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's Children: Giddings Judson Buck (1840-1912)

Gideon Judson Buck, usually known as “Giddings”, was born on April 4, 1840 in Louisville, Kentucky "at 7 1/2 p.m." according to the notes of his father, William Calmes Buck.  His mother was Isabella Miriam Field.  Giddings was an educator, soldier, lawyer and author. 

Giddings would have received his early education in Louisville.  From around 1850 to 1853 he and his brother Charles attended Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky while their father moved to Nashville.  After the death of his mother in 1852, Giddings’ father, enrolled him, his brother, Charles, and his sister, Emma, in Union College in Murfeesboro, Tennessee.  They boarded with the college president, Dr. Joseph H. Eaton, a personal friend of their father.  Giddings graduated from Union College with an A.M. (Master of Arts) degree.   Giddings was a member of Phi Delta Gamma at Union College.  He also was an instructor at Union College before graduation.  Giddings is sometimes said to have graduated from Union College in 1858; however, the Union College catalog includes his name in the class of 1857. 

By December 18, 1857 Giddings’ sister, Emma, was in Greensboro, Alabama where her father was pastor of the Greensboro Baptist Church.  Emma noted in her diary that Giddings and much of her family, including her brother, Charles Willis Buck were there.  Apparently, Giddings and Charles were planning to open a school nearby.

Instead of opening his own school, in 1859, Giddings Buck became a teacher at Madison College, Spring Creek, Madison County, Tennessee.   That college was destroyed by fire in 1876.

Giddings was said to be Professor of Ancient Languages at Mississippi College in Clinton during 1859-1860; however, that source cannot be found.  From Mississippi College, he went to Salado College in Texas.

Although some researchers have stated that Giddings Buck was a founder and the first president of Salado College, Salado Springs, Texas, this is not correct.  Salado College was created in 1859 through the efforts of three men:  Carroll Kendrick, Hermon Aiken and Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson.  E. S. C. Robertson, President of the first Board of Trustees, was probably the first “president” of Salado College.  Salado College was incorporated on February 8, 1860 by Texas Senate Bill #40 but it existed in 1859.

Giddings J. Buck became the third principal of Salado College and was serving in 1862.  Giddings taught higher mathematics, ancient languages, and German.   Miss Mary C. Halbert (future wife of Giddings) also was a teacher at Salado College.

As the Civil War progressed, Giddings formed a cavalry company and left Salado College in March, 1962.   Later he joined the 13th Texas Cavalry of the CSA.  Other Civil War records show G. J. Buck in the 30^th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Gurley’s) (1^st Texas Partisan Rangers).  Although Giddings is often referred to as “Colonel” in genealogy studies, the records actually show that he enlisted as a private and was discharged as a private.  He did not like military life, writing

“March 2, 1863

One year ago to-day I closed up my business for the purpose of joining the army.  Then every ambition and glowing anticipation was awake, hopes for my own humble efforts in helping to win its freedom … And here I am now – what?  A driveling private in a despicable company under an imbecile Capt & Lieuts, in a conscript regt.“

Giddings situation and attitude with respect to the Army did not improve and he wrote on April 21, 1863

“Well, the truth, if I must confess to myself, is, I’m getting woefully tired of living among these ruffians.”

After the war, Giddings returned to Texas in 1865.  Gideon Judson Buck and Mary Cottingham Halbert, daughter of Isaac Newton Halbert and Ermina Slater Willson, were married on July 3, 1865 in Coryell County, Texas – probably in Gatesville. Mary Cottingham Halbert was born on January 20, 1844 in Lewis County, Kentucky.  Like her husband, she was well-educated.  After marrying, they lived three miles south of Waco where he studied Law and became an attorney.

Giddings father, William Calmes Buck, and other family members moved to the Waco area in 1866.

Giddings may have had a problem with his temper.  On March 26, 1875, Giddings shot Dr. J. H. Caldwell in the head during an altercation in Giddings’ office.  The reason for the altercation is not known.  Giddings immediately turned himself in and was freed after placing a $2500 bond.  The details and ramifications of the legal judgements and settlements remain unknown.  Dr. J. H. Caldwell survived and continued to practice medicine.  Apparently Giddings was not jailed or disbarred as he was still a practicing attorney in 1876 when he again got into trouble.  In Federal Court on February 10, 1876, there was some sort of physical altercation between Giddings and Judge A. J. Evans.  Both were seized, both apologized and both were fined $100.

