Buck, Samuel Jay

BUCK, CORY

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/1/2012 at 16:22:24

Samuel Jay Buck, who has been termed "the grand old man of Iowa College," was for forty-two and one-third years connected with the institution as instructor and acting president, and the school in its present prosperous condition stands largely as a monument to his ability in and devotion to the profession which he chose as a life work. He came to Grinnell in early manhood and for forty-two years labored for the upbuilding of the school. Ex-President Eliot of Harvard said: "What is needed is continuous education which lasts all through life." It was this which Professor Buck strove to give to his pupils, believing with Kant that "The object of education is to train each individual to reach the highest perfection possible for him." He had acquired some previous experience as a teacher in Ohio and Illinois before coming to Iowa. He had gone to the former state in his early boyhood with his parents, who removed westward from Russia, Herkimer county, New York, where Professor Buck was born on the 4th of July, 1835. Upon a farm near the town of Mecca in Trumbull county, Ohio, his youthful days were passed and his experiences were those which usually fall to the lot of the farm lad. It is undoubtedly true that environment has not a little to do with the forming of character and Professor Buck spent his youth in Ohio where the forces of New England were arrayed against the incoming forces from the south over the questions of ambling, intemperance and the slave trade. The discussion of such themes could not have failed to leave an impress upon the mind and character of the boy, moreover, spent five years as a student in Oberlin College, Ohio, the very center from which permeated a strong influence of personal liberty and public morality. He entered the preparatory department of the school in 1853 and on the completion of the college course was graduated in 1858 and at once turned his attention to the profession of teaching. At one time he was an instructor in an academy at Bazetta, Ohio, and at another time principle of the Union high school at West Liberty, Ohio.

Soon after his marriage in 1859 to Miss Jane Cory, a college classmate, Dr. Buck entered the theological school of Oberlin, from which he graduated in 1862 with the degree of Master of Arts. He then accepted the position of principal of Orwell Academy in Orwell, Ohio, and in 1863 was ordained to the ministry of the Congregational church. His time was afterward given to the dual profession of teaching and preaching, his pastoral work being done at Orwell and Mecca until 1864.

In that year Iowa College at Grinnell sought the services of Dr. Buck, and he came to this city to take up his work in connection with the school that was struggling for existence. The greater part of its pupils who were able to carry a musket had gone to front in defense of the Union cause and there were but ninety-two students enrolled in the catalog of 1863-4 under the charge of four teachers, one of whom was Professor Von Coellin, whose recommendation of Dr. Buck had led to his selection for the professorship at Grinnell. He reached Grinnell on the 5th of February, 1864, and at once took up his work as principal of the Iowa College Academy and second permanent instructor in Iowa College. He brought to his new duties zeal and enthusiasm as well as wide knowledge, and the school soon felt the stimulus of his interest and exertions. In 1869 the college trustees elected him professor of mathematics and physics, which position he filled until 1905, the title of the chair, however, being changed in 1893 to that of mathematics and astronomy. In the earlier years of his professorship here he preached the pulpit until January, 1866, which he resigned to accept the position of county superintendent of schools. He was twice elected to that position and the public school system of this city benefited by the stimulus given to it by his efforts and ability. In 1868 he was elected a member of the school board of the independent district of Grinnell and continued to serve upon it until 1880, being president of the board the last six years, declining to serve longer.

After three years in the county superintendency he resigned to accept again the pastorate of the church at Chester. For two years he engaged in preaching the gospel there and then resigned to supply the new church at Gilman, which he had aided in organizing and of which he remained pastor for seven years. For two years he supplied the pulpit of the Congregational church of Toledo, Iowa, and his labors in the ministry were not denied the full harvests nor the aftermath.

