Kidnapped by Indians

James Buchanan was born at Donegal, Ontario in 1852 when it was still wilderness, His parents William Buchanan and Ann Thompson lived in a tent, and his habit of not closing doors behind him later in life was blamed on the fact that as a small child there was no door to close, so he never developed that habit.

But he is better known for another reason. His sister Jane Buchanan Terry, tells how he was once kidnapped by Indians as a little boy, and found by a scout party of settlers.  The Indians promised to make him a great chief if they could keep him, but agreed to give him back,

Apparently the Indians did not think they were kidnapping him. They just saw this little boy playing in the woods and he followed them out of curiosity. When the search party found them they were happy to give him back to his family.

But he lost his chance to become an Indian chief.