Larkin Watson Buckland was born on February 14, 1885 in Mudfolk, Virginia, (son of Jacob Alexander Buckland and Sarah Jane Tabor). He married Mary Jane Davidson, (born October 13, 1886 to Erastus Granger Davidson and Eliza Greever Gregory) on March 3, 1909 in Tazewell County, Virginia. Larkin passed away in Falls Mills on February 5, 1967. Mary Jane passed away on October 20, 1960 in Bluefield, West Virginia. Both are buried at the Harry Cemetery in Falls Mills Virginia. Find-a-Grave reference: Larkin W. Buckland # 17557436 / Mary J. Davidson Buckland #17557458

To that union were born 8 children:

(1-2) Margarette Haynes and Mary Jane Buckland, twins born February 12, 1910. The twins passed away due to illness before their first birthday. Mary Jane July 23, 1910 and Margarette on September 3, 1910. They are both buried at Harry Cemetery in Falls Mills. Find-a-Grave # 17557443 and # 17557450

(3) Bertha Ward Buckland was born on September 19, 1911 in Bluefield, West Virginia. She married James Walter Lawrence on October 7, 1934. Aunt Bertha passed away suddenly on October 6, 1975 in Falls Mills and is buried at Harry Cemetery. Find-a-Grave reference: # 17558204

(4) Nora Francis Buckland was born on July 25, 1913 in Bluefield, WVA. She married Walter W. Graham on October 7, 1934. (?) let’s verify. Aunt Frankie passed away suddenly on February 12, 1955 in North Tazewell, VA and is buried at Harry Cemetery in Falls Mills. Find-a-Grave Reference: # 17557424

(5) Larkin Watson Buckland, Jr. (The Railroader) was born on October 8, 1915 in Bluefield, WVA. My dad married my mother, Nannie Lucille Davis on September 11, 1938 in Bristol, Tennessee. Dad passed away on November 6, 1993 at St. Lukes Hospital in Bluefield, WVA and is buried at Grandview Memory Gardens, Bluefield, VA, along side my mother. Find-a-Grave Reference: # 32072531

(6) Robert Cecil Buckland was born on April 4, 1918 in Williamson, WV (Mingo County). Uncle Robert married Margaret Alois Wallace on September 1, 1939 in Bland County, VA. He passed away on May 29, 2011 in Roanoke, VA. Robert is buried along side his wife Margaret at Grandview Memory Gardens, Bluefield, Virginia. Find-a-Grave Reference: # 70741783

(7) Charles Nye Buckland was born in Falls Mills, Virginia on March 16, 1924. Uncle Charles married Clara Jane Rash on February 1, 1946 in Tazewell County, VA. He passed away on June 29, 1978 in Pulaski County, Virginia. He is buried at Harry Cemetery in Falls Mills. Find-a-Grave Reference: # 17557414

(8) Walter Edward Buckland was born in Falls Mills, Va on March 14, 1926. He married Francis Faye Hart on August 20, 1947 in Tazewell County, VA. Uncle Walter passed away April 20, 2001 in Bluefield, WV and is buried along side his wife Francis at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA. Find-a-Grave Reference: # 20668167

Large gatherings of family are what I remember most on both my mother’s and father’s side of the tree. Family reunions, picnics at the Falls Mills Dam, wedding anniversaries and funerals – we gather – that’s what we do. Those were times usually filled with laughter and old stories to reminisce the times we cherished. The center picture above is marked with the names as best I can be certain. Note my great grandparents in the center, Grandmother Buckland’s mother, Eliza Gregory Davidson and Grandaddy Buckland’s parents Sarah Jane and Jacob Alexander. My dad was the baby boy sitting on his grandmother Sarah’s lap.

Top left is a large group that attended the Buckland/Tabor reunion in 2010 at a city park in Bluefield, VA. Below that shown on the steps of my parent’s home was taken the day of The Railroader’s funeral. Center bottom gathering was at Mom’s 90th birthday party. She loved having her family from near and far, all together.

Top right is one of my most favorite family photos. Although I was not born at that time, the usual family stance shows generations staggered on the front steps of the fine Buckland family home in Falls Mills. I loved that house, those aunts and uncles, those cousins and my siblings.

Bottom right was taken in the living room at Grandmother & Grandaddy’s house and I call it “The Boys’. Here they are, all dressed in suits with their dad. Charles and Walter were standing. Seated was Robert, LW Sr and LW Jr.

A long time after I began my genealogy searches in the 1980’s, I discovered that the dark framed picture hanging on the wall near Uncle Charles was of James Harrison Tabor and his wife Nancy Moore Runion, my 2nd great grandparents. What a treasure to come across! Find-a-Grave Reference: # 17559292

Tops left: Grandmother Buckland (Mary Jane Davidson), The Railroader (LW “Buddy” Buckland, Jr), Frankie Buckland Graham, Robert Buckland.

Center Left: Grandmother & Grandaddy Buckland (Mary Jane Davidson & Larkin Watson Buckland, Sr)

Bottom Left: I believe this was taken at Hungry Mother State Park of Uncle Charles and Aunt Clara. The young boy is likely their son, Charles Allen.

Center is a studio picture of Aunt Bertha, Aunt Frankie and dad.

Top Right: Larkin Buckland, Sr. with his 1924 (?) Nash

Center Right: Larkin Buckland, Jr. with his Harley Davidson (?) motorcycle

Bottom Right: Aunts Bertha and Frankie.