Person:James Buckles (12)

In early 1818, James Buckles received financial support from his father, William, to immigrate to the new state of Indiana. James and his family probably traveled down the Ohio River on flat boats to settle on land in what was then Montgomery township in Jennings County. (A portion of Montgomery township was divided off in 1852 to form Marion township.) Jennings County is located in the second tier of counties north of the Ohio River is southeast Indiana. James Buckles owned about 1,000 acres of land in the Mt. Zion and German neighborhood of Montgomery township.

Description Section Acres Date of Sale Purchaser SE qtr 11 160 Feb 26, 1822 James Buckles South ½ 12 320 Feb 26, 1822 James Buckles North ½ 14 320 Jun 12, 1818 James Buckles SE qtr 14 160 June 12, 1818 James Buckles NE qtr 15 160 Jun 1, 1818 James Buckles

John Hamilton Rogers and his wife Mary Buckles, the daughter of James Buckles and Ann Osbourn, also arrived in Jennings County in 1821. John H. Rogers and Mary Buckles were married on March 13, 1812, in Jefferson County. John H. Rogers was from Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and his father was a gunsmith during the Revolutionary War. John and Mary, with their five children, settled on 160 acres of land (NW qtr of section 12) adjacent to the James Buckles land.

James Buckles operated a "horse mill" on Tea Creek. Henry Tribbett later ran the grist mill. According the Ira Tribbett, there is an old Buckles family cemetery on her farm where several Buckles are buried. Field stones were used to mark the graves.

The early settlers of Montgomery township were of English and Irish nationality. Some of the earliest families to settle in the township were: Rogers, Buckles, Barnes, Hunt, Harlow, Robins, Keith, Lett, Wright, Lewis, Wells, Hughes and Staple. The Deputy, McGuire, Rowland and Shillidaey families had French blood lines.

James Buckles first wife, Ann Osbourn died sometime shortly before September 17, 1823. The summary from the Probate Order Book 1 of Jennings County is provided below.

Page 81, Book 1. The will of Ann Buckles dec. was here entered. It was dated May 1, 1823 and recorded September 17, 1823. She mentioned: David Osbourn, Jr. who was to get a legacy left by her father William Osbourn's will; her eldest daughter Mary Reed and Mary's eldest daughter Ann Rogers; George W. Buckles "at his father's death"; "my three daughters" and "my daughter-in-law Elizabeth Buckles." She appointed Peter Wykoff, her son-in-law, her executor. The will was witnessed by Ebenezer Brandon and John Hopkins. September 17, 1823.

James Buckles' will was filed in Jennings County and dated March 16, 1837. James Buckles died on March 16, 1837, and is probably buried on his farm in Marion Township of Jennings County, Indiana.

The Township Histories of Jennings County by Different Authors

Presented by: Muscatatuck Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Date: June, 1990

Marion Township, Jennings County, Indiana

The first road built in Marion township was along the north side of the township following an old Indian trail. It was a plank road which connected with the town of Brownstown. It passed what was known as Barnes Corner and on into the Mt. Zion community. Part of the road is still in use today, the Commiskey Pike is around one mile south of the Old Plank Road. Commiskey Pike is the main road today.

Marion township became as township under the acts of the Legislature of 1852 and was divided off from Montgomery township. Montgomery township was composed of Levett, Marion and Montgomery, making the larger township of Montgomery from 1817 until 1852. Some of the early settlers were of English and Irish nationality. Some of the earliest families were the Rogers, Buckles, Barnes, Hunt, Harlow, Robins, Keith, Lett, Wright, Lewis, Wells, Hughes and Staple families. The Deputy's, McGuire, Rowland and Shillidaey's had French blood lines.

Right after Indiana became a state, James Buckles and wife, Ann Osburn Buckles, came from Berkeley county, Virginia, in 1818 and bought around 900 acres in the Mt. Zion and German neighborhood. John Rogers and Mary (Buckles) Rogers came about the same time from Harpers Ferry, Virginia. There, John Rogers had been a gun smith during the Revolutionary War, on the American side. Mary Rogers, his daughter, was born at Harpers Ferry in 1816, she later married Elias L. Deputy in 1835 in Jennings County. They raised their family near Mt. Zion community.

