Another book announcement! Sorry, fans of my novels, my latest publication is about genealogy; however, the sequel to my “Enchanted Journal” novel is nearly finished.

My great, great, great grandfather, William Calmes Buck I (1790–1872), was perhaps the most illustrious of my ancestors. Although much has been written about him, especially his ministry, I felt that his story deserved to be told in more detail. Fortunately, Wm C Buck (as he usually signed his name) wrote an autobiography. I have a transcribed copy of his autobiography and retyped it. This book includes some letters and excerpts from his daughter Emma’s diaries.

Wm C Buck was an American Baptist minister, author, editor, and publisher. Born in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, he was primarily self-educated. Still, he became a professor of religion at Waco University in Texas. Dr. Buck was the author of five books, a newspaper, and many religious tracts. He founded and pastored several Baptist churches, especially in Kentucky and Alabama.

Check it out at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFWV2DX9.

William Calmes Buck's Children: Silas Calmes Buck (1847-1908)

Silas Calmes Buck and his twin brother, Paul, were sons of William Calmes Buck and Isabella Miriam Field.  They were born on November 1, 1847 in Louisville, Kentucky. Paul was born at "20 min. after 5 and Silas at half past 7" according to the notes of their father. 

Paul died on July 5, 1848 of “cholera infantum” - an acute noncontagious intestinal disturbance of infants, now relatively rare.

Silas’s sister, Emma, wrote in her diary of February 14, 1862 that Silas and his brother Field were in school at Carrolton (probably Alabama).

While only fourteen years old, Silas accompanied and assisted his father who served as a missionary to the soldiers of the Civil War. Before he was sixteen, he joined the 16th Confederate Cavalry as Color Bearer.  This group was still fighting a week after Lee's surrender. When word of the surrender reached his unit, Silas removed the flag from the staff and hid it under some leaves.  Later, Silas retrieved the flag and gave it to his commanding officer Colonel Philip B. Spence.  Many years later, Col. Spence brought it to Texas to an old soldier's reunion in Dallas.  A photograph was taken of Silas with the flag and he was allowed to keep it for a year.

Silas also served in Company D, 12th Mississippi Calvary having enlisted on October 15, 1864 at Pickensville as a private.  He was surrendered at Citronelle, Alabama on May 4, 1865 and paroled at Cainesville, Alabama on May 14, 1865.  Philip B. Spence was lieutenant colonel of the 12^th Mississippi Cavalry which was also known as the 16^th Regiment of the Confederate Cavalry.

After the war, Silas studied law at Waco University (now Baylor).  He moved to Stephenville, Texas about 1875 where he continued the practice of law and was soon elected District Attorney.  He helped to bring law and order to those fourteen counties.  One of the most notorious criminals that he prosecuted was John Wesley Hardin whom Silas Buck sent to the penitentiary.  Overwork in his office resulted in ill health for much of the later years of his life.  With his poor health came financial hard times.

His daughter, Emma Virginia Buck, wrote that some thought him severe but he was actually was not.  He was "just in his disciple and a most loving and self-sacrificing father, and a devoted husband.  He was a humble sincere Christian, taught his children the Bible, tried to train them in its precepts and to instill in them a vital faith in God."

Silas Calmes Buck and Georgia Rebecca Titus were married on July 25, 1877 in Texas.  Georgia Rebecca Titus, daughter of Peter Wright Titus and Susan Torrence Hines, was born on June 9, 1854 in Texas. Her daughter, Emma Virginia Buck wrote that "No woman ever lived in Stephenville who was more beloved than my mother."  More than twenty nieces, nephews and grandchildren were taken into her home to attend the Stephenville schools.

Silas Calmes Buck and Georgia Rebecca Titus had the following children:

•         Mary Susan Buck (1879-1966); married Harrison D. Buck, 1918.  Harrison D. Buck was the son of Giddings Judson Buck and Mary Cottingham Halbert.
•         Emma Virginia Buck (1880-1975); married Rube Hendrix.  She lived in Stephenville all her life. Emma Virginia Buck was the author of a well-used and appreciated Buck family history.  In a letter to Gordon S. Buck, Sr., Emma wrote:  "... Cousin Charlie told me that his brother, Will, was the very best man he knew."  (This would be Charles Willis Buck, Jr. speaking of William Calmes Buck, II, grandfather of Gordon S. Buck, Sr.)
•        Silas Calmes Buck Jr. (1883-1963); married Ada Williams.
•         Mattie Buck (1887-1887)
•         William E. Buck (1887-1887)
•         Georgia Buck (1893-1977); married Thomas Jewell Arnold.  Thomas Jewell Arnold applied for a Confederate Pension for Georgia Rebecca Titus Buck in 1928.  The pension was approved October 1, 1928.  Her application and the approval process included information and even some letters from Silas.