At the same time Dr. Buck was continuing his work in the college and the beneficial results of his labors were so far and so strongly felt that in 1870, when the trustees, feeling the need of more funds, began to look about for some one to act as a representative of the college in the solicitation of gifts for the memorial fund, so-called because that year was the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, they very naturally chose Dr. Buck. The same zeal and enthusiasm which characterized him in the performance of every duty were manifest in this connection and within a few months he had succeeded in securing between twenty-five and thirty thousand dollars for endowment and an additional sum of three thousand dollars for the equipment of the physics department. At the following commencement the trustees in recognition of his successful efforts, unsolicited, gave his chair the title of "the memorial professorship." This name was retained until 1891 when Alonzo Steele, of Grinnell, pledged twenty thousand dollars for the endowment of the chair and at his request the title was changed to "the Myra Steele professorship of mathematics and physics" in honor of a deceased daughter, which name is still retained except that the word astronomy has been substituted for physics.

In the same year in which Iowa College chose him as a professor mathematics and astronomy to solicit funds, the State Teachers Association elected him to its presidency and he occupied the chair at the meeting of the State Teachers Association held in Council Bluffs the following year. Later he was again chosen as the chief executive of the association but declined the honors. It has been characteristic of the life of Dr. Buck that duty has ever been with him the first consideration. He has refused honors and emoluments to remain with Grinnell College. He was offered the presidency of Talladega College, in Alabama, by the American Missionary Association in 1880 and although this would have meant advancement in honors and salary, he declined in order to remain with Grinnell College, where his interests had so long centered. In 1884, when George F. Magoun, the first president of the college, resigned, Professor Buck was chosen acting president and the work went forward without interruption, gaining in quality and quantity so that at the close of this triennium the attendance had increased over forty-three per cent and more money was raised for Grinnell College than during any similar period in its history of nearly six decades. There is perhaps no department of the college that has not benefited materially and largely by the efforts of Dr. Buck, while in various directions his labors have been of inestimable value. In 1888 the Clark Equatorial telescope was given to the college and Professor Buck, who had been teaching astronomy without interruption since 1869, determined to obtain other equipment for the department. The usual success attended him in this undertaking and soon the astronomical department was supplied with modern equipment for advanced instruction in the science of astronomy. In 1903 the degree of D.D. was bestowed upon Professor Buck by Tabor College, Iowa. After Forty-two years' connection with the school Dr. Buck tendered his resignation, announcing his determination to retire from the active work of teaching, an announcement that was received with deep regret on the part of all who had been connected with the school. He had endeared himself not only to his associate professors and teachers but also to the students of the college. In his work as a teacher he had always regarded the personal equation and studied the individual needs of the pupil and had adapted his instruction thereto. Moreover, his pupils recognized his strong sympathy and his abiding spirit of helpfulness and therefore his work was an inspiration that prompted them to do their best.

In addition to his regular college work Dr. Buck had made regular weather reports from 1888 as a volunteer observer. He has also filled the office of county surveyor for twenty-one years, in which connection he was never loath to give his students an opportunity to aid him and thus supplement their college instruction not only by practical experience but also by the attainment of funds of which many of them stood in need. An alumnus of Grinnell College, writing the biography of Dr. Buck, has said: "As one recalls the story of his life and thinks of the part which he has played in the building up, not only of the college and the town of Grinnell, but of the state as well, it is little wonder that he hesitates to point a moral or adorn the tale with words which cannot be more eloquent or forceful than a statement of the simple facts. Moreover eulogy seems inappropriate here from the fact that Dr. Buck has never been one to court public notice or to desire public praise. But for the alumni of Iowa College who have learned to know this man and, knowing, to love him, the news of this resignation will involuntarily call up certain thoughts and lessons which associate themselves naturally with the story of his life and which it seems well to mention briefly at this time. If there is any one thing more than another which Dr. Buck's life and efforts illustrate it is perhaps the great amount of work which a man can accomplish simply by living his life conscientiously from day to day and by working patiently, tirelessly, calmly - without unseemly haste or worry. That Dr. Buck's days have been willed with hard, serious toil, none who have known of the various interests of his life will deny. One of his own household recalls many a day in earlier yeas when, wearied by the trails of a week's hard work, he would shut himself up alone on Saturday in order not to be disturbed while preparing a discourse for his Chester or Gilman or Toledo congregation the following day. On Sunday morning he would be up and off early for the long drive to his pulpit where he would conduct one, two and often three services and then drive home and cheerfully begin the week's round over again early Monday morning. Yet his life has been characterized by tranquility and patient reserve - a mark of culture which the much-boasted strenuousness of our present working-day world cares little for and which shames the hasty ways of little men.

