Henry Edward Buckles was born on 5. Jun. 1884 at Sedan, Chautauqua County, Kansas. He was the son of
Lewis Warren Buckles and
Minnie Bell Sharp. Henry Edward Buckles married
Sarah Ellen McConaghy, daughter of
John McConaghy and
Rachel Eldora Glezen, on 6. Sep. 1906 at Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. Henry Edward Buckles died on 17. Oct. 1954 at Reliance, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, at age 70. He was buried on 21. Oct. 1954 at Mountain View Cemetery, Rock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming. By Norma Ellen Buckles Gamble 1990
OLD TIMER HENRY BUCKLES
Henry Edward Buckles is now on his thirtieth year of employment with The Union Pacific Coal Company at Reliance. He is known to most of us as "Buck", "Harry", or "Sheriff."
"Buck" is an old-time baseball player, and said he thought it was time to quit when his first grandchild was born in 1927.
His first employment with the Union Pacific was in 1920 when he started as steam fitter foreman remodeling the roundhouse at Rock Springs.
Early the following year, Tom Bainbridge, then construction supervisor for the Railroad between Ogden and Rawlins asked "Buck" to become a permanent member of his force head quartered at Green River as a maintenance mechanic. Soon after, the railroad business hit a slump, and Harry decided that he had better tie up with something having more employment stability and accepted Tom Foster's invitation to work at the Reliance coal mine of The Union Pacific Coal Company. Buckles' first job was as pipe man under Matt Marshall, mine foreman at old No. 1 in Reliance. Tom Foster is now retired and lives in Rock Springs, and Matt Marshall resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.
At this time, a steady year-round job was an innovation for Buckles since he had played both semi-pro and professional baseball in the Western Association, Western League and independent leagues since 1905. He switched back and forth from manager to catcher, dependent upon the expedience and which paid the most.
In 1905 he played pro ball under the Western Association banner for the Springfield, Missouri club, in 1906 under the Western League banner for the Pueblo, Colorado club, which incidentally was managed by Sallee, the former manager of Chicago and the National League Club at Boston. Until 1909 "Buck" caught for the independent club of Cripple Creek and Telluride, Colorado, then going to Pittsburgh, Kansas and Joplin, Missouri as manager under the Western League Association. The Joplin club was sold to Muskogee, Oklahoma, which he managed until 1911. "Buck" said he didn't like the new arrangement and jumped his contract to manage independent teams in Flagstaff, Arizona and Las Vegas, New Mexico, until 1915. "Buck" said he missed his big chance in 1909 when an injured arm prohibited him from fulfilling an option with the St. Louis Americans.
After 1915 he gave up baseball as a full-time vocation and learned the steam-fitting trade while employed at the Utah Copper (Arthur Plant) at Salt Lake City, Utah, where he remained until 1919 with brief employment at the A. S. and R. smelter at Salt Lake City.
He continued with summer baseball after 1915, however, playing at Salt Lake City, Rock Springs, and Reliance until 1927. When asked why and how he happened to come to Rock Springs, he smiled and said he came to play baseball for the old Rock Springs Lumber Company and incidentally managed the Rock Springs Plumbing Company (a subsidiary) for Henry Utzinger, then manager of the Lumber Company.
"Buck" said there are still quite a few old-time ball players around Rock Springs and nearby with whom he played. Some of them are: Mike Maher, present Sweetwater County Sheriff, Henry Carr, retired miner, Rock Springs, "Doc" Gaston, working with the Union Pacific at Green River. Andrew (Ding) Spence, Mine Foreman, Winton, Wyoming. Claude Hiner and Dick Haag, Superior, Wyoming. D.O. Clark, Tom Lavery, Deputy Sheriff, Superior, Wyoming, Howard McComas, retired Old Timer, Salt Lake City, Utah, Bob Reay, presently employed as a mine inspector by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, Denver, Colorado. Bill Treseder, Deputy U.S. Marshal, Salt Lake City, and Emil Droege and "Boots" Dankowski of Green River, Wyoming.
"Buck" was born on a farm near Sedan, Kansas, June 5, 1884, moving to Colorado Springs at 6 years of age, where his father engaged as a contractor and prospector in the mining game. He attended both grade and high school in Colorado Springs, Colorado, marrying Sarah Ellen McConaghy, September 6, 1906.
Mrs Buckles' father was manager and owner of an investment company in Colorado Springs for many years and traveled extensively as a mining engineer.
