Buckner, Simon Bolivar, 1823-1914

Simon Bolivar Buckner, governor of Kentucky during 1887-91, was born near Munfordville, Kentucky, in 1823, to Aytell Hartswell and Elizabeth Ann Buckner. He entered West Point in 1840 and saw active duty in the Mexican War after graduation. He later became head of Kentucky's state militia, then joined the Confederate Army as brigadier general at the start of the Civil War. After the war, Buckner was a journalist and businessman in New Orleans until he was allowed to return to Kentucky in 1868. In 1887, he was nominated as Democratic candidate for governor and defeated Republican William O'Connell Bradley in a close race. He later ran for U.S. Senate and was became a vice-presidential candidate on the Gold Democrat ticket with Gen. John M. Palmer in 1896. He died in 1914 and was buried in Frankfort Cemetery.

From the description of Simon Bolivar Buckner family papers, 1780-1900. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 39204528

Confederate general during the Civil War; Governor of Kentucky, 1887-1891.

From the description of Buckner, Simon Bolivar, letter, 1862. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 23835084

American army officer.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : West Point, to Messrs. John Earle, Jr., & Co., Boston, 1848 Oct. 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270531147

Simon Bolivar Buckner was born at Glen Lily, near Munfordville, Kentucky, on April 1, 1823. He attended West Point and saw active duty during the Mexican War, serving with Gen. Winfield Scott. In 1850, he married Mary Jane Kingsbury with whom he had a daughter, Lily. After Mary Jane died in 1874, Buckner married Delia Claiborne in 1885. They had one son, Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. Buckner became head of the Kentucky state militia in 1860 and tried to preserve the state's neutrality in 1861. He rejected a Union commission and joined the Confederacy as a brigadier general. Buckner surrendered Fort Donelson to Gen. Grant in February 1862. After a prisoner exchange, he saw extensive duty in the western theatre. He was promoted to lieutenant general while serving in the trans-Mississippi theatre where he surrendered Gen. Edmund Kirby-Smith's army in 1865. After the Civil War, Buckner was a journalist in New Orleans until he was allowed to return to Kentucky in 1868. Running on the Democratic ticket, Buckner defeated Republican William O'Connell Bradley to become governor of Kentucky in 1887. He was known for his honest and efficient administration during which he vetoed several private interest bills. A major scandal erupted in 1888 when he ordered a routine audit that had been neglected for years. State Treasurer, James W. "Honest Dick" Tate disappeared leaving a shortage of $247,128.50. Buckner failed to win the nomination for U.S. Senate in 1895 and eventually left the Democratic Party in 1896 when William Jennings Bryan was nominated for the presidency. Buckner became the vice-presidential candidate on the Gold Democrat ticket with Gen. John M. Palmer. He died Jan. 8, 1914 and was buried at the Frankfort Cemetery.

From the description of Simon Bolivar Buckner collection, 1861-1913. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 44486621

Lieutenant, 6th Infantry, War with Mexico, 1846-1847; major-general, Confederate Army, Civil War; governor of Kentucky, 1887-1891; unsuccessful candidate for vice-president, 1896.

From the description of Letters: to Beriah Magoffin, Frankfort, K[entuck]y, 1861. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 27819370

U.S. Army and Confederate officer, Kentucky governor, vice-presidential candidate.

From the description of Simon Bolivar Buckner : papers, 1847-1896. (Filson Historical Society, The). WorldCat record id: 46763820

General (1861-1865) for the Confederate Army and commander of the Dept. of East Tennessee (1863-1864).

From the description of Autograph letter, 1863 May 19. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70970645

Buckner was a Confederate general.

From the description of Autograph, ca. 1880. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 83412370

Confederate lieutenant general and 1896 National Democratic candidate for vice president.

From the description of Papers, 1863-1914. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 38196558

Simon Bolivar Buckner was governor of Kentucky from 1887 to 1891.

From the description of Broadside, 1914 February 24. (Filson Historical Society, The). WorldCat record id: 49346820

Simon Bolivar Buckner, Confederate general, businessman, Democratic governor of Kentucky in 1887-1891, and the vice-presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party in the 1896 campaign. He died in 1914, in "Glen Lily," his country estate near Munfordville. He married Mary Kingsbury (1850) and Delia Claiborne (1885).

From the description of Papers of Simon Bolivar Buckner, 1828-1913 (bulk 1862-1912). (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122552009