Bucknell, J.D.

PADLER, HILCOMB, RICE, GARRISON

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 12/4/2009 at 16:53:53

J.D. Bucknell, a well known business man of Waverly, controlling a large patronage as a successful harness maker, was born in Livingston, Michigan, April 22, 1860. He is a son of Henry and Bessie (Padler)Bucknell, natives of England, where the father learned the shoemaking trade, conducting a shop in Yorkshire for some time. As a young man he came to America and located in Kent City, Michigan, moving from there to Livingston county, where he spent the remainder of his life. His wife survives him and makes her home in Michigan.

J.D. Bucknell is the fourth in a family of five children. He spent his boyhood in his native state and after laying aside his books learned the harness-making trade. In 1882 he moved to Illinois and after a short time to Waverly, where he purchased the harness-making business of U.C. Hilcomb & Company. For a number of years he was in partnership with his older brother, Walter J., and their association proved very beneficial, for their business grew rapidly, branch stores being soon opened in Clarksville and Albert Lea. Walter J. Bucknell had charge of the latter enterprise and he continued active in its conduct until 1892, when he met death by drowning at the age of thirty-three years. He was a man of remarkable business ability, energetic, enterprising and capable, and his death was widely and deeply regretted by his many friends. J.D. Bucknell has also another brother, Henry, who has remained in Michigan, where he is now an extensive landowner and prosperous farmer, cultivating about three hundred acres of land. His family now resides in Los Angeles, California, where his son is a successful contractor. After the death of Walter J. Bucknell, Mr. Bucknell of this review continued to conduct the harness-making establishment alone and he is still active in the management of his enterprise. He carries a complete line of harness and other goods such as is usually found in an up-to-date store of this character and his patronage is large and representative, for his prices are reasonable and his business methods beyond question.

In 1886 Mr. Bucknell married Miss Medora Rice, of Bremer county, her parents being W.A. and Myriam (Garrison) Rice, the former a native of Rochester, New York, and the latter of Wisconsin. Mr. Rice came to Iowa in the'50s and took up his abode among the earliest settlers of Butler county, while in 1870 he removed to Bremer County. He devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits but was also engaged in the grocery business and at one time served as superintendent of the county poor farm, an important position in those days. He passed away at the venerable age of eighty-two years, the community thus losing one of its most highly esteemed and successful citizens. Unto him and his wife were born seven children, Mrs. Bucknell being one of twins, the youngest children born of this union. Her twin sister is now deceased. Mrs. Bucknell is the mother of a son, Harland R., who after completing his education joined the navy, serving four years, during which he took part in the trip around the world. He has just married and expects to join his father in the harness-making business.

Mr. Bucknell is one of the best known business men of Waverly and in the course of his long residence here has made many valuable contributions to its commercial advancement, winning at the same time an individual success which places him among the men of marked ability and substantial worth in the community. He is one of the stockholders of the beet sugar company and, in fact, was instrumental in the establishment of this enterprise, in connection with E.C. Moore. Fraternally Mr. Bucknell is very prominent, being a member of Tyrrell Lodge, No. 116, A.F. & A. M; past high priest of Jethro Chapter, No. 24, having held this office for twelve years; a member of Baldwin Commandery, of Cedar Falls; and also of El-Kahir Temple, of Cedar Rapids. Moreover, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914