I was born near Mt Union, Huntingdon County Dec. 11, 1832. My father's name Jacob born May 11, 1807 and died July 13, 1878 and was the youngest of three brothers - Henry and William, both of whom lived to over the age of 70. The father of these [brothers] William Buckley (I also have John) hailed from Dublin at an early day and participated in the struggle for freedom. The mother came from Holland or Germany, also at an early day and settled in Washington Cty, MD. Her maiden name was Barbara Bowser-Died in Pennsylvania in her 84th year.
My Note: My Buckley line is from HENRY, born Oct 4, 1795, and died July 5, 1865. I have information on the descendants of this line.
In the spring of 1840, I removed with my parents to Fulton Co., PA (then
Bedford Co.) where we settled in a comparative wilderness with perhaps
10 acres of cleared land to commence living on. The entire tract
contained 133 acres. The house was built of hewed logs and consisted of
one room on the first floor and had two or three windows, and old fashioned
fireplace and chimney also a pair of mill stairs leading to the second
floor, which apartment was likewise in one room and had no windows, there
was nothing overhead but the roof which was made of boards and they were
smoked black as tar. The family at this time consisted of Father, Mother,
myself, two brother, WIlliam and Samuel and one sister Hester Ann. We at
once commenced clearing out this wilderness region and continued at it
until we had opened up about 70 acres and rendered it productive as soil
in a slate region usually is made. My part was to pick the brush on heaps
for burning, working on burnt clearings until I was much the color of one
of Ham's sons. When I became older and stronger I was taught the use of
the mattock, ax, cross-cut saw, and the threshing gail, for the cleared
land, lumbered and farmed during these years. The lumber we conveyed to
McConnelsburg for a very moderate compensation about 9$ per M. With this
we purchased our groceries and dry goods.
Our fare was simple and plain, scarcely in luxuries and apparel equally
plain, bordering strongly on the rustic. Such as the red lindsay made into
what was called a snack-a woman's jacket and trousers. We were supplied
with stockings and shoes about one course a year.
In 1850 on the death of Uncle Jacob Roberts below Ft. Littleton, at
the request of the widow and other friends, we moved on his farm where
we remained five years and the same time farming our own place until a
favorable opportunity offered when we sold this for $1,600- for which we
paid originally $400. During these years we made some money and gathered
around us somewhat of property. In 1855 we purchased from Mr. G.E. Wilds
the old Danzel property on the Three Mountain Road, about 1/2 mile above
Ft. Littleton for the sum of $4,000 dollars and moved upon it and the family
still remains there, 1875. This place has been paid for and greatly improved
and at present may be worth $10,000.
(Note-in pencil-in grandfather writing, P.S. Somehow the autobiography never got completed-maybe, Ella, you may someday finish it.)
(Note along edge of paper, also in grandfather's writing)
My mother was Elizabeth Booker, eldest daughter of John and Barbara.
They were natives of this county - perhaps natives of Beaver Co., PA. and
were of Methodist stock as nearly all the descendants are. The grandparents
died at about the age of 60 years. My mother died Sep. 16, 1855 of dysentery.
The family comprised 9 children on her side, all of whom are now dead except
one - and I think all died under 50 years of age.
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