|
WILLIAM W. BUCK FROM:
The
History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties,
Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887).
P. 678-679. William W. Buck, farmer, was born in 1833, in Gallatin County, the son of John and Eliza (Cook) Buck. The father, of German descent, was born in 1793 in Virginia. His father, Warner, a native of Hesse, Germany, when eighteen, entered military service, and was among the Hessian soldiers bought by King George to suppress the American Revolution. He was captured at Trenton and held a prisoner three years, and then exchanged. During his imprisonment he and twelve others became so attached to the Americans that they attempted to desert to the American camp, but only he and one other succeeded. He settled in Virginia, and after, in 1797, moved with his family to Bowling Green, Ky., and in 1805 to Gallia County, Ohio. John was twelve years old when they came to Gallatin County, and in 1827 he married. In 1840 he settled in Beaver Creek Township, Hamilton County, the next year bought 120 acres, and the last twenty years of his life were spent with his son, William. He died August 4, 1883. His wife, Eliza Cook, was born in 1803, in Gallatin County, and died in 1839. Three of her six children are living: John J., of McLeansboro, ex-county clerk; our subject, and Alexander, of Beaver Creek Township. Our subject was five years old when his mother died, and the next year he came to Hamilton County and was educated in home subscription schools. At twenty-one he left his father, and February 23, 1854, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jefferson Garrison, born August 10, 1836, in Gallatin County. She came to Hamilton County when a child. Their children are Eliza, wife of George Mason; Thomas, George, Masten and Cloid. He located on the eight acres in Section 27, a gift from his father in 1855, and by his ability in business has made his possessions 340 acres, 240 of which is well improved and cultivated. He is one of the leading farmers of the region, and a Democrat, first voting for Buchanan. In November 1876, he was
elected county commissioner, and commissioned the 24th of
November, by Gov. John L. Beveridge, to serve three years.
He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. |
