WILLIAM T. BUCKNER--The man best fitted to meet the wonderfully changed
life of today is not a new type of man. He is a man resplendent with the
same old sterling qualities--great in his home life, great in his civic and
patriotic life and great in his religious life. William T. Buckner is a
gentleman of the old-school regime and he is a descendent of an old English
family that was early founded in Virginia, which commonwealth cradled so
much of our national history. A most interesting record of the family
history of the Buckners will be found elsewhere in this volume, in the
biography of Walker Buckner, so that but scant details are considered
necessary in this connection.
William T. Buckner was born on the fine old homestead farm which now
represents his home and the date of his nativity was March 20th, 1848. He
is a son of William T. and Lucy A. (Woodford) Buckner, both of whom were
born in Virginia, the former on the 9th of February 1813, and the latter on
the 30th of March, 1822. When mere children they accompanied their parents
to the fine old Blue Grass state and they were reared and educated in
Bourbon county, where their marriage was solemnized and where they passed
their entire lives. William T. Buckner became a successful agriculturist
in Bourbon county and he was summoned to eternal rest in 1888. He was a man
of prominence and influence in his county and his memory is revered by all
who came in contact with his gracious personality. He was a son of William
T. Buckner, who was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Haws) Buckner, both of
Virginia. William T. Buckner, (I), was a native of the Old Dominion
Commonwealth where he was born in 1786, and he immigrated with his family
and brothers to Kentucky, settling near North Middletown, this county,
where his death occurred in 1850, at the age of sixty-four years. He was
twice married, his first union being with his cousin, Miss Mary Buckner, a
daughter of William and Elizabeth (Monroe) Buckner. They became the parents
of two children, of whom William T., father of him whose name introduces
this article, was the eldest. For his second wife William T. Buckner
married Sallie Clay, who bore him three children. William T. Buckner (II)
and Lucy A. (Woodford) Buckner had only one son, William T. (III), whose
name initiates this review. Mrs. Buckner died December 7, 1910, at her
son's home in her eighty-ninth year.
Mr. William T. Buckner was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm
and he has never severed his allegiance to the great basic industry of
agriculture, through his association with which he has gained definite and
worthy success. He was afforded excellent educational advantages in his
youth, including a course of study in the select school conducted by
Professor Thomas Dodd, at Paris, this state. After his marriage Mr.
Buckner established his home on this present finely improved farm, which is
the old family homestead and which is located seven miles east of Paris.
He is one of the large landholders of Bourbon county, being at the present
time the owner of about nineteen hundred acres of most arable land, all of
which is well improved, and he devotes his attention to diversified
agriculture and the raising of high-grade stock. In politics, while never
a seeker of public office, Mr. Buckner is a stanch adherent of the
Democratic party and his wife holds membership in the Presbyterian church.
In the year 1875 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Buckner to Miss
Anna Clay Wornall, who was born in Clark county and who is a daughter of
James R. and Anna (Moore) Wornall. Mr. and Mrs. Buckner became the
parents of six children, of whom three are living: Thomas M., who is
individually mention on the other pages of this work; James M., who still
remains at the paternal home and is associated in the work and management
of the farm; and Lucy W., who is the wife of Clarence Kenney. Mr. and
Mrs. Kenny likewise reside on the old homestead of Mr. Buckner and the
family is one of prominence in connection with the best social activities
of the community.