Mr. and Mrs. Buckles have five children: Ione, now Mrs. Rene Jacobs, Kremmling, Colorado, Harry, formerly with Patton's Third Army in Europe and now in service overseas in the Pacific, Rachel, Mrs. Carl Jorgensen, Pinedale, Norma, Mrs. Bob Gamble, Burntfork, and John Warren, in the hotel business in La Jolla, California. There are seven grandchildren.
"Buck" said he has the best wife in the world, saying she has never complained in all of the ups and downs of their life together.
Henry Edward Buckles is a SAFE workman, having never suffered a lost-time accident.
Henry Edward Buckles was my father so I have a more complete history of him. He was born June 5, 1884 in Sedan, Kansas. When he was a boy of 6 his parents moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he attended grade school and high school. As a young man he played professional baseball in Colorado Springs, and Pueblo. Later he was manager of the baseball team in Joplin, Missouri. In 1905 he played pro ball under the Western Association Banner, for the Springfield Missouri Club. He missed his big chance in 1909 when an injured arm prevented him from fulfilling an option with the St. Louis Americans. He gave up baseball as a career in 1915 and learned the steam fitting trade while employed at Utah Copper. He moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming in 1919. In 1920 he moved to Green River, Wyoming where he was a steam fitter for the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1921 he moved to Reliance, Wyoming, where he was employed as a plumber for the Union Pacific. He remained in Reliance for the rest of his life. He was deputy sheriff for nearly 30 years and was special agent for the Union Pacific during the war years guarding the Union Pacific payroll and other duties that went with being a special agent. He was secretary-treasurer of the United Mine Workers Local 905 for 25 years. He retired in 1952. He wintered several winters in California but didn't like the hustle and bustle of the city. He preferred Reliance where he said, "even the dogs know me." He knew everyone and everyone knew him. He never met a stranger. Just before his death he said, "I don't have many riches to my name but I do have many friends , and that is far more important to me." He died October 17, 1954 at his home in Reliance, Wyoming, of a sudden heart attack.
Obituary Henry Edward Buckles October 17,1954
Christian Sciences and Masonic funeral services for Henry E. Buckles 70, of Reliance, Wyoming were held Thursday at the Masonic Temple with Mrs. Max Gentilli conducting the church service.
Mrs. William Branch of McKinnon, accompanied by Mrs. John Anderson of McKinnon, Wyoming, sang "The Lords Prayer" and "O Gentle Presence." Mrs. Arthur Anderson of Rock Springs rendered piano selections during the service.
Friends who served as pallbearers were Pat Burns, William Gibbs, S. M. Peppinger, William Sellers and Andrew Spence, all of Reliance and James Jorgensen of Pinedale.
Burial was in Mountain View cemetery and graveside services were conducted by the Masonic lodge and the United Mine Workers of America.
Mr. Buckles died suddenly early Sunday, October 17, at his home. His death came without warning and resulted from an acute heart attack. Medical assistance was summoned but death came before the doctor could reach the Buckles home.
He had lived in Reliance, Wyoming, since 1921 and before that he lived in Rock Springs and Green River, Wyoming.
Henry Edward Buckles was born June 5, 1884 on a farm near Sedan, Kansas. When a boy his parents, Lewis Warren and Minnie Belle Sharp Buckles, moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he attended grade and high school.
As a young man, Mr. Buckles played professional baseball in Colorado Springs and Pueblo and later he was manager of the baseball team in the Three I league in Joplin, Missouri.
Mr. Buckles and Sarah McConaghy were married September 6, 1906 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
They came to Rock Springs in 1919 and in 1920 moved to Green River where Mr. Buckles was employed as a steam-fitter for Union Pacific railroad. In 1921 the family moved to Reliance where he was employed as a plumber for Union Pacific Coal Company.
After coming to Sweetwater county to live Mr. Buckles continued active participation in baseball until 1929.
He was secretary-treasurer for Reliance local 905, United Mine Workers of America, for 25 years prior to his retirement in 1952. He also served for nearly 30 years as deputy sheriff of the Reliance area and was an active member of the Sweetwater county Democratic committee.
As a member of the Masonic lodge, Mr. Buckles was a Knights Templer and a Shriner.
Survivors are his widow, two sons, John Warren Buckles of Pomona, California, and Harry Buckles of Oklahoma City, Okla., three daughters, Mrs. Rene (Ione) Jacobs, of Buena Vista, Colo., Mrs. Carl (Rachel) Jorgensen of Pinedale, Wyo. and Mrs. Robert (Norma) Gamble, of Burntfork, Wyo. seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a niece Mrs. Robert Hanrahan, of Denver, Colo. All members of his family, including Mrs. Hanrahan were in Rock Springs for the funeral services. An infant daughter, Rachel Eldora, and a brother, Faye Buckles preceded him in death.