George Washington Buckner
Encyclopedia
George Washington Buckner, (December 1, 1855 – February 17, 1943), was an African American physician and diplomat. He was United States minister to Liberia
from 1913 to 1915.
, Buckner was freed at the age of ten. He attended a Freedman's School in Greensburg where he received a basic education. In 1870 he moved to Louisville
to live with his aunt and worked there briefly as a household servant before moving back to Green County
in 1871 to be a teacher. Buckner later moved to Indiana where he was educated as a teacher at Indiana State Normal School (now Indiana State University
) in Terre Haute
, and as a doctor at the Indiana Eclectic Medical College
.
After graduating from normal school, Buckner taught in Vincennes
, Washington
and Evansville
. He married Stella White in Vincennes in 1879. She died of tuberculosis
in 1889.
Buckner graduated from medical school in 1890 and practiced medicine in Indianapolis
for a year before moving to Evansville where he opened a doctor's office. He married Anna Cowen there in 1896. They had five children. John W. Boehne
, a prominent Evansville Democrat
, brought Buckner to the attention of President Woodrow Wilson
, who appointed him "minister resident" to the West African nation of Liberia in 1913. Buckner served in the post until 1915, during which time he also served as American Consul General in Monrovia
, the capital of Liberia. He became ill frequently with fever because of the tropical climate and resigned to return to Evansville.
Buckner belonged to the African Methodist Episcopal Church
and was active in Evansville civic affairs. He helped establish the Cherry Street Black YMCA and the United Brotherhood of Friendship. An active member of the Democratic Party, he was often involved with his close friend, Congressman John W. Boehne. He regularly wrote the "Colored Folks" section of region's Democratic newsletter urging them to support the party earning him the nickname "Elder Statesman of Indiana Blacks". He died in Evansville and is buried there in Oak Hill Cemetery. His son, Zach Buckner, donated much of his father's memorabilia to the Evansville Museum where it is on display in an exhibit. A housing project in Evansville, George W. Buckner Towers, is named for him.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
from 1913 to 1915.
Life
Born into slavery near Greensburg, KentuckyGreensburg, Kentucky
Greensburg is a city in Green County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,396 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Green County...
, Buckner was freed at the age of ten. He attended a Freedman's School in Greensburg where he received a basic education. In 1870 he moved to Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
to live with his aunt and worked there briefly as a household servant before moving back to Green County
Green County, Kentucky
Green County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1793. As of 2000, the population was 11,518. Its county seat is Greensburg. The county is named for Nathanael Greene...
in 1871 to be a teacher. Buckner later moved to Indiana where he was educated as a teacher at Indiana State Normal School (now Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
) in Terre Haute
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, and as a doctor at the Indiana Eclectic Medical College
Eclectic medicine
Eclectic medicine was a branch of American medicine which made use of botanical remedies along with other substances and physical therapy practices, popular in the latter half of the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries....
.
After graduating from normal school, Buckner taught in Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
, Washington
Washington, Indiana
Washington is a city in Daviess County, Indiana, United States. The population was 11,509 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Daviess County.-History:...
and Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
. He married Stella White in Vincennes in 1879. She died of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in 1889.
Buckner graduated from medical school in 1890 and practiced medicine in Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
for a year before moving to Evansville where he opened a doctor's office. He married Anna Cowen there in 1896. They had five children. John W. Boehne
John W. Boehne
John William Boehne was a U.S. Representative from Indiana, father of John William Boehne, Jr.-Biography:...
, a prominent Evansville Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, brought Buckner to the attention of President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
, who appointed him "minister resident" to the West African nation of Liberia in 1913. Buckner served in the post until 1915, during which time he also served as American Consul General in Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
, the capital of Liberia. He became ill frequently with fever because of the tropical climate and resigned to return to Evansville.
Buckner belonged to the African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the A.M.E. Church, is a predominantly African American Methodist denomination based in the United States. It was founded by the Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the...
and was active in Evansville civic affairs. He helped establish the Cherry Street Black YMCA and the United Brotherhood of Friendship. An active member of the Democratic Party, he was often involved with his close friend, Congressman John W. Boehne. He regularly wrote the "Colored Folks" section of region's Democratic newsletter urging them to support the party earning him the nickname "Elder Statesman of Indiana Blacks". He died in Evansville and is buried there in Oak Hill Cemetery. His son, Zach Buckner, donated much of his father's memorabilia to the Evansville Museum where it is on display in an exhibit. A housing project in Evansville, George W. Buckner Towers, is named for him.