In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910), History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns and villages, together with a (1881)
N. P. BUCK, stock dealer and farmer. The subject of this sketch is the youngest sonof a family of four, and the son of Dr. Perry G. and Rebecca (Thomas) Buck, who came to this county prior to 1820, from New York. Dr. Buck was married in this state soon after his advent here, and settled in Lexington, built the first house in the town. Mr. Buck, the subject of this sketch, was born in Lexington in 1833, and was educated at the Masonic college. In 1860 he went to the eastern part of the county and engaged in farming. He now ovkrns 740 acres of land, and raises corn and wheat extensively. Keeps about 300 head of cattle, which he fatten and ships, to eastern markets. In November, 1869, he was married to Miss Margaret Prichard, daughter of E. R. and Eliza Prichard, of Lexington, formerly of Georgetown, Ky. By this marriage he has four children — Edward O., Nellie, Mary, and Napoleon.
As printed in History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns and villages, together with a (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
NAPOLEON P. BUCK.
Farming, like any other business, repay to a man in proportion to what he puts into it. If he goes about it half-heartedly and cares little for success, he certainly will not succeed. If, on the other hand, he bonds all his energies to making the business prosper and brings to the task an intelligent mind and firm will, he will, like Mr. Buck, obtain adequate reward for his efforts.
Napoleon P. Buck was born March 23, 1832, the son of Dr. Perry G. and Rebecca (Thomas) Buck. His father was born in New York and came about 1820 to the West, locating at Lexington. He built the first house in the city, the structure being of logs, which were afterward weatherboarded. He was the father of eight children, of whom three sons and one daughter grew up; these children were the only ones born in Lexington prior to 1822. All his life he was a doctor and covered a large scope of country and had a wide personal influence. He persuaded Judge Hicks, when a boy, to study law and aided him much during his early career.
Napoleon Buck's mother was born in Maryland, and her parents came to Saline county, east of Waverly, near the county line, in 181 8, and there her father, a Revolutionary soldier, operated a mill and distillery. John D. Thomas, her brother, a soldier in the war of 1812, who rose to the rank of colonel, was the founder of Waverly. He built a house where the town now is and it grew up and around it. Later he built a brick house south of the town and became a large land and slaveholder and a prominent farmer. He was widely known as Col. John D. Thomas.
Napoleon Buck was brought up in Lexington and lived there until the beginning of the war, and attended old Masonic College. He was, as was his father, a Mason, but after leaving Lexington he has not been connected with the lodge. When he left Lexington he came to near Waverly and rented two years, then bought eighty acres, where he now lives, and continued to add to his possessions until he had over sixteen hundred acres. He was first a hemp farmer, but twenty-eight years ago he began feeding cattle and hogs, and has since followed that branch of farming, but county the year 19 10 as his last year as a feeder. In 1909 he practically retired and turned the farms over to his sons.
In 1870 Mr. Buck was married to Margaret E. Pritchard, who was born and reared near Lexington. They are the parents of the following living children, besides five who died in infancy: Edward O., Nellie P., Mary E., Lucy G., Grover C, Dennis T. and David Francis. Mr. Buck and his family are members of the Presbyterian church. He was a Democrat until recently, but is now a Republican, never aspiring to office. He has always taken great interest in cattle and hog feeding, and the best methods of obtaining results from the feed expended. The energies of his entire life have been given to farming and stock feeding, with very marked success, as appears above. He is a man of strict integrity and honor and of much intelligence, and is very much liked by those who know him.
As printed in Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.