Ida and Clifford Tribbett family (brother and sister) were of German and Irish decent. One of Ida's most prized possessions is a birth certificate, written in German, for Laurentius (Lawrence) Willkom, born 12 August, 1820, in Dipperz, Hesse, Germany. His father was Casper Willkom and mother Margaretha Aftung. The certificate was signed by Priest Hoffman. Henry and Augusta (Willkom) Tribett had a grist mill on this farm, owned since 1843. Henry Buckles once operated this mill.

From Alice Wohrer's history, James Buckles had a horse mill on the farm near the creek. Henry Tribbett later ran this grist mill. Ida Tribbett also stated that there is an old Buckles family cemetery on her farm, where Israel Buckles and some other Buckles are buried with mostly field stones to mark their graves.

Lorenz Willkom was a wagon maker and blacksmith. Wagon makers made all parts by hand. Axles were split out of the best hickory, then hewed and shaved to the proper shape, likewise the spokes. His shop was about ¾ mile west of Mt. Zion Methodist church. Lorenz served in the Civil War. Ida spoke of the first home as a one room log cabin with one window for light and a lookout for Indians. There being a camp nearby, on the river bank. They would come and want food, which the settlers gave to them.

Some of the other German families were Henry Hoffman, born Baden; Germany, John Hoffman, born Berne, he was a saddler and worked with leather goods. John Jacob Wetzel born Hess Darmstadt; Henry Adams born Berne; Jacob Shunback born Germany; John Warner born Hesse Castle; Charles Adams born Berne; Roetken; Hess; Mousa; Artz; Matheis; Trapp's and Joseph's were from Germany. Jacob Kieper was born Letwaeler, Germany. Many of these families settled near Mt. Zion and the German neighborhood in the northeast corner of Marion township or Section 12, township 5.

One Fredrick Kysar was a Revolutionary War soldier who came from Maryland and settled 1 ½ miles north of Mt. Zion Methodist church. He is buried on his farm and served his community as a blacksmith. Blacksmiths also made guns and many other household items. This spring (1989), his great-great-great grandson, Bussey Kysar, placed a bronze plaque, telling of his service, on his grave in Brush Cemetery.

One of the Hoffman's had a broken back, he claimed it was caused by carrying firewood for survival when a child in Germany. Henry Gruber was a shoe cobbler, made fancy boots and shoes. Henry was a bad cripple, but always kept busy. Born in 1826, he was crippled when as a child, a heavy barn door blew open against his legs during a severe wind storm. He lived with his brother Valentine and Margaret Gruber. Valentine Gruber had a side line with farming, he had a stone quarry, which supplied rock for foundations and walling up of wells and houses. A cave on this farm, where the Indians could camp came from the cave. This was the only spring in the area.

Harman Taulman had one of the first saw mills ( a Sash Saw) which was na up-and-down saw. Harman probably sawed timber for the plank road.

Another gunsmith by the name of Emanuel Ingals lived ½ mile west of Mt. Zion Church. It was said that he made guns for the Civil War.

The stone house on the Marion Pike was built by Thomas Wright and was used as a store. Allen Lett had a store near Mt. Zion church which was also built of stone. He operated a sorghum mill nearby. Another store owner was Harmon Taulman.

There were two stores in the Mt. Zion Community at different times which were used by early settlers. The first one was on the old Enoch Layton place and was operated by Thomas Wright. This later became the home place of Ed and Nellie Rogers Johnson and was near one of the Deputy brick homes belonging to Zachariah and Elizabeth Deputy. There were four more bring homes belonging to other members of the Deputy family. One of Zachariah (Humphy) Deputy, a bachelor whose brick home was on a hill back of Mt. Zion Church a ways. Elias Deputy and Mary (Rogers) Deputy owned the brick home that was later sold to Jack and Nellie Matthews.

Squire Billy (William) Deputy had the brick home near the Commiskey Pike, which was the post office and first stop of the Star Mail route. The post office was called the Slate post office. The post office was later moved to Miller's corner and retained the same name.

The second stop was at Barnes Corner post office. Woodard Barnes land was located around this section and there was a Barnes schoolhouse. Frank Davis kept the mail there. The third stop of the Star Mail route was "Cana Post Office" which was located just east of the Cana Methodist Church located in Vene Robbin's store. Later, another Barnes Post Office was located at Leonard Barnes home in the Keith neighborhood. The mail was picked up by Jim (James) Bridges at Lurton's Store in Commiskey and delivered by horse and buggy.

