Samuel William James BUCK (1850-1928)

SAMUEL WILLIAM JAMES BUCK, agriculturist and grazier, "Sea View," North Cape, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, is the only son of the late Mr. William Buck, of the same place, who embarked for South Australia in 1839, by the sailing vessel "Cleveland," and after landing engaged in various occupations at Port Adelaide. At the time of the gold discoveries in Victoria, the late Mr. Buck journeyed thither, and visited several fields, where he met with varied success. A few years later he proceeded to New Zealand, and became engaged in his trade of shipwrighting and sawing for a couple of years.

Returning to Adelaide, he once more settled at Port Adelaide, where he remained until the decease of his wife, after which event he joined his son at Kangaroo Island, and resided there until the time of his death, on October 13, 1906.

The gentleman under review was born at Alberton on May 16, 1850, and received his education at the public school, Williamstown, Victoria. From an early age he followed various seafaring pursuits, and then removed to the Northern Territory and spent two years in work on the wharves and in connection with shipping generally. In 1872 he came to Kangaroo Island and turned his attention to sealing and wallaby-catching with considerable success for a couple of years, at the close of which period he crossed to the mainland and was for some time engaged in the coastal trade.

Mr. Buck's next move was to Port Pirie, where he again found employment in wharf duties and as master of vessels, etc. He then returned to Port Adelaide, and filled the position of fireman in different vessels for a time.

In July, 1881, he decided to settle on Kangaroo Island, and, when properties in the Hundred of Menzies were submitted for selection, took up about 900 acres with the right of purchase, which he has since acquired as his own freehold. In addition he holds 462 acres under lease, and has brought a large portion of this land under cultivation, besides which many hundreds of tons of firewood have been taken from the estate, the combined branches of his industry proving highly profitable.

In 1877 Mr. Buck married Elizabeth, only daughter of the late Mr. William Chapman, of Kangaroo Island, and has four sons and one daughter, the former assisting in the management of the property.

- Cyclopedia of South Australia 1909, p. 1011