Abram J. Buckles

Abraham Jay Buckles (August 2, 1846 – January 19, 1915) was an American soldier and jurist. Born near Muncie, Indiana, on August 2, 1846, to Thomas and Rebecca (Graham) Buckles,[1] his first name was often abbreviated as "Abram". Buckles was largely self-educated, and was known for his heroism during the American Civil War and his years of service on the California bench.[2]

Abraham Jay Buckles
Born(1846-08-02)August 2, 1846
DiedJanuary 19, 1915(1915-01-19) (aged 68)
San Bernardino County, California
Place of burial
Suisun-Fairfield Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1862 - 1865
Rank Second Lieutenant
Unit 19th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry - Company E
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
AwardsMedal of Honor
Other workLawyer, teacher and judge

On December 15, 1865, he married Louiza/Louisa Conn.[3] Together, they had two daughters, Addie Jessie and Lola B.[4]

Civil War

In 1862, Buckles joined Company E, 19th Indiana Infantry, which was to become part of the "Iron Brigade," First Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac, even though he was only 15 years old.[5] Buckles was wounded by bullets four times during the Civil War: at the Second Battle of Bull Run (thigh); Gettysburg (right shoulder); the Wilderness (body); and the Battle of Hatcher's Run (knee).[6][7] His right leg was amputated after being shot through the knee at Hatcher's Run, and was discharged from service just 15 days before Lee's surrender. By that time, Buckles was a Second Lieutenant in the 20th Regiment Indiana Infantry (Reorganized).[6]

Buckles left the Army in May 1865 as a 19-year-old man and returned to Indiana.[8][9] He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of the Wilderness.[10]

Citation

BUCKLES, ABRAM J.

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 19th Indiana Infantry. Place and date: At Wilderness, Va., 5 May 1864. Entered service at: Muncie, Ind. Birth: Delaware County, Ind. Date of issue: 4 December 1893. Citation: Though suffering from an open wound, carried the regimental colors until again wounded.[11]

Judge Buckles

After his discharge, Buckles became a teacher while he read the law. He was admitted to the Indiana bar, but then moved his family to Dixon, California in 1875. There, he began his legal career. In 1879, he was elected District Attorney of Solano County,[12] a position he retained until 1884, when he became Judge of the Superior Court of Solano County. Governor George Pardee named Buckles to the newly created Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, in April 1905. Buckles was denied nomination for election to the appellate court in 1906,[13] and left office upon the expiration of his term in 1907. He returned to practice in Fairfield, and in 1908 returned to the bench of the Superior Court of Solano County, where he served for the remainder of his life.[14]

Judge Buckles was actively involved in civic and fraternal organizations. He was elected commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of California[15] and served as Past Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias in California.[16]

Death

Judge Buckles died 11 days after an operation at Ramona Hospital in San Bernardino County on January 19, 1915. He was buried in Suisun-Fairfield Cemetery.[17]

See also

References
  1. Alan D. Gaff, On Many a Bloody Field: Four Years in the Iron Brigade, Indiana University Press, 1999, p.13
  2. Abraham J. Buckles, California Courts, http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/courtsofappeal/3rdDistrict/justices_former/buckles.htm
  3. "Delaware County," Conn Indiana Marriages, http://userpages.monmouth.com/~raryan/indconn.htm Archived 2010-11-18 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Tom Gregory, History of Solano and Napa Counties (1912) p. 334.
  5. J.H. Stine, History of the Army of the Potomac, Philadelphia, PA: Rodgers Printing, 1892, p. 722,
  6. The Union Guards, 1861-1865, That Was Then..., available online at: http://www.unionguards.org/guards/pubdocs/history-then.pdf
  7. Tom Gregory, History of Solano and Napa Counties (1912), p. 334.
  8. 25 Stats 938 (1888)
  9. Tom Gregory, History of Solano and Napa Counties (1912), p.334
  10. Home of the Heroes, http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/states/pages_af/buckles_abram_ca.html
  11. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwaral.html
  12. District Attorneys of Solano County, http://www.co.solano.ca.us/depts/da/district_attorneys_of_solano_county.asp
  13. Bassford v. Earl (1912) 162 Cal. 115.
  14. Abraham J. Buckles, http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/courtsofappeal/3rdDistrict/justices_former/buckles.htm
  15. "A Reward of Merit" Los Angeles Times, December 16, 1893, p.11.
  16. "Veteran Jurist Passes Beyond," Los Angeles Times, January 20, 1915, p. II8
  17. "Abram J. Buckles". Find a Grave. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
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