Columbus Carter Buckley (1836 - 1924)
Civil War Veteran; Blacksmith; Grocer, Farmer
Columbus
Carter Buckley, a resident of Edwardsville and vicinity for the past
eighty years, and member of one of the pioneer families of Madison
County, died this morning at the home of his son, Attorney Leland H.
Buckley, at 130 Springer Avenue. He was found dead in the yard where
he went for a stroll, and shortly after a long walk from his home
into the business district, and back to his home. Although but a few
months from his ninetieth birthday, he was very active. Death was
due to heart trouble, it is believed. He had been taking medicine at
intervals during the past several months to keep the vital organ in
proper condition. Two years ago he had a slight stroke, and since
then health had been somewhat impaired. There was nothing today to
indicate the rapidly approaching termination of a long and useful
life. No one was near when he collapsed, but he was found by a meter
reader for the light company.
Mr. Buckley was born in Hopkins County, Kentucky, April 14, 1836,
and had attained the age of 88 years, 6 months, and 28 days. He was
the eldest of a family of nine children. His parents were Mr. and
Mrs. John L. Buckley. He spent the first eight years in his southern
home. In 1844, the family started overland to Iowa. They were making
the trip in wagons, and everything went well until after passing
through Edwardsville. Near Cotter’s Station, the horses took sick
and died. Fate kept the family here, and Mr. Buckley had since made
Edwardsville his home. Mr. Buckley remained at home until 19 years
of age, when he served a three years’ apprenticeship in a blacksmith
shop. He followed the trade for a short time in Marine Township, and
later located at Saline. In 1862, he was conducting a shop in
Alhambra Township, and was very successful.
The Civil War was well underway at the time, and he enlisted in the
Union army on August 12, 1862. He entered as a robust young man, but
sickness and other disability nearly cost him his life. For a long
time, he was broken in health. He was a member of Company G, 117th
Illinois Volunteer Regiment, an organization which had an
illustrious campaign. He attended the recent reunion of the regiment
at Collinsville in October, being the oldest member present. His
severe illness occurred during 1864, and it reduced him to a shadow
of a man, only weighing 96 pounds. He was mustered out of service at
Cairo on July 15, 1865. His company was one which did a great deal
of honorable service. The service took him over a wide range of
territory. He traveled 824 miles by railroad, 6860 miles by river,
and walked about 2250 miles. His company had 99 members when
mustered in, but 40 when the service was concluded.
Mr. Buckley attempted the operation of a blacksmith sho at the end
of the war, but poor health prevented its continuation. He operated
a grocery store for a year, and then took up farming. He bought a
farm east of Edwardsville, void of improvements and in a primeval
condition, and brought it to shape.
Mr. Buckley was twice married. His first wife was Miss Sarah J. West
(1839-1877), a native of Madison County, to whom he was married on
April 18, 1861. His second wife was Miss Rebecca Hamilton
(1838-1893), member of another old family, and their marriage was
solemnized on January 3, 1878. Her death occurred a little over
thirty years ago. Of the several children born to the two unions,
all but three have preceded the father to the grave. Those who
survive are Leland Hamilton Buckley (1879-1972) and Mrs. Lulu Maud
Buckley Schafer (1870-1951), wife of J. L. Schaefer, of
Edwardsville; and Mrs. Georgia Carter Buckley Lockbaum (1874-1948)
of Springfield, Illinois. There are ten grandchildren.
Three of the five brothers in the original family also survive. One
is Rev. J. S. Buckley of Sterling, Illinois, 83 years of age, and
who visited here a short time ago. Another is Police Magistrate J.
W. Buckley of Edwardsville, 78 years old, and the third is William
B. Buckley of Weatherford, Texas, who is 86 years old.
Mr. Buckley was a member of the Masonic Order, and among the oldest
in this section of Illinois. He was a member of the Marine Lodge for
a number of years, and afterwards transferred to Edwardsville Lodge
No. 99, A. F. & A. M. He took a special interest in the work. He
also took special interest in the activities of Edwardsville Post
No. 461, G.A.R., and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
For a number of years, he was a Justice of the Peace in Pin Oak
Township.