Silas Calmes Buck signed his will on March 27, 1904 in Erath County, Texas.  His wife, Georgie Titus Buck, was the sole executrix of his will which was witnessed by Susie Buck (probably their daughter) and L. N. Frank.

Georgia Rebecca Titus Buck died on August 15, 1939 at the age of 85.  She was buried in West End Cemetery, Erath, Texas.  Silas Calmes Buck died in 1908 at the age of 61 in Erath County, Texas.

William Calmes Buck's Children: Willis Field Buck (1845-1888)

Willis Field Buck was a son of William Calmes Buck and Isabella Miriam Field.  He was born June 26, 1845 at “11 ½ pm” in Louisville, Kentucky according to the notes of his father.  He was usually called “Field”.

His sister, Emma, wrote in her diary of February 14, 1862 that Field and Silas were in school at Carrolton (probably Alabama).  A few days later, she wrote that Field was begging for his father’s permission to join the army which “Pa does not intend to give.”  On July 23, she wrote that Field had joined the 36^th Mississippi Regiment.  He was 17 years old.  Emma often wrote of making clothes, socks and gloves for Field.  On November 1, she wrote of Field “Poor boy, he must have suffered during his imprisonment.  I hope the Yankees won’t get him again.”  Apparently, Field was captured at the Battle of Corinth.  On December 30, she wrote that Field had been sick.  Field had applied for the rank of lieutenant but was denied because he was not yet 18 years old.  Field was stationed at Vicksburg, Mississippi in May, 1863 when it fell to the Union army.  In 1864, Emma wrote that Field had arrived on July 24^th on his way to the Parole Camp at Demopolis, Alabama.  She visited him several times at that camp.  After Field was “exchanged” he was sent to Tennessee and fought in the Battle of Missionary Ridge.  He was then hospitalized for several weeks in Montgomery before returning to his regiment just before Christmas.

After the Civil War, Field entered Louisville Medical College and graduated in 1867.   He then joined his father in Waco, Texas and began his medical practice. 

In 1868, Field and his brother Giddings visited their sister Mary and her husband Rezin Davidge in Staton Island, New York.  Apparently, they were attempting (unsuccessfully) to find a publisher for a book by their father, William Calmes Buck, and they stayed in New York for several months.  In a letter to his wife, Giddings wrote “Field is not much of a stroller and sight seer, loves to sit in the house, read and smoke.”

In Texas, Field married Anna William Harrison, daughter of Richard Harrison and Mary Ragsdale on October 27, 1872, in Waco.  She was called “Nannie”.

Sometime in 1879, Field and his family moved to Stephenville, Texas.  His brother, Silas, also lived in Stephenville.  Apparently, Field was not in good health and hoped that his health would improve in Stephenville.  He lived in Stephenville at the time of the 1880 census and gave his occupation as “M.D.”. 

Field’s health did not improve in Stephenville and he moved to Pecos in Reeves County.  Pecos was said to be truly the “wild west”.  Field built up a large practice in Pecos but was so isolated that he had to be his own druggist, surgeon, obstetrician and oculist.  He even furnished a charity ward.

Willis Field Buck and Anna William Harrison had four children:

• ·        Mary Ragsdale Buck (1874-1875)
• ·        Margaret Earle Buck (1875-1887)
• ·        Richard H. Buck (1878-1879), said to have died of croup in Comanche, Texas.
• ·        Miriam Field Buck (1881-1887).

All of their children died young.  It seems that some sort of epidemic must have been active in 1887 and into 1888.  Anna William Harrison Buck died on March 11, 1888 in Waco, Texas.  Field committed suicide a few months after the death of his wife and died August 14, 1888 in Baird, Texas.  At the time of his death, Field was said to be about 5’8” tall and weigh about 130 pounds.  He was reported to use alcohol and opiates regularly and was writing about spiritualism as he imagined that evil spirits were after him.  Both Field and Nannie are buried in the old First Street Cemetery of Waco, Texas.

