Paddock, B. B. (Buckley B.), 1844-1922

Fort Worth businessman and promoter. Born 1844 in Cleveland, Ohio; died 1922 in Fort Worth, Texas. Paddock served as a captain in the Confederate Army and studied law in Mississippi before moving to Fort Worth in 1872. His interests included banking, investment securities, railroads, and real estate. He was publisher of the FORT WORTH DEMOCRAT, later editor of the FORT WORTH GAZETTE, founder and president of the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway, organizer of the Board of Trade, president of the Texas Spring Palace Association (1889-1890), state representative (1881-1883 and 1913-1915), mayor of Fort Worth (1892-1900), and author of four books on Fort Worth and West Texas history. Paddock married Emmie Harper, of Jefferson County, Mississippi, in 1867. They had four children: Mary, Wirt, William B., and Virgile.

Buckley B. Paddock, son of Boardman and Margaret (Buckley), Paddock, was born January 22, 1844, in Cleveland, Ohio. He spenthis boyhood among trappers and loggers in the Northwest. He joined the Confederate Army at age sixteen as a private, and became reputedly the youngest commanding officer in that army when promoted to captain in 1862 at age eighteen. He fought in Wirt Adams Cavalry at Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, and elsewhere with assignments in secret service and signal corps. In 1864, in command of thirteen, he captured an ironclad gunboat and crew of 268. He had five horses shot from under him and after one battle had twenty-seven holes in his shirt yet escaped serious injury. He was the inspiration for George Washington Cable's novel The Cavalier .

After the war Paddock became a lawyer in Fayette, Mississippi, and married Emmie M. Harper, the daughter of a planter, on December 10, 1867. They had four children: Mary, who died young; Wirt; William B.; and Virgile. He arrived in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1872 and spent the rest of his life promoting that city in a variety of ways. Paddock published the Fort Worth Democrat for ten years, where his editorials reflected his vision for Fort Worth and especially promoted it as a railroad center. His "Tarantula Map" envisioned most of the rail lines that were eventually to go through Fort Worth years before they were built. When the Democrat merged with the Gazette, Paddock served as managing editor. He later went into banking and the investment securities business. He was founder and president of the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway from Fort Worth to Brownwood, which later became part of the Frisco System. An effort to build the Fort Worth and Northwestern to the coal fields in Young County was pursued sporadically from the 1890s to 1914 but did not succeed. He was involved in organizing the first Board of Trade, which became the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and, after many years of service, was made honorary president for life. Paddock was president of the Texas Spring Palace Association 1889-1890.

B. B. Paddock also served politically. He was a state representative 1881-1883 and 1913-1915 and served as mayor of Fort Worth 1892-1900. Paddock also wrote or edited four books on Texas history. He died January 9, 1922, and was buried in Fort Worth.

Buckley Burton Paddock (1844-1922) was born in Ohio and lived in Wisconsin until he was fifteen. At the start of the Civil War, he enlisted in company K of the First Mississippi Cavalry, Army of Tennessee. He rose to the rank of commander and led a select espionage unit. After the war, Paddock practiced law and moved to Fort Worth, Texas, in the fall of 1872. He was an active businessman and civil leader, and best known as the editor of the Fort Worth Democrat (1873-1881). He served as president of the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway Company (1885-1889), as founder and executive secretary of the Fort Worth Board of Trade (1901-1909) and Fort Worth mayor (1892-1900).

Paddock used all his positions to help promote Fort Worth, as it was still a small establishment when he first arrived. As president of the Railway Company, he helped to establish its reputation as a center for trade, distribution, and travel. By the time of his death, Paddock had become a major figure in local and state politics, and even had a measure of national recognition.

Source:

Duncan, Patricia L. “Paddock, Buckley Burton.” Handbook of Texas Online. Accessed June 8, 2010. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/PP/fpa3.html.