Sam Buckland Takes a Wife

The history of Churchill County is full of stories that would make good movies. One of them was recorded by G.F. “Kelly” Engle, a resident of Fallon between 1918 and 1926. Engle titled his piece, “Sam Buckland Takes a Wife.” The story was related to Engle by his father-in-law, G. Budd Williams, a Lahontan Valley pioneer. Williams told him that he was told the story by a freighter and mule skinner who had witnessed the intriguing actions.

Samuel Buckland was one of the county’s earliest settlers. According to most sources, he had crossed Nevada by wagon train during the early years of the gold rush. At the time of his first crossing, he recognized the potential of establishing a station on the Carson River to supply the needs of future wagon trains bound for California. However, author Helen Carlson, in “Nevada Place Names,” states that Buckland had gone to California by ship and then settled in the Carson Valley in 1857. In any case, in 1859, he purchased 1680 acres near the Carson River, where Buckland Station still stands.

So far, his story makes for a ho-hum movie script, but we might guess that Sam soon would become lonely for female companionship. 

Engle: “About the same time, an especially large and well-equipped wagon train stopped at the station to rest their stock and make needed repairs to wagons and equipment preparatory for the last part of their trip over the Sierra Nevada and into California. This overland party contained an unusual number of women and girls, and Sam conceived an idea.”

This is where the movie-worthy scene comes into play.

Engle: “He sought and received permission of the wagon master to talk to his people around their evening campfire. When the party was assembled he told them about himself, his past, his present business, the problems it involved and his need for a good wife to share his life and the adventure in which he was engaged here at this station; and that if there was any young woman, healthy and of good repute in the wagon train who would be willing to share his fortunes, he would take her to wife and give her honor and respect which might develop into mutual love with further acquaintance.

After Sam had finished his talk, a long silence ensued, and finally a buxom young woman stepped out into the light of the campfire and told him she would take a chance and remain here with him.” The woman’s name was Eliza Prentis, soon to be Eliza Buckland.

Eliza went on to share Samuel’s life, his fortunes, and his misfortunes. In 1864, Buckland Station was designated the first county seat of Churchill County, an honor it held for three years. (Buckland Station is now part of Lyon County.) In 1869, nearby Fort Churchill was abandoned and sold at public auction. Buckland bought all the buildings for $750 and, using materials salvaged from the Fort Churchill complex, he built a large ranch house.  According to the Nevada State Parks website, the 19-room home included two parlors, a ballroom, a schoolroom, a teacher’s quarters, and seven bedrooms. Eliza bore eight children, but only three of them survived adulthood. She died in 1884 of an infection caused by a cut on her foot. Samuel died a year later. Samuel, Eliza, and five of their children are buried in the Post Cemetery at Fort Churchill. 

Shortly after Eliza’s death, Sam sold Buckland Station to Nathan and Amos Stinson. It was then owned by a series of ranchers. Sometime during the 1940’s, it was purchased by Norman Biltz and Reno inventor and millionaire E.L Cord. Biltz and Cord created the Fort Churchill Shooting Club on the property, importing game, mainly pheasants, from California. In 1964, Frank Ghiglia bought the property and held it for over 30 years. 

Nevada State Parks purchased the Buckland house and property in 1995, and restoration began in 1999. The setting of the absorbing Buckland story now belongs to the public. 

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