A few years ago, he was one of four elderly residents who spent the
winter in Florida. All but one have gone to their final reward. Two
in the party were W. W. Barnsback and Joseph N. McKee, who have
passed away, and the other is B. H. Richards of Edwardsville.
[Mr. Buckley was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Edwardsville.]
Source: 1894 Biographical Record
Columbus Carter Buckley was born in Hopkins County, Kentucky, on
April 14, 1836. He was the son of John L. and Elizabeth (Ezelle)
Buckley, natives of Kentucky, who came to Illinois in about 1844.
The parents were headed to Iowa, but upon reaching Edwardsville,
their horses took sick and died. They settled in Madison County,
living on rented land for a time, and then purchased property to
farm. William Buckley, the grandfather of Columbus Buckley, was a
Baptist preacher in Kentucky, near the Illinois border.
Columbus was the eldest in a family of nine children. At the age of
19, he served a three years’ apprenticeship at the blacksmith’s
trade. He was then employed as a journeyman throughout Marine
Township, and in 1858 he opened a blacksmith shop at Saline. After
nine months, he moved to Alhambra Township, where he remained until
1862.
On August 12, 1862, Columbus enlisted during the Civil War in the
Union army, Company G, 117th Illinois Infantry, commanded by Captain
Curtis Blakeman of the Marine Settlement. In 1864, he was on
detached service at Memphis, Tennessee, where he was confined in the
hospital for six weeks with both measles and smallpox. He was
deathly ill, and when he returned home, he weighed only 98 lbs. On
account of disability, he was transferred in 1864 to the 15th
Veteran Reserve Corps, and was mustered out at Cairo, July 15, 1865.
As a partial compensation for his services and sufferings, he later
received a pension from the government. While in Company G of the
117th Illinois Infantry, he bore an honorable part in many a
hard-fought conflict. During his time in service, he traveled 324
miles by railroad, 6,860 miles by river, and walked about 2,250
miles.
After the close of the Civil War, he settled in Edwardsville, where
he carried on a blacksmith shop until he was obliged to sell on
account of being crippled from his illness. His next enterprise was
the proprietor of a grocery store, which he conducted for one year.
Later, he bought a farm, which he gradually improved. He later
invested in land in Pin Oak Township.
Columbus was a member of Lodge No. 99, A. F. & A. M., of
Edwardsville, and was a member of Lodge No. 355 of the same order,
at Marine. He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
He served three terms as Justice of the Peace of Pin Oak Township.
On April 18, 1860, Columbus married Miss Sarah J. West, daughter of
James L. West and Catharine Robinson West. Sarah died in January
1877, at the age of 38 years, and was buried in the Woodlawn
Cemetery in Edwardsville. Columbus and Sarah had the following
children, all daughters: Fannie Bell Buckley; Ada M. Buckley (died
in infancy); Lulu Maud Buckley; Evie L. Buckley (died at age 2); and
Georgia Carter Buckley.
Columbus remarried on January 3, 1878, to Miss Rebecca Hamilton,
daughter of Ebenezer Hamilton and Rebecca Boyd Hamilton. Rebecca
died on May 22, 1893. She was the mother of one son, Leland Hamilton
Buckley. Rebecca was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in
Edwardsville.
Columbus C. Buckley died November 12, 1924, at the age of 88 years.
He was staying at the home of his son, Leland H. Buckley, at 130
Springer Avenue in Edwardsville. He went for a stroll, and was found
deceased in the yard. Death was due to heart trouble. He was buried
in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Edwardsville. His surviving children
were: Lulu Maud Buckley Schafer; Georgia Carter Buckley Lochbaum;
and Edwardsville Attorney Leland Hamilton Buckley. Also surviving
were three brothers, Rev. J. S. Buckley of Sterling, Illinois;
Police Magistrate J. W. Buckley of Edwardsville; and William B.
Buckley of Weatherford, Texas.
Sources: Edwardsville Intelligencer, November 12, 1924; 1894
Biographical Record