Early Settler and Civil War Veteran-William Henry Buck–Garfield Cemetery, Garfield, Pawnee County,KS

William H. Buck was born in 1839 in Ohio. He was the oldest son of Auranah Reuben and Catherine Buck. His father was a carpenter and cabinet maker, and William learned the same trade. Lorinda Nelson became his wife in 1863 and had two children.

William accepted $1000 to enlist in the Civil War in place of a wealthy man’s son. In 1864, he enlisted in Co. E 11th IA Infantry.

When the war was over, he returned to find himself a widow as Lorinda had died. Two years later, Sarah Fox became his wife. Four more children were born and in 1878 the family was living four miles south of Garfield, Pawnee County.

After suffering a broken leg, William was forced to give up farming and opened a wagon repair shop. He worked at this trade until he died on July 5, 1894, and is buried in Garfield Cemetery.

Sarah moved to Woods County, Oklahoma, and assisted in the care of a widowed father and one-day-old baby daughter. She cared for that daughter for 18 years until she married and started her own family. In doing so, Sarah helped raised three families of children.

In 1915, Sarah passed away and is buried in Garfield Cemetery with her husband and two daughters.

Note: The Buck family tree has been traced back to Roger Buck who was born in London, England in 1617 and came to America in 1635. There was no United States of America until July 4, 1776.