Buckless, Frank Charles
1) Georgia (Harkness) Buckless (? -1908)
2) Mary Ann (Stevenson) (Williamson) Buckless (c.1870-1954)
Sons: Roy, Charles H. “Charley” Buckless
Daughter: Mrs. Charles Russell
Step-daughters: Mrs. Fred Lander, Mrs. Walter Shaw (both of Allenby)
Frank Buckless was born on November 1, 1858 in Chateaugay, Franklin County, New York, USA. He married Georgia Harkness at Pendleton, Oregon. He was widowed when he married Mary (Stevenson) Williamson in Phoenix, BC on October 27, 1915. He died at home in Greenwood, BC, on February 14, 1927.
In late March 1917, the Similkameen Star reported that he had travelled to Princeton from Greenwood. He visited again in May 1917.
He must have been making plans to move to Princeton as in May 1917 sold his interest, in the lease on the Bell (near Beaverdell), to Charles Oliver.
On June 1, 1917, he took over the Princeton Livery Stable and Feed Store (then owned by R.N. Adams), selling his livery in Greenwood to Gillis and Iron.
The first advertisement for his new business appeared in the June 8, 1917 edition of the Similkameen Star: “The Princeton Livery and Feed Stables F.C. Buckless, Prop. Does a general livery and freighting business. Stage to Copper Mountain every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Auto service in connection.”
His son, Charles “Charley” Buckless came from Greenwood to Princeton to help his father “in the auto and livery business” in June 1917. The two men moved their families to Princeton in July.
Shortly after, in July 1917, Frank Buckless “brought over his big car”from Greenwood – a 55 horsepower, seven passenger, McLaughlin.
Business appeared to be booming. He had ten horses hired out in July 1917 – six with the Nicola Valley Pine Lumber Company at Canford Mills and four with Betterton Bros at Brookmere. In September 1917, when Canada Copper Corporation increased their workforce to about 250 men, both Buckless and W.S. Garrison brought all their available teams from the logging camps and had them freighting on the Copper Mountain road.
During the war, he donated to the YMCA Fund. In November 1917, $2.00; in June 1918, $2.00.
The Similkameen Star reported in July 1918, he temporarily closed his livery business as “All his teams [were] employed at the Mill Site hauling timber and freight.” His son, Charlie, purchased the Dodge car and planned to “conduct that branch of the business himself.”
The last advertisement for Princeton Livery and Feed was published on July 12, 1918.
It appears that the Frank Buckless family then moved to Allenby (1919) but then moved again to Greenwood (1921).
Marriage registration (BC Archives); Death registration (BC Archives); Similkameen Star, March 30, 1917, page 1; May 4, 1917, page 3; May 11, 1917, page 1; June 1, 1917, page 1; June 8, 1917, page 2; June 29, 1917, page 1; July 6, 1917, page 5; September 7, 1917, page 1; November 30, 1917, page 1; Princeton Star, June 14, 1918, page 7; July 12, 1918, page 2; July 19, 1918, page 1; September 12, 1919, page 1; August 12, 1921, page 1; February 17, 1927, page 1; February 24, 1927, page 1