Biographical Sketches.
No. 5.
A. W. Buford.
Born 1809 – Died 1879.

Rev. A. W. Buford was born in Garrard county, Kentucky, in 1809. At seventeen years of age he joined the Presbyterian church. He was educated with a view to the ministry, at Centre College, Danville. When twenty-six years of age, he was impressed with the idea that he was not fitted spiritually for the holy office of minister; and having been recommended as a teacher by Hon. R. P. Letcher, member of congress from Kentucky, he left home and family and came to Georgia. For several years he taught the school at Prospect Academy, near Lexington, Oglethorpe county, Georgia, being a member of the Lexington Presbyterian church. At that time, Dr. N. M. Crawford, who was for years president of Mercer University, was a member of this church.

Though living in a Baptist community and surrounded by Baptist influences, Mr. Buford remained true to his Presbyterian views, until in the Sunday school, of which he was superintendent, the baptismal question came up for discussion. He entered into a written controversy on the subject with Mr. Hay P. Landrum, and became convinced, after carefully examining the New Testament both in English and in Greek, that he had never been baptized. He immediately attached himself to the church at Baird’s and was immersed by Rev. Neville Lumpkin.

In 1839, he married Miss S. E. Jackson, and the same year moved to Polk county, Tennessee, where he joined the Baptist church at Friendship. The question of personal duty as to the ministry again occupied his serious attention, and he simply waited for the Lord to make his way clear before him, submitting to the Divine guidance. He was ordained in 1840, from which time until the close of 1877, he had charge of three or four churches constantly. Shortly after entering the ministry, he moved from East Tennessee to Bartow county, Georgia, where he spent the remainder of his days. He died in 1879.

Rev. A. W. Buford was one of the pioneer preachers of Cherokee Georgia. In person he was tall, spare and erect, with gray eyes and dark complexion and hair, the latter sprinkled with gray. In his section he did much for the Baptist denomination, in a broad field of labor, assisting, effectively, in the organization of churches, the ordination of ministers, the establishment of schools and colleges, and in preaching to three or four county churches. At one time he was a member of the Board of Trustees for Cherokee Baptist College, and for a number of years, was moderator of the Middle Cherokee Association. As a pastor, he was ever prompt and regular, conscientiously discharging the duties of his position. His religious studies were pursued principally in the family. He raised a large group of children, some of whom—three sons and four daughters—are still living.