Jackson Standard Journal

Wednesday, March 30, 1898

John Buckley

Passed to spirit life, March 19, 1898, from the home of his daughter Sarah, at Rempel, John Buckley at the age of seventy three years and one month. He was twice married and the father of eleven children, five of whom with his two wives preceded him to the higher life, six remaining not to mourn as those without hope, but with the full realization that he has gone to join relatives and friends in the life beyond where parting, sickness and death are experienced no more.

He was born and grew up in Jackson county, and with his energy and industry helped to displace the forest, making conditions what they are today. He was called upon many times to fill positions of trust, all of which he executed with honor to himself and satisfaction to his constituency.

Death to him was the occasion of no surprise or alarm. His faith seemed clearer and more intensified and farther reaching his spiritual vision as he approached the change. Death was never more like sleep than when Brother Buckley breathed his last.

A number of years since Brother Buckley united with M. E. church and was a liberal contributor to its support while his financial condition would admit of so doing. He was a firm believer in the precepts and examples as taught and practiced by Jesus Christ as a leader and teacher of the race and that the greatest service the finite could render the Infinite was to be found in the Golden Rule, and that every one must bear the responsibility of his own thoughts, words and actions and be judged, absolved or condemned by his own conscience on reaching the beyond, in all of which he had very pronounced convictions.

In his last affliction all that could be done by medical skill, kind neighbors, pathetic, tender, loving hands of children, especially those of his daughter Sarah and her husband, in whose well ordered home transition came, was done to stay the hands of the Reaper.

Williamson Scurlock

 

Contributed by: Donna Scurlock