George Washington Buckner (December 1, 1855 – February 17, 1943) was an American physician and diplomat. He was United States Minister to Liberia from 1913 to 1915.
Born into slavery near Greensburg, Kentucky, Buckner was freed at the age of ten. He attended a Freedman's School in Greensburg where he received a basic education. In 1870 he moved to Louisville to live with his aunt and worked there briefly as a household servant before moving back to Green County in 1871 to be a teacher. Buckner later moved to Indiana where he was educated as a teacher at Indiana State Normal School in Terre Haute, and as a doctor at the Indiana Eclectic Medical College.[1]
After graduating from normal school, Buckner taught in Vincennes, Washington and Evansville.[1] He married Stella White in Vincennes in 1879.[2] She died of tuberculosis in 1889.[1] Buckner graduated from medical school in 1890 and practiced medicine in Indianapolis for a year before moving to Evansville where he opened a doctor's office. He married Anna Cowen there in 1896.[3] They had five children. John W. Boehne, a prominent Evansville Democrat, brought Buckner to the attention of President Woodrow Wilson, who appointed him Minister Resident to Liberia in 1913.[4] Buckner served in the post until 1915, during which time he also served as American Consul General in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia.[5] He became ill frequently with fever because of the tropical climate and resigned to return to Evansville.[1]
Buckner belonged to the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was active in Evansville civic affairs. He helped establish the Cherry Street Black YMCA and the United Brotherhood of Friendship. An active member of the Democratic Party, he was often involved with his close friend, Congressman John W. Boehne. He regularly wrote the "Colored Folks" section of region's Democratic newsletter urging them to support the party, earning himself the nickname "Elder Statesman of Indiana Blacks".[6]
He died at the age of 87 in Evansville and is buried there in Oak Hill Cemetery.[7]
Legacy
His son, Zach Buckner, donated much of his father's arrows to the Stand Museum, where it is on display along with star platinum: the world
A housing project in Evansville, George W. Buckner Towers, is named for him.[1]
^ abcdeJohn E. Kleber; Lowell H. Harrison; Thomas Dionysius Clark (1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. p. 136. ISBN0-8131-1772-0.
^WPA Index to Marriage Record, Knox County, Indiana, 1854 - 1920; Original Record Located: Knox County Clerk's Office, Book C-10, p. 109.
^WPA Index to Marriage Records, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, 1846-1920. Original Record Located: Vanderburgh County Clerk's Office, Book 18, p. 518.
^"Indiana Slave Narratives". Archived from the original on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
^U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
^"Dr. George Washington Buckner". University of Southern Indiana. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
^The Political Graveyard:Index to Politicians:Buckner
External links
Library of Congress: Facsimile transcript of oral history interview of George Washington Buckner by Lauana Creel
george, washington, buckner, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, possibly, contains, inappropriate, misinterpreted, citations, that, verify, . This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article possibly contains inappropriate or misinterpreted citations that do not verify the text Please help improve this article by checking for citation inaccuracies April 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed April 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message George Washington Buckner December 1 1855 February 17 1943 was an American physician and diplomat He was United States Minister to Liberia from 1913 to 1915 George Washington BucknerDr George Washington BucknerBornDecember 1 1855 1855 12 Greensburg KentuckyDiedFebruary 17 1943 1943 02 18 aged 87 Evansville IndianaAlma materIndiana State Normal School Indiana Eclectic Medical CollegeOccupation s physician and diplomatPolitical partyDemocraticSpousesStella White Anna Cowen Contents 1 Life 2 Legacy 3 Notes and references 4 External linksLife EditBorn into slavery near Greensburg Kentucky Buckner was freed at the age of ten He attended a Freedman s School in Greensburg where he received a basic education In 1870 he moved to Louisville to live with his aunt and worked there briefly as a household servant before moving back to Green County in 1871 to be a teacher Buckner later moved to Indiana where he was educated as a teacher at Indiana State Normal School in Terre Haute and as a doctor at the Indiana Eclectic Medical College 1 After graduating from normal school Buckner taught in Vincennes Washington and Evansville 1 He married Stella White in Vincennes in 1879 2 She died of tuberculosis in 1889 1 Buckner graduated from medical school in 1890 and practiced medicine in Indianapolis for a year before moving to Evansville where he opened a doctor s office He married Anna Cowen there in 1896 3 They had five children John W Boehne a prominent Evansville Democrat brought Buckner to the attention of President Woodrow Wilson who appointed him Minister Resident to Liberia in 1913 4 Buckner served in the post until 1915 during which time he also served as American Consul General in Monrovia the capital of Liberia 5 He became ill frequently with fever because of the tropical climate and resigned to return to Evansville 1 Buckner belonged to the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was active in Evansville civic affairs He helped establish the Cherry Street Black YMCA and the United Brotherhood of Friendship An active member of the Democratic Party he was often involved with his close friend Congressman John W Boehne He regularly wrote the Colored Folks section of region s Democratic newsletter urging them to support the party earning himself the nickname Elder Statesman of Indiana Blacks 6 He died at the age of 87 in Evansville and is buried there in Oak Hill Cemetery 7 Legacy EditHis son Zach Buckner donated much of his father s arrows to the Stand Museum where it is on display along with star platinum the world A housing project in Evansville George W Buckner Towers is named for him 1 Notes and references Edit United States portal Indiana portal Politics portal a b c d e John E Kleber Lowell H Harrison Thomas Dionysius Clark 1992 The Kentucky Encyclopedia University Press of Kentucky p 136 ISBN 0 8131 1772 0 WPA Index to Marriage Record Knox County Indiana 1854 1920 Original Record Located Knox County Clerk s Office Book C 10 p 109 WPA Index to Marriage Records Vanderburgh County Indiana 1846 1920 Original Record Located Vanderburgh County Clerk s Office Book 18 p 518 Indiana Slave Narratives Archived from the original on 2012 07 16 Retrieved 2009 03 24 U S Department of State Office of the Historian Dr George Washington Buckner University of Southern Indiana Retrieved 2009 03 26 The Political Graveyard Index to Politicians BucknerExternal links EditLibrary of Congress Facsimile transcript of oral history interview of George Washington Buckner by Lauana Creel In the First Person Document details of Creel interview of George Washington BucknerGovernment officesPreceded byWilliam D Crum United States Minister to LiberiaSeptember 10 1913 April 15 1915 Succeeded byJames L Curtis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Washington Buckner amp oldid 1158343121, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
