In the early 1800's, John Travis was born a slave in Virginia to Richard and Lucinda Travis. John escaped and settled in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Eventually he moved to Queen's Bush in Canada West and married Nancy Christina Boomer. They had eleven children from 1826 to 1844. It is believed that John died before his family relocated to the Buxton Settlement.

A legend of the origin of the Travis name begins with two brothers escaping slavery who were stopped by a white man that asked who they were. They replied," We're travelers." The man misunderstood, believing Travellers was their last name. The brothers continued to use "Travelers" as their surname. Eventually, the name compacted to "Travers" and finally to Travis. There is a possibility that John Travis's father Richard was one of the brothers in the legend.

In 1833, John Richard Travis was born to Nancy Christina (Boomer) and John Travis. In 1852, Nancy Christina brought her children (John, James, Sarah, Catherine, Henry, Solomon, William, Ruth, Robert, Elizabeth & Charles) to Canada West alone. John Richard married Mary Louisa Emmanuel in Grey County, Canada West in the year 1855. Eventually John Richard, his wife and their thirteen children settled in the Elgin Settlement (Elizabeth, James, Mary, Nancy, John, Angeline, Sara, William, Clara, Rosetta, Minnie, Katherine & Samuel). John Richard was a respected member of the Buxton community and served as the Constable of Raleigh County. John and Mary were also active members of the B.M.E. Church. In 1905, John and Mary celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary John was widowed on July 22, 1910. John Richard Travis had a stroke and died on December 29, 1912.

To this day there are descendents of John Travis Sr. residing in the Buxton community and local areas.

 

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website created July 2008; updated February 2010; by Lori Gardner