Biographical Sketches
THOMAS B. BUCKNER
Is the senior member of the firm of Buckner, Bird & Lake, attorneys at law of Kansas City, whose offices are in the New York Life building. This firm enjoys an excellent reputation and receives from the public a liberal patronage, such as is given only to those whose ability and standing at the bar enable them to handle successfully large legal interests.
Mr. Buckner was born in Callaway county, Missouri, September 8, 1854, descending from English and Irish ancestry. The paternal grandfather, Colonel Robert R. Buckner, was a native of Kentucky, and married a Miss Tate, who was of Irish and Scotch descent. He carried on business as a farmer, tobacco-raiser and trader, and later was a commission merchant in St. Louis. A man of considerable prominence, he served as a member of the state legislature of Kentucky at the time when Senator George G. Vest was a page in the house. He was a typical southern gentleman, of generous manner and kindly nature. On the occasion of his coming to Missouri in the early days on an Ohio steamer, his boat collided with another vessel, and he lost 8 slaves, 6 mules, 3 wagons and $1,800 in gold. His last days were spent in Missouri, where he died in 1877, at the age of 70 years.
The father of our subject, John T. Buckner, was born in Kentucky, and is now a retired farmer. He came to this state in 1840, locating in Callaway county with his father. He has since been a resident of that locality, and, having acquired a competence through his well managed business interests, is now spending his declining years in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former labor. He married Ellen M. Bernard, a native of Virginia, a sister of Judge William R. Bernard, of Westport, and a daughter of Major Thomas Bernard, who was of English linage, while his wife was of German descent. A farmer by occupation, he owned a large tract of land, and was an aristocratic southern gentleman in the truest sense of that term. From Virginia to Missouri he removed in the '40's and settled in Callaway county, where his death occurred when he had reached the age of 70 years. In religious belief he was a Methodist, and several of his brothers were ministers of that denomination, while his home was the place of entertainment for all of the preachers visiting that part of the county.
Mr. and Mrs. John Buckner, however, are members of the Presbyterian church, and in his political views he is a stalwart democrat. Their family numbered 6 children: Robert R.; Thomas B.; Mollie, wife of John S. Harrison; John E.; Joseph Frank; and William T., who died at the age of 21.
Thomas B. Buckner was reared in the county of his nativity, on a farm, working thereone in summer and attending the district school in winter. In 1875 he was graduated at Westminster College of Fulton, Missouri. After his graduation he followed surveying and teaching school, studying law at the same time, and subsequently pursued the law course in the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, where he graduated in 1877. When thorough preparation had fitted him for his chosen calling, he established an office in Mexico, Missouri, where he remained for 9 years in active practice. During that time he served as city attorney for 1 year, and was prosecuting attorney of the county for 4 years.
In 1886, attracted by the marvelous growth of this city and wishing a larger field of professional life, he came to Kansas City, where he has practiced continuously since. For 4 years he was attorney of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, and attorney for a number of the largest banks in the city, and now has an extensive and distinctively representative clientage. In his professional capacity he has been connected with many important cases, and that his ability and honorable methods are appreciated is shown in the large business that now engrosses his attention.
In January, 1880, Mr. Buckner married Effie Hendricks, a native of Harrison county, Texas, daughter of Colonel Sterling Brown Hendricks. They now have 4 children - James Tucker, Sterling Hendricks, Margaret and Thomas B., Jr.
Mr. Buckner is a member of the Central Presbyterian church, at Kansas City, and a member of the Odd Fellows and Masonic fraternities. He was knighted as a Knight Templar, in Kansas City commandery, No. 10, in 1888, with which commandery he still affiliates. In politics he is and always has been a pronounced democrat, and has taken a prominent part in the councils of his party since 1878. He was the youngest member of the state convention of his party which assembled that year, and he has been a prominent speaker on the stump in almost every campaign since that year. His acquaintance in the city and state is very extensive, extending to almost every prominent member of his party. Mr. Buckner never forgets a face, and but few forget him. His striking characteristics are absolute fidelity to friends and clients, and intense zeal in the espousal of any cause he advocates. His character is of that positive sort which never dissimulates. He never allows any one to treat him with more consideration than is given in return. No one has a greater contempt for the betrayer of a confidence and friendship than he.
As an orator and advocate, whether on the stump or in the forum, he carries his strong personality with him. His earnestness, his honesty, and his facility for putting things in the strongest and most trenchant and forcible manner has won for him the reputation of being a hard fighter and one of the strongest advocates at this bar.
He has an ardent love for family, home and friends. His home life, attended by his accomplished wife and 4 children, is his principal delight. He lives in a comfortable residence at 426 Prospect avenue, one of the most delightful locations in Kansas City. At this home a generous hospitality is dispensed, where all friends of the family are made welcome.
Mr. Buckner is a direct descendant of the Buckner family of Kentucky, whose fame extends to almost every household in that state. The history of that state would not be complete without mentioning the names of Judge Richard A. Buckner, Judge Benjamin F. Buckner, Alexander Buckner,, Aylette H. Buckner, and General Simon Bolivar Buckner, and many others high in the roll of honor. From these names she has selected her congressmen, her judges, her senators, her generals and her governors. These men are all relatives of the subject of this sketch, and with his strong personality, his industry, his courage, honesty and absolute fidelity to both right principles and friends, he will keep alive a name untarnished, already rendered illustrious by his distinguished ancestors in the service of their country.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.