Individual

Go to List of Family Names Go to List of People < Previous Next >

BUXTON Gonzalo Edward
Birth:          13 May 1880 Kansas City, Mo.
Death:          15 Mar 1949 

Notes
R.I. Cemetery database at 216.239.53.104
Is he the one that wrote "Memoir of Col. Gonzalo Edwad Buxton" NEHGR vol 103, p 
223 (www.geocities.com/barbour1048/CHistory.htm) Yes.

From www.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/article211.html

G. EDWARD BUXTON, JR.  --  Despite his western birth, Mr. Buxton is a New 
Englander through family connections and personal associations, for he was educated 
in Massachusetts and Rhode Island institutions, has pursued his business career 
mainly in Providence, and after a military career in the Rhode Island National Guard 
was commissioned from this State in the Federal service. 

G. Edward Buxton, Jr., was born in Kansas City, Mo., May 13, 1880, son of Dr. G. 
Edward and Sarah A. (Harrington) Buxton (q.v.).  He completed his preparatory 
education at the Highland Military Academy, of Worcester, which he attended form 
1895 to 1898, being graduated in the latter year as valedictorian of his class and as 
senior officer of the school battalion.  Entering Brown University, he received the 
degree of Ph. B. from that institution in the class of 1902, having been active in 
various college activities, being a member of Pi Kappa, Phi Delta Theta, and the Sock 
and Buskin Club, of which he was the first president.  For fourteen months after his 
graduation from Brown University he was on the staff of 'The Providence Journal" as 
reporter and assistant telegraph editor, and then completed a three years' course in 
the Harvard Law School, with the degree of L.L. B.  Upon the completion of his 
general and professional training he became manager of the Title Guarantee Company, 
an office he held from December, 1906, to December, 1911.  From the latter date to 
April, 1912, he served as executive secretary of the Brown Endowment Campaign, and 
at the same time, and until September, 1912, was identified with the John Carter 
Brown Estate.  Since September, 1912, he has been treasurer of the Providence 
Journal Company, and although military duties have absorbed him for a large portion of 
that time, he has borne an important share of the labor of direction of that well known 
newspaper's activities. 

From August, 1914, to January, 1915, he was correspondent for 'The Providence 
Journal' in the war zone, sending articles from England, Germany, France, and 
Belgium, which pictured the extraordinary conditions imposed by the war upon both 
antagonists.  His experiences while within the German lines were of unusual interest.  
He was arrested numerous times and was continually suspected of being an English 
spy.  Early in 1915, convinced of the impossibility of the United States remaining 
neutral in the conflict, he returned home and devoted himself diligently to the cause of 
preparedness.  From this time, when he helped inaugurate the Plattsburg camps 
movement, the outstanding feature of his activity has been the vigorous, clear-
sighted, devoted patriotism that has possessed him and that has actuated his willing 
service, and which has been the means of influencing many others to national 
support.  Colonel Buxton was instrumental in organizing and was the chief marshal of 
the great preparedness parade held Saturday, June 3, 1916, in which 42,452 men and 
10,000 women participated, the parade requiring seven hours to pass the reviewing 
stand.  This parade, the greatest demonstration ever held in Rhode Island, and the 
third largest of its kind in the United States, was indicative of Rhode Island's attitude 
toward the war and the stalwart patriotism of her citizens.  Prior to entering active 
military service, Mr. Buxton was chairman of the Organization Committee on Public 
Safety of Rhode Island, under appointment of Governor Beeckman. 

