William Calmes Buck's Children: Robert Luther Buck (1816-1866)

Robert Luther Buck was the son of William Calmes Buck and his first wife, Maria Lewright (1795-1822). He was born in Virginia on August 4, 1816 before Wm. C. Buck and Maria moved to Kentucky in 1820 and accompanied them on that trip. 

In his memoirs, Wm. C. Buck describes how Robert was accidentally shot in his leg.  In 1833 when Robert was 17, he and his cousin “young Mr. Field” (probably John Field) were planning to go hunting when John accidently fired his rifle into the calf of Robert’s leg from a distance of two feet.   Since they lived on a remote farm in Union County, Kentucky, Wm. C. Buck was the “doctor”.  Fortunately, Robert recovered but he was confined to the house for about six weeks.

The early education of Robert Luther Buck was probably under the tutelage of his father in the wilderness of Union County, Kentucky.  By the time his father relocated to Louisville in 1836, Robert was 20 years old.  It is likely that Robert Luther Buck received some of his formal education at Georgetown College in Kentucky which was founded in 1829.  His father, Wm. C. Buck had a close association with the college and apparently taught there for a few months in 1839.  Also, Robert’s brothers, William Thomas, Charles and Giddings attended Georgetown.

Robert Luther Buck became a doctor but his medical school is not known.  He also had a pharmacy, a retail store, was active in politics and was a district attorney.

In 1845, R. L. Buck was living in Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi but his reasons for moving there are not known.

In 1850, Robert Luther Buck, his wife Elizabeth and two children were living with James A. Smith, Deputy Sherriff, in Wilkinson County, Mississippi.  Although the census lists James A. Smith first for the household, the value of the real estate ($5000) is shown for R. L. Buck so the house and land might have belonged to Buck.  By 1852, Robert Luther Buck and his family had moved to Jackson, Mississippi.

Robert Luther Buck married Elizabeth Stewart (1828-1887) of Woodville, Mississippi and together they had 12 children.  All of their children were born in Mississippi.  Many of their children did not have long lives. Robert Luther Buck and Elizabeth Stewart had the following children:

• ·        William Stewart Buck (1846-1871)
• ·        Frances Buck (1848-1925); married Jones S. Hamilton, 1877
• ·        James Duncan Buck (1849-1850)
• ·        Robert Luther Buck (1851-1852)
• ·        Charles Buck (1852-1906)
• ·        Claiborne Cage Buck (1854-1861)
• ·        Mary Elizabeth Buck (1856-1925)
• ·        Amanda Stewart Buck (1858-1939)
• ·        (unnamed) Buck (1860-1860)
• ·        Jennie Cage Buck (1862-1929)
• ·        Robert LeWright Buck (1863-1893)
• ·        Ellen Stewart Buck (1864-1865)

R. L. Buck apparently pursued occupations other than medicine but in 1852, he “resumed the practice of his profession in Woodville” according to the Woodville Republican newspaper.  He was in partnership with Dr. H. R. Buck (Horace R. Buck (1826-1897), son of Charles Buck II and Lucy Chilton Bayliss???)

In 1853, Dr. Buck represented Wilkinson County at the Mississippi Whig State Convention.

In 1858, having moved to Jackson, Mississippi, R. L. Buck was a member of a committee appointed for purposes of establishing Jackson High School.  He was also elected District Attorney for the third district.

In 1859, Dr. Buck was chairman of a committee in Jackson, Mississippi that was attempting to establish a “Female Seminary”.

On November 21, 1860, Dr. Buck was a member of a citizens committee in Jackson that expressed their support of South Carolina’s intent to secede from the Union.  South Carolina had stated this intention on November 9 but did not formally secede until December 20.

When Jackson fell to the Union Army in 1863, Robert’s half-sister, Emma Buck, wrote in her diary that the Union army had confiscated his horse and all his meat.

In 1865, Dr. Buck was a partner in “Buck, Baley & Co.” – a pharmacy in Jackson located on State Street that also sold various building supplies and household goods.

"He was a very fine physician, a polished gentleman and genial friend, proud of his family and devoted to his father, whom he delighted to honor."   --  John Thomas Buck, 1896

Robert Luther Buck died on January 15, 1866 in Jackson, Mississippi six years before his father, Wm. C. Buck, died in Texas.  Robert Luther Buck was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi.

Elizabeth Stewart Buck died in Jackson, Mississippi on July 31, 1887.  She was said to have never recovered from the death of her husband but devoted herself to the care of others, especially children.  After the death of R. L. Buck, Elizabeth Stewart Buck lived in Jackson with her daughter, Fannie Buck Hamilton and her extended family, until her death.  She was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi alongside her husband.