NANCY ANN BUCKNER

The following bio was taken from page 133 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited by Rusk County Historical Commission

Transcribed by Gloria Riley

Submitted by Gloria B. Mayfield, Rusk Co. CC

Nancy Ann Buckner was a daughter of Eli and Eliza (Saunders) Buckner. Eliza’s parents were Peter and Mary Ann Saunders, who were both born in North Carolina in 1771 and 1773. They both died and are buried in Talbot County, Georgia. Nancy Ann was born September 11, 1834 in Georgia. She was born with one leg shorter than the other, and until her father made her a pair of crutches when she was four years old, she had never walked. He patiently taught her to walk although her mother was doubtful and once remarked that she would never be anything but a helpless cripple. Eli and Eliza moved from Henry County, Georgia to the Chapman Community in Rusk County about 1851. They bought land there and lived on it until their deaths. Eliza died about 1857, and since there was no cemetery nearby, she was buried on their farm. After her death, Eli made a will and donated one-half acre of land containing her grave to be used as a cemetery. Her grave marked the center of the half-acre. This was the origin of Bridges Cemetery, which is located on Farm Road 348. Children born to this couple were: Julius, Martha (Jarrell) Sparkman, Mary Ann Nepper, Elizabeth J. Carlisle, Asenath Siles, Nancy Ann (Buckner) Welch, John S., Eli F., and Amanda Freeman. Nancy Ann (Buckner) Welch was my great-great-grandmother. Submitted by Joyce Rousseau Maples