John Buckner was born about 1820, in Tennessee, and named, as was the family tradition each generation to name the first son John. He married Mary "Polly" Huff, daugter of Joseph Huff II and Sarah Hill, May 16, 1841. Their marriage was stormy and according to family tradition there were no children.

John's earliest record is an indictment for selling liquor withokut a license in the Madison County Court Records for September, 1849. The indictment was set aside, the name supposedly being an alias. Using an alias was a common practice in those days.

There was another indictment for gambling in September, 1850, and in September, 1851 through 1854 divorce proceedings were initiated between John and Mary. [Although I could find no actual divorce decree it appears that John had married a second time by 1860J Mary, according to family tradition, married Chapley Wilbur, and had no children.

John apparently married Sarah Pearson, for in 1860 they were found in Arcadia township where John was a collier. Sarah had her children by a former marriage living with them, James and Mary Pearson, both age 13, a son [name illegible] age 9 and Robert Pearson, age 7. They lived just two doors away frorn Peter Sutton. Apparently John and Sarah didn’t get along well either for they were filing for divorce in Iron County Circuit Court, November, 1859, yet were still living together in 1860.

John sold property in Section 7 and 18, T. 33 N., R. 4 E. between 1849 and 1859.1230