William Calmes Buck: Texas

(Continuing posts about William Calmes Buck)

After the Civil War, William Calmes Buck moved to Waco, Texas along with several of his children and extended family.  Some of his family arrived in Waco as early as 1865   but Wm. C. Buck did not get to Waco until 1866.  To get to Waco, the Bucks traveled by boat down the Mississippi through New Orleans to Galveston.  From Galveston, they traveled by rail to the railhead at Millican near Bryan, Texas and then by wagon to Waco.  

During the Civil War, friends of Wm. C. Buck had protected his ownership of property in Louisville by paying the taxes. Wm. C. Buck sold this property and bought a house and 200 acre farm near Waco.  His daughter, Emma, said she was thrilled to find that the four room house had glass windows.  However, the house did not have beds or a stove and furnishings as well as supplies and foods were difficult to obtain for a long time.

Wm. C. Buck was said to be about 5’ 7” tall, weigh about 175 pounds and to be very strong.  For most of his life, he did not have a beard but allowed his beard to grow in his old age.

The 1870 census shows him as the head of household and gives his occupation as "Minister of the Gospel". 

William Calmes Buck died on May 18, 1872 at the age of 81 in Waco, Texas of a cancer on his face.  He was buried in Old First Street Cemetery, Waco, Texas.  His tombstone is in the shape of a pulpit!

William Calmes Buck (1790-1872)

Following a brief introductory post, this is the first more detailed post in a series about William Calmes Buck, my 3G Grandfather.

William Calmes Buck was born on August 23, 1790 in Shenandoah County, Virginia near what is now the town of Front Royal.  In spite of having only a basic formal education, he became a prominent Baptist minister, editor, author and denominational leader serving in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.  Self-taught, he became fluent in Latin, Greek and Hebrew and was known as “Dr. Buck” at Baylor University where he was a lecturer in his later years.

Wm. C. Buck (as he typically signed his name) wrote that his father was an “extensive farmer”.  His grandparents, Charles and Letitia (Sorrel) Buck were among the early settlers of the Shenandoah Valley and had owned about 3000 acres of land.  The Bucks were Baptist and donated land for the Water Lick Baptist Church and a cemetery.  The original Water Lick Church no longer exists but the cemetery is referred to as the Buck Cemetery 

Water Lick Baptist Church was organized on April 15, 1787.  It was about seven miles from Front Royal and about a half mile from the Buck homestead.  It was a one room church made of logs and said to have comfortable seats, and a high pulpit.  Between the Buck homestead and the church was a log house in which Wm. C. Buck lived for a time after his first marriage.

Buck wrote that he was "baptized by Rev. Benjamine Daws on the North branch of the Shenandoah, on the fourth Sabbath in April, 24th day, 1808." He was ordained in Shenandoah County, Virginia.  "The day that I was licensed was the 22nd of August 1812, and the next day I was just 22 years of age.  From that time I have devoted myself to the work of the ministry."

William Calmes Buck was a 1^st Lieutenant in the Second regiment of the Virginia Milita in the War of 1812.  He preached his first sermon in uniform.  After the War of 1812, he returned to Water Lick Church as pastor.

(... more to follow)

The Family of Charles Buck II

A previous post introduced Charles Buck II, son of Charles Buck I and his second wife, Letitia Sorrell, and provided a few details about his life.  The next several posts will focus on his children.  All of the children of Charles Buck II and Mary Richardson were born in Virginia but some moved to Woodford County, Kentucky.  

Here is a summary list of the children of Charles Buck II and Mary Richardson:

• Letitia Buck (1776 – 1850); married George Catlett.
• Thomas Buck Rev. (1777-1862); married Amelia L. Dawson.
• Sarah Buck (1780-1785).
• Samuel Buck (1783-1841); married Mary P. Bayly.
• John Buck (1785-1857); married Sarah Catlett.
• Charles Buck III (1788-1870); married Lucy Chilton Bayliss.
• William Calmes Buck I (1790-1872); married (1) Maria Lewright, 1815 and (2) Isabella Miriam Field; died in Waco, Texas. Perhaps the most renowned member of the Buck family.
• Mary Richardson Buck (1792-1823); married William Mountjoy Bayly.

In his will, Charles Buck II left their house and surroundings to his wife, Mary, and divided the land equally (by value) to his children.  Some of the land had already been sold (“conveyed”) while other sections continued to be farmed by the inheritor.  

Charles Buck II and Mary Richardson had seven children who reached adulthood and forty-eight grandchildren.