In 1880, Giddings gave his occupation as Lawyer + Farmer in the Census.  By 1881, Giddings had moved to Laredo and lived there for several years.  In 1881, he established the Gate City, a Laredo newspaper. 

In a very complimentary article, the Waco News Tribune paid tribute to Giddings daughters, Miriam and Nellie on October 1, 1932.  The article noted that Miriam graduated from Baylor in 1886 and began to teach in Pleasanton, Texas along with her father.  After a few months at Pleasanton, Miriam and Giddings opened a private school at Buda – a small town 15 miles southwest of Austin.  Giddings youngest son, Harrison, was born in Buda, Texas in 1887.

The Census of 1900 does not show Giddings in Laredo or Waco; however, his wife, daughter Nellie and son Harry lived in Waco at 1600 South 9th Street. His wife, Mary, is shown as head of the household.  The children were in school.  The city directory for Waco in 1900 shows Giddings J. Buck to live at 1600 South 9th Street and occupied as a journalist.

The census of 1910 shows Giddings as head of household in Waco at 1824 South 9th Street -- the same street as the census of 1900.  His wife and children also live in the house.  His occupation is “Own Income”.

Giddings wrote for various Texas newspapers including the Waco Examiner, San Antonio Express and the Houston Chronicle.  In the late 1890s, Giddings was travelling about and lecturing, especially on the subject “The Creation of Man”. He put many of these ideas into his book "The Free Christian" which he described as "the result of sixty years of study and observation and written with the object of serving God and mankind". This five hundred and eighty page book, published in 1906, addressed conflicts between science and religion and cost $2.18 in 1907.

Gideon Judson Buck and Mary Cottingham Halbert had the following children, all born in Texas:

·        Ermine Field Buck (1866-1944); married Offa S. Lattimore in 1890.  They lived in Fort Worth and then in Austin.  Ermine Field Buck was a teacher; before her marriage, she was the first professor of mathematics at Baylor College for women in Belton and also professor of mathematics at Baylor University in Waco.  O. S. Lattimore was a teacher, an attorney, a member of the Texas state senate and became a judge.  He was a deacon in the Baptist church, a Sunday School teacher and president of the Texas Baptist General Convention.  He was a trustee of Baylor University and recipient of many honors and awards.

·        Miriam Olive Buck (1868-1951); lived in Waco, Texas.  Miriam received a Ph. D. degree from Waco University, Waco, Texas.   In addition to her degrees from Waco University, Miriam Buck did post graduate work at Yale, the University of Virginia and the University of Chicago.  She also taught at Stranger, Reagan and Temple before returning to Baylor where she taught English for twenty-one years. 

·        Raymond Halbert Buck (1870-1932); married Eula E. Blackmore.  Buried in Fort Worth, Texas.  Served in WWI. He was a rancher, a lawyer and a judge.  He also taught law at the old Fort Worth University.

·        Mary Davidge Buck (1872-1876).

·        Gideon Judson Buck Jr. (1877-1895).

·        Oliver Halbert Buck (1879-1936); married Hilda Smissen; lived in Kokomo, Indiana.  Was manager in a wire manufacturing factory.

·        Nellie Faulkner Buck (1881-1964); graduated in 1903 from Baylor University.  After graduation from Baylor, Nellie Buck attended graduate school at Yale University.  In 1904, she returned to Waco and taught her first student -- a young girl who could not attend the Waco public schools because she lived outside the city limits.  Later, she founded Waco Academy which eventually had six teachers and sixty students.  From 1904 to 1921 she taught at their home on South Ninth Street and then moved the school to North Seventeenth Street.

·        Harrison Davidge Buck (1887-1959); married his first cousin, Mary Susan Buck, daughter of Silas C. Buck and Georgia Rebecca Titus. They lived in Fabens, El Paso County, Texas.  He served in WWI.  Usually called Harry, he was a merchant.  In 1920, he was a grocery clerk; his wife was a teacher.  In 1930, he was an auditor for a petroleum company.  In 1942, he worked at Westex Auto Parts.

Giddings developed throat cancer late in life.  At the age of 71, while visiting his son Harrison in El Paso, he died on March 25, 1912.  He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, McLennan County, Texas.  Mary Cottingham Halbert Buck died on February 5, 1915 at the age of 71 in Texas. She was also buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

William Calmes Buck's Children: Emma Buck (1837-1933)

Emma Buck was the daughter of William Calmes Buck and Isabella Miriam Field.  She was born June 29, 1837 in Louisville, Kentucky.  When she was 14 years old, her mother died and the family moved to Murphreesboro, Tennessee where she and her brothers received an education at Union College.  In fact, they boarded at the home of the college president, Dr. Joseph Eaton.  In addition to receiving a formal education, Emma became a surrogate mother to her brothers.

