Marion S. Buckley, commission merchant at Fort Smith, Ark., was born in Middle Tennessee in 1830, and is the son of William Hall and Rebecca (Johnson) Buckley. The father was a native of Virginia, and was a carpenter by trade, as was also his father. The mother was a native of North Carolina and of Irish descent. Her father brought his coat of arms to America, and after reaching this country took part in the Revolutionary War on the side of the colonists. William H. Buckley engaged in business, Statesville, Tenn., where he passed the remainder of his life. His son, Marion S. Buckley, grew to manhood in Tennessee, and there received his early education. He was married in that State in 1850 to Miss Mary P. Bratton, daughter of Col. Bratton, of Macon County, Tenn., who was one of the leading citizens of the county, and was a member of the Legislature from that county.

The fruits of Mr. Buckley's marriage were five children: William H., Calvin V., Kentucky, wife of Andrew Muse; Alonzo and Homer. Soon after his marriage Mr. Buckley moved to Bowling Green, Warren Co., Ky., where he worked as a mechanic for a short time, and then engaged in the stock business, which he carried on in connection with mercantile pursuits for about five years. On leaving Kentucky he came to Franklin County, Ark., and was there engaged in the stock business until the time of the war, when the Confederates took 150 head of cattle and forty head of blooded horses from him. During that eventful period Mr. Buckley was placed in the commissary department, and when peace was declared he returned to Fort Smith and commenced business anew.

He has followed mercantile pursuits, and is also in the commission business. He joined the Baptist Church when thirteen years of age, joined a temperance society at the same age, and has never tasted liquor in any form, and does not know the taste of tobacco or coffee. He has given thorough attention to the education of his children, and has had children in William Jewell College, Liberty, Mo., for the past twenty years, and his older sons have graduated from that institution. His daughter, Kentucky, attended the Baptist Female College at Lexington, Mo. Mr. Buckley has reared one of his nephews and a niece as his own children. Olive Buckley graduated from the female college at Winchester, Tenn., and Willie D. Buckley graduated from William Jewell College in June, 1888, with high honors. Virgil Buckley completed the law course at Columbia, Mo., and is practicing law at Springfield, Mo. Willie Buckley is a young man of much ability, and is at present studying law. Alonzo is a dentist of Fort Smith.