"But the characteristic which we think most prominently associates itself with Dr. Buck in the minds of those who have been his students is his unfailing kindness and gentleness. He has always tried to be just and wile holding up high ideals to others he has never been one to demand of others what he did not require of himself. Like Chaucer's good priest, 'Christ's lore and His apostles twelve he taught, but first he followed it himselve.' Another conspicuous feature in the life of this man has been the respect and high regard which he has always maintained for his calling. Whether preaching or teaching he has felt that he was doing God's good work and he has done it with a befitting dignity. Yet this dignity and self-respect could never be mistaken for bigotry or intolerance towards the views or acts of others. Being by nature conservative, he has held conservative views and was never accused of unorthodoxy, but he has been broad-minded enough to have respect for the opinions of others. In fact one may say he has been as a rule very reserved in expressing his own views except when he thought the time imperatively demanded it. On one such occasion at least he took a firm and decided stand when others questioned and hesitated, only to see his position justified by time. He possesses a real and keen sense of humor which has always found ready expression and this humor has been as unfailing as his kindness and his bright, cheerful manner has been a tonic and a lesson for those who have come in contact with him. Generosity has ever been another of his traits - a generosity which has led him to give to college, church, town and public interests far in excess of his means or his share, particularly in the early days of town and college. In regard to him a prominent graduate of the college expresses the common sentiment when he writes, 'He is one of the Pioneers of the college, a true friend to all students, and a kind Providence has found him so useful in the institution that two scores years of labor have been measured out to him. It is a rare record; one vouchsafed to but few persons. He ought to be proud of it and very son and daughter of Grinnell College is proud of Dr. Buck.' He has been in a very true sense a connecting link between the old and the new in our college life, for he has shared the privileges and helped bear the burdens of both. Young in spirit and in faith, he is old in service and rich in experience. Though by no means the last by whom the new has been tried he has never been the first to throw the old aside. Thus he has been a constant reminder of old ideals at the same time that he has been a conservative adopted of new ideas. If, as President Eliot has said, 'It is the greatest of human rewards to be enfolded as years advance in an atmosphere of honor, gratitude and love,' Dr. Buck has come as near realizing this supreme happiness as perhaps any one could. He has been blessed for over half a century with a wife in sympathy with all his aspirations, who 'wears the pure flower of a blameless life' and who has borne her full share of her hsuband's burdens as she has been joint participant in his joys. He has seen the college, whose success has been his ambition and care, grow from a weakling to its present state and has been allotted a prominent part in brining about this development. He has won the respect and affection of all those who have had the interests of the college in their hearts and the has been in all the truest sense 'the student's friend.'"

On November 17, 1909, the golden wedding of Dr. Buck and his wife was celebrated. At this time all of their children now living were present. Edith C. Buck, professor in the Iowa Teachers College at Cedar Falls; Dr. Samuel C. Buck, a physician of Grinnell, and family; and Irving J. Buck, a business man of St. Louis, Missouri, and family. Many friends called during the afternoon and evening to offer their congratulations. During the evening two songs written especially for the occasion were sung, one being composed by a college classmate, the other by two former students. Letters to the number of one hundred and fifty were received from acquaintances of note, from college classmates, from teachers in other institutions, from former pupils and from relatives, extending hearty congratulations and paying high tribute to the work accomplished in the world by Dr. Buck and his wife, and to their noble and useful lives. On this occasion, the house was filled with flowers, the gifts of friends and neighbors.

When names were selected for the Phi Beta Kappa chapter of Oberlin College members of classes of years ago were chosen by vote of the surviving classmates and Dr. Buck was one of four of his class of 1858 to receive this mark of high attainment.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 176-182