BUCKLEY, DAVID JOSEPH (1863-1920)

BUCKLEY, DAVID JOSEPH, lumberman and sawmill owner; b. Chatham, 27 Dec 1863, s/o Donald Buckley and Catherine Power; m. 1890, Mary E. Wellwood, of Harcourt, N.B.; d. Newcastle, 29 Oct 1920.

David J. Buckley's father was a lumberman who operated a summer sawmill at Chambers Point on the Bay du Vin River. His father moved the family to Rogersville around 1880 and continued in business until succeeded by his sons John and David, who were successful lumber operators there for many years under the name of J. D. & D. J. Buckley.

In 1910 the Buckleys erected a large rotary sawmill at French Fort Cove, with the huge circular brick burner which remains such a prominent feature of the landscape to the east of Newcastle. The brothers' partnership was then dissolved. While D. J. Buckley continued to operate the mill, his older brother, J. D. Buckley, a well-known race horse owner, engaged in other business activities.

D. J. Buckley was president of the New Brunswick Lumbermen's Protective Association in 1918 but resigned that year when he was appointed to the provincial Forest Advisory Board. He also sat on the Miramichi Hospital Board. He and his wife, Mary E. Wellwood, had three children. Their son Lee Buckley succeeded to the business. Their daughter Rita Buckley was the wife of Donald S. Creaghan.