D.G. BUIS, merchant and farmer, P.O. Boyleston. Few men have done more in improving Wayne County in the last twenty years than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Putnam County, Indiana, on September 19, 1831, and is a son of Caleb and Margaret (Hurst) Buis, the father being born in North Carolina, but raised principally in Tennessee, and a German descent; the mother, coming from Tennessee, was originally of English descent.
Subject is the eighth of fourteen children, of whom six are now living. The subscription schools of his county furnished his early education. But he is more truly what might be called a self-made man, having, since attaining manhood's estate, added greatly to his knowledge. He has always been a painstaking and careful reader, and has tried to ecome acquainted with the many questions and subjects that agitate mankind. Among other things, he has mastered in a degree the science of medicine, and is enabled to practice in his own and the families of the surrounding neighborhood. He rendered what assistance he could on the home farm, until about twenty, and then commenced teaching, and followed this occpation for upward of ten years.
In Andrews County, Mo., he commenced merchandising in the year 1858, and at that point did business for three years. He then came to Moultrie County, Ill., and there farmed for eighteen months.
He next came to Wayne County, and first settled in the eastern portion of Arrington Township. There he farmed in the summer, and taught school in the winter for about four years. He then opened a general store in the village of Cincinnati, in that township, where he sold goods for seven years. In 1878 he sold out, and commenced farming in the eastern part of that township. In 1882, soon after the Air-Line Railroad was put in operation, he came to Big Mound Township, and was the first to settle in the village of Boyleston, upon land laid out by a Mr. Morris. There he opened a store and is at present carrying a stock of about $2,500.
He is also acting as Postmaster, Railroad and Express agent, and Notary Public. Besides his other business pursuits, he finds quite a good deal of time to devote to farming. He now owns 200 acres in Sections 22 and 36, of Arrington Township, 120 acres in Sections 22 and 27 of Four-Mile Township, and seventy five acres in Clay County. Of the whole, there are about 150 acres in cultivation.
Mr. Buis was married in Putnam County, Ind., on April 1, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Wallace, a daughter of Enoch and Winnie (Norton) Wallace, who were natives of Tennessee and of Scotch-Irish descent. This lady was born on January 18, 1830, and is the mother of eleven children, five of whom are now living ----
During part of the war, our subject served for eighteen months to Company H, of the Forty-first Enrolled Missouri Militia, which was used as a home guard, being never called into action.
Since Mr. Buis arrival in this county, he has occupied numerous offices of trust and profit, and while a resident of Arrington Township he served as Trustee for some time. Is a member of the Christian Church, and in politics is a Republican.
| Visit Our Neighbors | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | Clay | Richland | |
| Jefferson |
 |
Edwards | |
| Franklin | Hamilton | White | |
