John and Mary Melissa Waterbury Buckler

Photo was taken in Ames, Iowa, probably around the time of their marriage in 1900.

They are the parents of Willard J., Ella M. Stanley and May F. Buckler.

William Buckler was born in the early 1800’s in Devonshire, England. Devonshire is in the southwest corner of England. Around 1830 he married Grace Boundy. They had three daughters before their first son was born. Richard was born November 24, 1838 in Hartland, Devonshire. The 1841 Census of England and Wales shows William and his young family living in a home named West Yagland in the parish of Hartland. William’s occupation is listed as a farmer and by this time another daughter has been added to the family. The census also indicates that they had one female and two male servants living with them.

Sometime between 1844 and 1850 William and his family left England for Ontario, Canada. The 1851 Census of Whitby, Ontario lists William Buckler and his family, including three more daughters, the youngest born in Canada. Farming is his occupation. Richard is thirteen years old. It must have been difficult for a farmer to have only one son and seven daughters and a wife to provide with food, clothing and shelter.

On July 17, 1862 Richard Buckler, son of William , married Betsy Knight. They lived in Darlington, Durham County, Ontario before they eventually moved to Mara. The 1881 Census for Mara shows Richard and Betsy with three sons; Silas, Edward and John, and one daughter named Cinderella. Richard’s occupation like his father before him is that of a farmer. Between 1871 and 1883 Betsy and Richard had four more children; Annie, Jessie, Frank and Norman. If you look on a current map you will find Ramara which was created when the townships of Mara and Rama merged.

Both Betsy and Richard lived into old age. Betsy died January 1, 1919 and Richard in 1920. There is a gravestone in memory of both of them in the Beaverton Stone Church Cemetery located in Thorah township, Ontario.

Richard and Betsy’s son John left Canada in the 1890’s and traveled by rail to the city of Detroit, MI where he entered the United States. He found work at a farm experimental station in Ames, Iowa. On January 28, 1900 John married Mary Melissa Waterbury in Addison, MI. Mary was born in 1874 in Reading, MI. She was the daughter of Henry W. Waterbury who fought in the Civil War and whose ancestors arrived in America in 1630.

John and Mary Buckler had four children that survived to adulthood; Willard (born in Iowa) and Ella, Stanley and May (all born in MA). John Buckler and his family moved to Pittsfield, MA when he was offered a job as manager of Blythwood Farm. In 1908 John filed his intentions to apply for U.S. citizenship. On January 19,1911 he filed his Petition for Naturalization and on July 10, 1911 he took the Oath of Allegiance.

Mary Melissa Waterbury Buckler died January 29, 1948 in Pittsfield and John a few years later on January 22, 1953 leaving their four children; Willard, Ella, Stanley and May who we can all thank for being the founders of the Buckler Family Reunion tradition.