located in Lexington, Virginia, Paschal Buford sent him a cow to provide milk for the family.

Text quoted from: History and Genealogy of the Buford Family In America With Records of a Number of Allied Families

BATTALION OF ART'Y (1813-14), VIRGINIA MIL.

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“ slave owner” was in the also known as field. Removed 23 March 2023.