U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Buster, Charles B. (1838-1929) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 606-610 CHARLES B. BUSTER, county clerk of Greenbrier County, West Virginia, and a representative citizen of Lewisburg, was born October 22, 1838, in Charleston, Kanawha County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and is a. son of George W. and Ann E. (Chilton) Buster, both natives of Virginia, the former of Loudoun County and the latter of Warrenton, Fauquier County. The Buster family, which is of Scotch-Irish descent, was among the early settlers of the State of Virginia. Maj. Claudius Buster, the grandfather of our subject, spent the latter part of his life in Greenbrier County, a man of large means and the owner of valuable property. George W. Buster, father of Charles B. Buster, was well and favorably known in Kanawha County, which he served both as deputy sheriff and as sheriff. From 1836 to 1858 he was the proprietor of the Blue Sulphur Springs, being one of the original organizers of the Blue Sulphur Company, and finally by purchase becoming the sole owner. He was a leading member of the Democratic party for many years. His death occurred in Greenbrier County in 1868, at the age of 65 years. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Dr. Samuel Chilton, of Fauquier County, and through this ancestral line Mr. Buster is connected with one of the oldest and most distinguished families of England. Dr. Samuel Chilton was a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Blackwell) Chilton, and was married to his cousin, Lucinda Blackwell, in 1795. The Chiltons of Virginia are descendants of an old English family, originally of French descent, as the name indicates, although its derivation is somewhat uncertain. A recent writer upon the old families of England says that it is derived from the chalk cliffs of Dover, near which the Chiltons are supposed to have settled when first landing on English shores. In 1066 William I, Duke of Normandy, styled "William the Conqueror," set sail for the conquest of England, and inscribed upon his banner roll was the name of Sir John Chilton. This is the first mention found of the use of the name, and it is reasonable to suppose that he remained, with others of his family, to share the spoils so liberally bestowed by the Conqueror. Members of the family, with vassals and retainers, were in the train of Robert H., Duke of Normandy, son of William the Conqueror, when that doughty Crusader embarked for the Holy Land. From that time five centuries elapse before anything more is heard of the Chiltons; in 1642 they again became prominent as loyal subjects of Charles Stuart, but later joined those who resisted the exactions and usurpations of Charles and finally joined the Parliamentarians. In 1678, 18 years after the accession of Charles II, three brothers of the name of Chilton came to America. Charles Chilton, the eldest of the family, settled in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on the banks of the Potomac River where he named his estate "Curryoman." Charles Chilton had a family of four sons: Thomas, William, Charles and John. Thomas Chilton, the first-born, inherited the family estate, married a Miss Pearce, lived to old age and died without issue. William inherited "Maidstone," to Charles was given "Hereford" and John obtained "Rock Spring." Charles and John married sisters, — Betty and Letty Blackwell. Charles Chilton reared a large family, naming his children as follows: John, Samuel (the grandfather of Charles B. Buster), Stephen, Blackwell, Mark, and Betty, the latter dying unmarried. John Chilton was an officer of a Virginia regiment in the Revolutionary War, and was killed during the battle of Brandywine, leaving children as follows: Thomas, Joseph, George, Nancy and Lucy. William Chilton married a Miss Orrick and at death left three children: Orrick, William and Susan. Thomas Chilton left no children and Orrick, the eldest son of William, became the heir- at-law and inherited the great-Chilton estates. He married a Miss Corbin. Of the two other brothers who also came to America, after the restoration of Charles II, but little is known One settled in Virginia and the other in Maryland. Of the Virginia brother, a few descendants, perhaps, remain in Bedford or Campbell counties. In Maryland the name still lives, one branch having intermarried with the Snowdens of Baltimore. Laura Chilton, principal of the convent school at Wheeling, West Virginia, was one of that family. A late writer, commenting on the families of Westmoreland County, such as the Lees, Washington, Ashtons, and others, says: "Pursuing our journey along the river banks, we came to 'Curryoman.' A slab marks this as the home of the Chiltons. Their descendants settled in the upper county, Fauquier, where the name still lives, but there is nothing but a cross road and a hidden slab to recall the name." In 1620, when the "Mayflower" landed at Plymouth Rock, Mary Chilton was the first to step ashore. This was some years in advance of the Parliamentarian emigrations, but the same resolute spirit prevailed and this was doubtless one of the same family. Dr. James Chilton, the eminent chemist, was one of the Puritan stock, although the name has not been a very noted one in the United States. A member of the family, Tom Chilton, of Kentucky, probably became one of the best known to the public. He was a man of surprising eloquence and of varied gifts and acquirements, but from an extreme fickleness of character never pursued any calling long enough to achieve enduring greatness. Sam Chilton of Fauquier County, was a man of fair talents and as a lawyer excelled as a criminal pleader. He was much esteemed by those who knew him well and was greatly admired for his genial, pleasant manner. John Chilton, of Vicksburg, was a distinguished lawyer. Of those who embraced the medical profession. Dr. John Chilton of Fauquier became the most prominent. The Chilton coat of arms, said to be one of the finest in the book of heraldry, is a chevron boar's head and red and white rose. Charles B. Buster, our subject, the efficient county clerk of Greenbrier County, was an infant when his parents removed thither from Kanawha County. There he was reared and educated and passed his earlier life as a farmer. In 1872 he accepted a clerkship with McMann & Company, contractors for the improvement of the Greenbrier River, and remained with them until the work was finished in 1874. after which he engaged with Barnum & Hurley, contractors of construction work on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway and continued with them until the work was almost completed. He was first elected county clerk in 1884. Mr. Buster is serving his fourth term in that capacity and is one of the most popular of the county officials. He has also been justice of the peace for four years. In politics he has always been identified with the Democratic party. Mr. Buster married Virginia W. Hamilton, who was a daughter of Jacob Hamilton, and was born near Blue Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, February 22, 1838, and died at Lewisburg, September 8, 1886. A family of four children were born to this marriage, namely: Annie H., who married Lewis P. Houseman of Pueblo, Colorado; Emma B., who married Harry A. Henderson, a native of Sussex, England; Fannie, who died at the age of 22 years, and Charles, who died aged 18 years. The second marriage of Mr. Buster was to Mattie W. Cooper, and two children have been born to this union: Blackwell C. and Mary E. In religious belief Mr. Buster is a Presbyterian. His long connection with public affairs has given him a wide acquaintance and many friends. ------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH CERTIFICATE, Greenbrier County WV, #477 FULL-NAME: Charles B. Buster BIRTH-DATE: October 22, 1838 BIRTH-PLACE: Charleston, W.Va. DEATH-DATE: January 31, 1929 AGE-AT-DEATH: 90y-3m-9d DEATH-PLACE: Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: formerly County Clerk of Greenbrier Co. FATHER: Geo. M. Buster (born in Charleston, W.Va.) MOTHER: Ann E. Chilton (born in Fauquier, Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Influenza / Senility INFORMANT: Emma B. Henderson (of Lewisburg, W.Va.) BURIAL: Blue Sulphur ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Greenbrier County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/greenbrier/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------