Colonel Buxton's military record began in 1900, when he became second lieutenant to 
Company A, Brigade Rhode Island Militia.  In 1901 he held the rank of first lieutenant 
in the same organization, resigning in 1903.  From 1906 to 1911 he was captain of the 
Third Company, Coast Artillery Corps, Rhode Island National Guard, and from 1912 to 
1916 he was major and judge advocate of the Rhode Island National Guard.  
Resigning from the National Guard in October, 1916, he was commissioned major of 
infantry in the Reserve Corps of the United States army, October 26, 1916, and was 
ordered to active duty at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., May 8, 1917, where he was in 
command of the Second Battalion of the First Officers' Training Camp.  On August 26, 
1917, he was assigned to the command of the Second Battalion, Three Hundred and 
Twenty-eighth Infantry, of the Eighty-second Division, and in November, 1917, was 
appointed acting lieutenant-colonel of the regiment.  He resumed command of his 
battalion when the regiment left for overseas duty on May 1, 1918.  The regiment 
continued training with the British in the Somme Sector, near Abbeyville, in the latter 
part of May and the first two weeks of June.  During this period Colonel Buxton spent 
a week in the front line trenches before Albert, with the British Tenth Essex Battalion.  
From June 25 to August 9 the regiment was engaged in the Lagny Sector, north of 
Toul, and from August 15 to September 12 occupied a portion of the Marbache 
Sector.  It participated in the great St. Mihiel offensive, September 12-16, which 
straightened out the salient made by the Germans in 1914.  Colonel Buxton's battalion 
led the attack of the Three Hundred and Twenty-eighth Infantry along the west bank 
of the Moselle river, capturing the town of Norroy and the commanding ridge north of 
that town.  On September 18, 1918, two days after the close of this action, Colonel 
Buxton was appointed inspector general of the Eighty-second Division, and was in 
action in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, September 26-November 2, the crowning 
American contribution to the successive blows upon the German line that brought 
about the armistice of November 11, 1918.  On February 28, 1919, he was made 
lieutenant-colonel of the Three Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment, returned to the 
United States May 5, 1919, and was discharged from the service during his tour of 
duty on the western front, his personal distinctions forming a part of the splendid 
record of the regiment and division with which he had been identified since August, 
1917.  There can be no greater reward of service than to see the forces one has 
helped shape from an awkward, uncertain crowd, into well disciplined and trained 
troops, justify under fire the hopes and faith of its officers; and no 'outfit' in France, 
regular army or national guard, performed its appointed task more successfully that the 
Three Hundred and Twenty-eighth Infantry.  Colonel Buxton is the author and editor of 
the 'Official History of 82nd Division, American Expeditionary Forces' (Bobbs-Merrill 
Company, publishers). 

Colonel Buxton has worked diligently in the American Legion since his return to 
civilian life, having been one of the incorporators, national committeeman for Rhode 
Island, and the first chairman of the Providence Post of the American Legion.  He 
believes firmly in its principles and its aims and has contributed largely to its success 
and permanence. 

Colonel Buxton belongs to the Masonic order, and is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 
9, Free and Accepted Masons, and Providence Chapter, No. 1, Royal Arch Masons.  
His clubs are the Hope, Agawam Hunt, Art, Turk's Head, and Pen and Pencil. He is a 
director of the District Nursing Association, and has been prominent in Boy Scout 
work, aiding Colonel Charles S. Mulhearn in the organization of the Boy Scouts of 
Rhode Island.  His civic activity is along progressive  lines, and although he is in no 
way a radical, he finds it easy to leave the beaten track to meet new needs and 
emergencies.  He has a wide acquaintance in his State among its people in all walks 
of life, his democratic friendliness also contributing to his large following.  In the field 
of business he is known as an energetic and keen executive. 

On January 19, 1910, Mr. Buxton married Aline H. Armstrong, of Louisville, Kentucky.  
They have one son, Coburn Allen, born in Providence, June 6, 1912. 

Per www.firstworldwar.com/bio/york.com he was battalion commander of Alvin C. 
York, "one of America's most famous soldiers" During training, GE Buxton convinced 
York that the Bible permitted military service.


Parents
BUXTON Gonzalo Edward (18 Feb 1849 - 25 Jan 1927)
HARRINGTON Sarah Amelia (1850 - 5 Jul 1925)

Siblings
BUXTON Gonzalo Edward (13 May 1880 - 15 Mar 1949)
BUXTON Bertram H. (11 Jun 1883 - )

Marriage To ARMSTRONG Aline H. () m. 19 Jan 1910 Notes Parents ARMSTRONG John Allen () MOORE Virginia Dunham () Children by ARMSTRONG Aline H.
BUXTON Coburn Allen (6 Jun 1912 - )
Produced by Fzip 1.7 2/10/2021