In 1854, her family moved to Columbus, Mississippi where her father became pastor of the Baptist Church.  They lived in Columbus for about three years.

While visiting her relatives in Front Royal, Virginia in 1857, Emma wrote “Oct.  15.  Thurs.  Three years today since I was baptised.  How different everything seems to what it was then.  I pray that God would enable me to maintain my profession made on that day before many witnesses."

In the winter of 1858 and again in 1859 Emma was visiting with her sister, Mary Buck Davidge, in her beautiful home on Staten Island, New York.

During the Civil War, her brothers were fighting in the Confederate army and her father was a Chaplain while Emma stayed with friends in Alabama as a school teacher.  She spent much of her time sewing and knitting for the soldiers and taking care of the wounded.  In 1864, her father took charge of the Baptist Children’s Orphanage in Lauderdale Springs, Mississippi and she moved there to be with him.

Emma moved to the Waco, Texas area with her father in 1866.  Emma, her father and her brothers Silas and Field travelled from Mississippi to New Orleans by train, then to Galveston by steam boat and by train to Milliken where they changed to horse and wagon.  Her brother, Giddings, had moved to Texas in 1858 but left to fight in the Civil War.  Giddings returned to Texas in 1865.  Wm. C. Buck had purchased over 200 acres in what is now Waco.  Emma was thrilled to discover that their new home, a four room log cabin, had glass windows.  However, it was a long time before the house was fitted with beds and a stove as it was difficult to find furnishing and even food in those early post war years. 

In Waco, Emma was a charter member of the First Baptist Church.

On March 2, 1871, at her father’s farm in Waco, Texas; Emma married Gen. Richard Harrison M.D. when she was 34 years old.  Family lore is that she had not married previously because she was the caregiver for her father, Wm. C. Buck, but he convinced Emma that she should marry.   Their marriage performed by her father who died the following year.

Richard Harrison (1821-1876), a native of Alabama, was the son of Isham Harrison and Harriet Kelly.  He was born in Jefferson County, Alabama but reared in Mississippi.  He attended Kentucky Medical College and was a physician in Monroe County, Mississippi prior to his army service. Richard was one of a trio of brothers who all gained rank of general in the Confederate Army; he was Brigadier General - Surgeon. Rich first married Mary Ragsdale (1825-1855), daughter of Daniel Ragsdale and Nancy Haynes Greer of Mississippi. Together they had three children.  After her death in Mississippi, he married Mollie Tompkins, daughter of a wealthy planter in Georgia.   In Mississippi, Richard was a physician, planter, politician and soldier.  He served in the Mississippi Legislature from 1858 to 1861 and was Speaker of the House in 1860.  He served as president of the Baptist State Convention of Mississippi.    When he moved to McLennan Co., Texas in 1866, he combined medicine and farming.  Richard’s second wife, Mollie Tompkins, died in Texas in 1869.  In Texas, Richard Harrison became a trustee of Waco University. He also served as chairman of the deacons of First Baptist Church of Waco.

Emma Buck and Richard Harrison had two children:

• ·        William E. Harrison (1874-1878)
• ·        Richard Buck Harrison (1876-1964); married Emily Eaton, 1903.

Emma Buck Harrison was “One of the most remarkable women the Buck family has produced.  She was noted for her strength of character, her exceptional abilities, her indomitable will, and her devotion to duty.  She was "mother" to three generations: in her teens and twenties to her younger brothers (she was not yet fifteen when her mother died); to her own children and step-children in her thirties, and to her husband's orphaned grandchild in her sixties.  She inherited her father's physical stamina, and was active almost to the end of her long life of nearly 96 years. "A perfect balance of strength and gentleness; of justice and mercy" (Emma Virginia Buck). Those who knew her and still remain can speak of her only in superlatives.”  H. N. Buck, 1965

Gen. Richard Harrison M.D., died on Nov. 1, 1876 at the age of 55 in Waco, Texas. He was buried in First Street Cemetery, Waco, Texas.

In her last years, Emma Buck Richardson lived with her granddaughter, Mrs. Lula Harrison Marrs, in Waco.  She died at the age of 96 on January 18, 1933 in Waco, Texas.   Emma and her family were highly esteemed in Waco and the Waco News Tribune paid tribute to her in several articles and issues of the newspaper.  She was buried in First Street Cemetery, Waco, Texas beside her husband.

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)