Born: August 24, 1877 125 Cobden Street, Ancoak, Manchester, county of Lancaster (Ancock District) England
Only son of William James Buckley & Margaret Gillan
Married: Lettis Barnes Harrison September 4, 1902 Parish Church of St. Elizabeth's, Reddish, Lancaster, England
Died: February 2, 1961 Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Lettis, Alan, Jack & John Buckley, circa 1912

"My father was a talented musician until his career as a pianist was stopped when he accidentally cut off the tip of his right thumb. He was also a good cricket player as was evident by a beautiful cricket bat trophy which was around our house for some time. He also went to operas, as he had a tall silk hat which he kept in a leather box.

My father, being out of work because of the cut-off thumb tip, emigrated to Canada in 1911. His full name was John James Buckley, born Aug. 24, 1877, at 125 Cobden Street, Ancoak, Manchester, county of Lancaster. Father William James Buckley, Mother Margaret Buckley nee Gillan. My mother was Lettis Barnes Harrison, born January 14, 1876. They were married Sept. 4, 1902, at Parish Church of St. Elizabeth's, Reddish, Lancaster. My mother's father was Richard Longworth Harrison, an engineer.

My mother brought John and I to Canada in 1912. My Aunt Edith also accompanied us. We arrived at Halifax after a stormy crossing which kept my mother in bed all the time.

I remember the slow train ride from Halifax to Dundas. We later moved to Hamilton which is near Toronto. My father worked in a machine shop. During the war, he was a supervisor for making 3" cannon shells. We had a lamp made from a shell casing and shell. The lamp was about 18" high.

Dad was offered a job a superintendent of an asbestos cement roofing sheet manufacturer in Stoneboro, Pennsylvania. We lived in Stoneboro until 1920. Dad followed up on his music as a pianist and was the conductor of the local band. All the band instruments were kept in our dining room where John and I were not permitted to enter. Almost every day men would come to our house looking for work. Most of these men were coal miners who had no experience in factory work. In 1920 during the depression, the asbestos cement factory closed, and Dad went to Akron, Ohio looking for a job.

We moved to Akron in 1920. I attended Franfelter school for the 6 and 7th grades. We lived on Shaker Drive. During the depression of 1921 Dad lost his job at Goodyear. Dad got a part time job as an oiler on a steam road roller. Of the 20 houses on Shaker Drive, the bank took all but three. Luckily ours was one of the three. After several months Dad was called back to Goodyear.

During this time Dad was a representative for the mechanics at Plant 2. He was also leader of the Goodyear Band that played in the Goodyear Theater and also at Seiberling Field. John and I along with Mother had front seats at a concert where Dad was conducting the orchestra in the Goodyear Theater. I mimicked him as a conductor by waving my arms. After we got home, Dad said I embarrassed him and that he would never again conduct the orchestra and he never did." - Al Buckley, Autobiography, 1986

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Sources:
John James Buckley Death Certificate
(Certificat of Death Reg. Dist #77: Primary Reg. Dist. N o. 7703, Registrar #70 SS. 299-01-6359)