Eli Wells operated a saw mill with four saws and a planner and made veneering. With several homes located nearby, the area was called "Wellstown." John Andrew Page was one of the sawyers and he later built a two story home not far from Wellstown. He had served in the Civil War from Indiana, but was born near Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

The first church in the Mt. Zion Community was of log construction. When it was decided to rebuild, the trustees, of the Methodist Episcopalian Church, were Jesse Fitaberald, William Deputy, Sr., William Deputy, Jr., William B. Deputy, and Harman Waters. On February 27, 1850, John and Harriett (Gasaway) Deputy gave 1 acre of land to build the from Methodist Church and to have a cemetery. While the membership was building the new meeting house, they held meetings in a broom factory nearby. The church was rebuilt in 1890.

Marion township has contributed to other professions as well. To the ministry of early days, she furnished the "Marrying Parson" in the person of Timothy B. Lewis, alos Reverend William B. Lewis, who was ordained at Coffee Creek Baptist Church, later Reverend Horace M. McGuire and John W. Gruber. To the medical profession of the early pioneer days Dr. Henry Cunard, who married Priscillia Buckles, Dr. Nelson Caddy, Dr. Coryell, Dr. S. D. Adams and more recently Dr. James Donnell and Dr. J. E. Deputy, who is deceased.

James Buckles, who came from Virginia, had a "horse mill" on Tea Creek. To most of the inhabitants of Marion township today, the mention of the names of our early settlers is about a matter of history. But few remain who can testify concerning citizens of the Pioneer days, such as Harban Rowland, Marion Wilson, Thomas J. Staples, John H. Rogers, whose father came from Virginia, had made guns for the Revolutionary War at Harpers Ferry. Some of the names following those of the pioneers are John D. Jones, George Mosley Wilson, Enois Tobias, Gabiel Scott, Zachariah Deputy, Sr., Dr. Henry Cunard, Frank Coryell, John Reed, Thomas Kysar, Samuel Hall, Daniel Lewis, William B. Lewis, Woodford Barnes, Jacob Foster, Sr., David Hughes, Isaac Rowland, James Deputy, Elias Deputy, Peter Steward, Eli Wells, Charles Heins, Isaac Taulman, Fielding Lett Sr., Caleb Wilson, Thomas H. Adams, Harban Rowland, Preston Bridges, Preston Stwart, Henry Williams, Edwin Coryell, and Joseph Polk.

Marion township had from 12 to 13 schools in the early days. One old school was in Section 34, township 5, range 7, from the Jennings County courthouse records, on 25 June, 1834. A Samuel A. Keith, E.W. Graves, William Lewis, Aaron Scott, John Carpenter, John Clemons, John D. Jones and William S. Carpenter made an agreement to build and give land for a school in the Keith neighborhood. Traditions says that William Lewis' wife, Sarah Lewis, was the school teacher. The school was located on the farm which later belonged to Alfred and Ethel Humphrey, the dug well is all that remains today. It is near the Keith cemetery. This about one half mile from Doty's Grist Mill on Big Creek. Some say the school was called "Slate."

Upper and Lower Cana schools being among the first built were constructed of logs, heated by fireplaces, both furnished with flat rails for seats and shelves on the sides of the room on which the children worked out their lessons.

The Hughes schoolhouse was also sometimes called the Cobb school. It was on the road near the county line road between Jackson and Jennings County. Irene (Coryell) Joseph taught her first school there.

Mosley schoolhouse was north of what was the Marion High School house. About one half between the old John Hamilton (Ham) Rogers home. Some of the teachers were Ray Foster, Bussey Kysar, Clyde Matthews, Ermel L. Foster, Ralph Deputy, Estella Hartwell, Physlis Gallaway, Dollie Callaway, Thomas K. Rust and Arthur Rogers.

Fairview school was on the Starts farm. Hetty and Eunice Reed attended this school. Could not find out who the teachers were.

Gum Lick school was near the Haines farm. Some of the teachers were Alfred L. Kysar, Louise Johnson, Marie Hughes McGannon, Hazel Johnson Smith, Ralph Humphrey and Jane Kysar.

