Sullivan-Lycoming County PA Archives Biographies.....BUCK, John Watson 1853 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 31, 2005, 9:38 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. JOHN WATSON BUCK. Among the prominent and energetic business men of Sullivan County, Pa., is the gentleman named above and whose portrait appears on the opposite page, who is recognized as one of the leading merchants of Sonestown, where he owns a large general store. He is exceedingly popular in both business and social circles, and is ready to assist in all movements that tend toward the advancement and prosperity of his adopted township. He was born in what is now Strawbridge, Lycoming County, Pa., June 9, 1853, and is a son of Jacob and Hannah (Rishel) Buck, and grandson of John and Magdalena (Springer) Buck. Our subject traces his ancestral history back to his great-grandfather John Buck, the founder of this prosperous family in the United States, who emigrated from Germany to America at an early date. He was the father of three children: Benjamin, Polly, and John. John Buck, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Northampton County, Pa., September 23, 1807. He learned the trade of a gunsmith but engaged in farming the most of his life; he first settled in White Hall, Montour County, Pa., then removed to Sullivan County. For about two years he lived at North Mountain and then he purchased the farm now owned by Robert Taylor, Jr., at Muncy Creek; after residing there for some years, he removed to the state of Wisconsin, and later to Missouri, where he passed from this life at the age of eighty years. As a result of his marriage with Magdalena Springer he had the following children: Jacob, Lydia, Nancy, John, Mary, Phebe, and Eliza. All of these grew to maturity. His wife died at the age of about seventy-seven years. Jacob Buck our subject's father, was born November 2, 1829, and in his early manhood worked in a saw mill until about 1860, when he bought a farm on North Mountain and for twenty-three years was engaged in farming, with the exception of one year, which he and his family spent in the West; but liking the climate here so much better, he concluded to return to his farm. At the expiration of that time he accordingly settled in Muncy Creek, Lycoming County, where he resided until his death and was the owner of one of the finest farms in that section of the county. He died March 17, 1899. He was married July 22, 1852, to Hannah Rishel, a daughter of Joseph and Martha (Phillips) Rishel, and granddaughter of Jacob Rishel. Joseph Rishel was a carpenter by trade; he also followed weaving and farming, pursuing the latter vocation during the major portion of his active days. He first settled in Bloomsburg, Pa., later in Davidson township, Sullivan County, but finally in Penn township, Lycoming County, where he died at the age of eighty-one years; his wife departed this life when aged eighty-four years. They reared three children, namely: George W., Hannah, and Martha. Our subject's mother was born June 2, 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Buck are the parents of the following children: John Watson, our subject; Martha Jane, who was born April 1, 1856; Lewis Harvey, born December 28, 1859, who is clerking in our subject's store, married Sadie Derrick, by whom he has two children —Harry and Clayton; James Leonard, born November 27, 1861, is clerking at Williamsport, and is married to Lizzie Hoffer, by whom he has one child—Ethel; Lucy Alda, born August 10, 1868, is the wife of Morgan Gavitt of Laporte, Pa., and they have reared three children,—Minicent, Blake, and Fredericka; Carrie Adella, born September 19, 1869, died January 21, 1898; Laurette May, born April 14, 1872, died June 9, 1898; Mary, born June 27, 1873, resides with our subject; and Annie Eliza, born June 27, 1875, who is residing at home most of the time. John Watson Buck possesses a fine education and started out in life as a school teacher, teaching for five years and working at carpentering during the summer vacations; he then accepted a position with A. T. Armstrong of Sonestown. Remaining there a little over one year, he resigned and took one term at the Muncy Normal School and then accepted a position as clerk and bookkeeper with Jeremiah Kelly of Hughesville, Pa. Remaining there during the winter of 1881 and 1882, he then took a course at the Williamsport Commercial College, graduating December 12, 1882. His next position was with Mr. Armstrong of Sonestown, Pa., with whom he remained a year and a half; he then became bookkeeper and general assistant for the firm of Hicks & Burnley of Williamsport, Pa. In 1885 he returned to Sonestown and again engaged with Mr. Armstrong, with whom he remained about two years. He then went to work for Bodine & Warn in Sonestown and for nine years acted as manager of their store. At the expiration of that time he bought out the firm; he also purchased the two-story building, in which the store was located, which was built in 1876 by Robert Whitaker. Mr. Buck immediately increased the stock, and now carries a complete line of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, gents' furnishings, hardware, paints and oils, and all kinds of farming implements; his store is one of the most complete general stores in the county, and by his honest and straightforward dealings he has built up a large and enviable patronage. He is enterprising and public-spirited, and enjoys the respect and good will of a large circle of acquaintances. Mr. Buck was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Jennie Gavitt, a daughter of Peter Gavitt of Laporte township, Sullivan County, Pa., and they are the parents of five children, namely: Lela, Vera, Mildred, Staunton G., who died at the age of seven months; and Grant. Religiously he is a member of the United Evangelical Church, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal. In politics he is a Republican and served as school director five years. Socially he is a member of Sonestown Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand and past representative member; past chief patriarch of the Encampment of Laporte; and past president of Washington Camp, No. 344, P. O. S. of A. of Sonestown, Pa. During his many business changes, Mr. Buck has always held his residence in Sonestown and has never voted in any other place. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 6.8 Kb