33. William Calmes BUCK I
(photo) was baptized on Apr 24 1808 in Shenandoah
County, Virginia. He wrote that he was "baptized by Rev. Benjamine Daws
on the North branch of the Shenandoah, on the fourth sabbath in April, 24th day,
1808." He was ordained on Aug 22 1812 in Shenandoah County, Virginia.
(9) "The day that I was licensed was the
22nd of August 1812, and the next day I was just 22 years of age. From that
time I have devoted myself to the work of the ministry." He was buried
in Old First Street Cemetery, Waco, Texas.(10)
(10)
William C. Buck was a prominent Baptist minister, editor, author and denominational
leader of Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. He was a lieutenant
of cavalry in the War of 1812 and preached his first sermon in uniform. He earnestly
desired a seminary education, but his father would not consent to it on the grounds
that his brothers had not had similar advantages although his oldest brother
and fellow minister, Thomas Buck, offered to defray part of the expense. William
thereupon mastered Latin, Greek, and Hebrew without the aid of a tutor. He was
founder and first pastor of the East Baptist Church of Louisville, KY, editor
of the state Baptist paper, compiler and publisher, in 1844, of a Baptist hymnal,
and co-founder of a Bible society which later merged with what is now the American
Bible Society. Upon leaving Kentucky, he held a denominational post in Nashville,
Tenn and later was pastor of the First Baptist Churches of Greensboro, Ala.,
Selma, Ala., and Columbus, Miss. At the ages of 71-75, he was "Missionary"
(The equivalent of chaplain) to Confederate hospitals in Alabama and Mississippi
and four of his sons served in the Confederate army, the youngest at the age
of 16. After the war, he moved to a farm near Waco, Texas, to escape the violence
and misrule of the Reconstruction Days, and seeking a place, as he expressed
it, "Where there are no citizens of African descent". He was noted
for his phenominal strength, his intellectual capacity, and his platform ability.
He died and was buried at Waco.
-- notes of Hubert Nelson Buck,
1965
" . . . Buck steered Kentucky Baptists through the very turbulent years
1820 - 1850, when bitter opposition to missions and salaried ministers almost
did in the Baptist cause in that frontier state. . . . For fifteen years William
preached in small churches around Union and Woodford Counties, almost complete
wilderness. Paid nothing for his gospel labors (he later wrote his total receipts
for his first twenty-four years in the ministry were $724, mostly merchandise!),
Buck farmed to support his family of five."
-- David E. Buck, Jr.
When visiting Front Royal in 1857, his daughter, Emma Buck wrote that he was
also remembered as a good and noted singer.
W. C. Buck probably did not "retire" upon moving to Waco. The 1870
census shows him as the head of household and gives his occupation as "Minister
of the Gospel". His daughter, Emma (age 31), and sons, Field (age 25) and
Silas (age 22), lived with him. He was active in the pulpit and was an occasional
lecturer at Waco University.
He was so highly regarded that (at least) six of his descendants were named after
him.
-- G. S. Buck, Jr.
William Calmes Buck was the author or editor of
"The Baptist Hymn Book", J. Eliot & Company, Louisville,
Kentucky, 1842.
"The Baptist Hymn Book", revised and enlarged, 42nd edition,
G. H. Monsarrat & Co., Louisville, Kentucky, 1847.
"The Slavery Question", Harney, Hughes & Hughes, Louisville,
Kentucky, 1847.
"The Philosophy of Religion", South-Western Publishing House,
Graves, Marks & Company, Nashville, Tennessee, 1857.
"A Brief Defense of the Antiquity, History & Practice of the Baptists",
McDowell & Kimbrough, Columbus, Mississippi, 1854.
Rev. W. C. Buck preached the annual sermon before the Alabama state convention
which met in Gainesville in 1858. He then settled in Selma as pastor of the
Baptist church there. In 1859, he again felt the need to publish his views and
began a new paper, "The Baptist Correspondent". His paper was in competition
with the existing "Southwestern Baptist" and failed after three years.
He was married to Maria LEWRIGHT (daughter of Robert LEWRIGHT)
on Dec 1 1815 in Jefferson County, Virginia.(5)
Maria LEWRIGHT
(1) was buried in Highland Meeting House, Union County, Kentucky.
Maria LeWright was the first wife of William Calmes Buck I who wrote that "She
was a lady of fine appearance, an excellent mind and unusual amiability."
William Calmes BUCK I and Maria LEWRIGHT had the following children:
+65 i.
Robert Luther BUCK Dr..
66 ii.
Maria Louisa BUCK(1) was buried in
Highland Meeting House, Union County, Kentucky.(5)
+67 iii.
Mary Elizabeth BUCK.
68 iv.
(unamed infant) BUCK(1)
(5) was buried in Highland Meeting House, Union County, Kentucky.
He was married to Isabella Miriam FIELD (daughter of Willis
FIELD and Isabella Miriam BUCK) on Jun 30 1829 in Woodford
County, Kentucky.(5)
Isabella Miriam FIELD(1) was buried
in Woodford County, Kentucky.(9)
She was "Noted for her beauty, intelligence, and piety", (History of
Woodford County, KY)
-- notes of H. N. Buck,
1965
Her husband wrote that she was "Remarkable for personal beauty, intellectuality
and piety, she had secured the love of a large circle of devoted admireers and
friends". She enjoyed the society of Louisville and was unhappy to leave
it.
William Calmes BUCK I and Isabella Miriam FIELD had the following children:
+69 i.
Dr. Charles Willis BUCK.
70 ii.
William Thomas BUCK(1) was buried in
Woodford County, Kentucky.(5) His father
decribed him as "A most remarkable youth -- the hope of his Parents."
and noted that he was 6' 1" tall, weighing 165 pounds at age 16. "..
as remarkable for his mental as his physical precocity, and as remarkable for
his piety as for either."
71 iii.
John Field BUCK(1) was buried in
Woodford County, Kentucky.(5)
+72 iv.
Emma BUCK.
+73 v.
Col. Giddings Judson BUCK.
74 vi.
John Samuel BUCK(1) was buried in Woodford
County, Kentucky.(5)
+75 vii.
Willis Field BUCK MD.
+76 viii.
Silas Calmes BUCK.
77 ix.
Thomas BUCK(1) was buried in Woodford
County, Kentucky.(5)
78 x.
Paul BUCK(1) was buried in Woodford
County, Kentucky.(5)
79 xi.
(stillborn) BUCK(9) was buried in
Louisville, Kentucky.(5)
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