Lower Cana schoolhouse was nicknames "Red Bank," as remembered by Herman Buckles. Some of the teachers were Mary Rowland, Dorothy Davis, Vera Moore, she stated that the year she taught several of the children had smallpox. Other teachers were Crystal McGannon, Marjorie McGannon, Virginia Slarp Bridgewater, Robert Bridges, John H. Rogers, Jr. and John S. Shilladay.

Upper Cana school was located at Casey Lewis' corner on present day State Road 250. Some of the teachers were Gladys Coryell, Oran Hughes, Nellie Perry, Bernice Dixon Humphrey and Marjorie McGannon.

Center school was near where Willie McIntosh lives today. This school lasted the longest. Some of the teachers were Ethel Lowry, Lester Dodd, Estella Tobias, Betha Robinson Barnes, Bertha Forrest Moore, Frank Young, Hazel Johnson, Rolland Johnson, Charles Graham, Virginia Slarp and Frank Euler.

Mt. Zion school was located in front of the Mt. Zion Methodist church on the county road. In 1859, John and Harriet Deputy gave one half acre of ground to be used for a schoolhouse. Some of the early teachers were Nathan Gardner, Richard Rogers, Mary T. Deputy, L.W. Deputy, Wesly Kysar, McGee Deputy, and Nellie Rogers Johnson. Later records mentioned Edna Wilkerson, Vera Lewis, Bussey Kysar, Marjorie McGannon, Gladys Louise Johnson, Marie Johnson Bridges, Charles Layman, John S. Shillidaey, Joshua Deputy, John H. Rogers, Jr., George W. Bard and Lemuel Matthews.

Slate school was used before Mt. Zion school was built, located 1 mile south of Mt. Zion Church at the crossroad called Miller's Corner. Two of the teachrs were Enoch Layton and Wesley Kysar.

Levin W. and Boyd Hudson were tanners and curriers, Hanry Taulman was a miller, John Hoffman made saddles, Martin Findley was a stone mason. Carpenters were George Fabb, Joseph Earhart, John Davis. Brick makers were the "Deputy"family. People from Marion very early went ot Paris in Montgomery township to vote because Marion, Lovett and Montgomery wall all one township.

Sources: John Gruber article from 1926 newspaper Almira Gruber Flora King Marle Johnson Bridges Bertha Robinson Barnes Hazel Johnson Smith J.B. Deputy Mattie Gruber Ida Tribbett Court records 1884 Jennings County Atlas

James Buckles Will

The following is a partial transcription of the Will of James Buckles of Jennings County. The copy used for the transcription was very poor quality.

I, James Buckles, In the name of God amen. I, James Buckles, of Montgomery Township, Jennings County, State of Indiana knowing in the following manner, this being my last Will and Testament to wit. Item the 1st. I give and bequeath to my four children, that is William Buckles, Mary Reed, Priscilla Cunard and Sarah Wykoff fifty cents to them and their heirs forever. Item 2nd. I will and bequeath to John Buckles my sword to him and his heirs forever. Item 3nd. I will and bequeath to Henry Buckles one hundred dollars it being a dowry from his mother to him and his heirs forever. Item 4th. I will and bequeath to my son George W. Buckles, three hundred dollars ______ marked 1 lot of Silver ___ Spoons one hundred ___ of the three is to be ______ as his mothers dowry to him and his heir forever. Item 5th. My will is that he whole of my estate personal and ___ with all my outstanding debts after the above legacies taken out and my ____ debt and burial expense is taken out is to belong to my loved wife, Margaret Buckles as long as she remains my widow but in case she should marry then she is to have one third part of the remaining ____ is to be ____ divided between my three children John, Henry and George W. Buckles each in equal share. But in case she should be brought to God with a living heir the ____ it is my desire that the above legacies be paid out of my outstanding debts but should they should not be collected therein that ____ the land. The land is to be sold and ______ paid by my executor. I appoint Marcel G Goodhue my legal executor to conduct the of Estate according to laws as my ____ for him I lave. To him my ________

Given under my hand by 16th of March, 1837. James Buckles (his mark) Joseph Smith (his mark) James ____ (his mark)

Compiled by: John Walter Reed