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 36th 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 24th 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.
