Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Volume I and Volume II, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904, pp. 83-85. Christian Co. BUCKNER LEAVELL

Buckner Leavell, steward of the Western Kentucky Asylum for Insane, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, is a native of this place and was born June 24, 1852. The Leavells are of French origin. Their emigration to and settlement in this country was previous to the Revolutionary war, and the
great-great-grandfather of our subject was a general in that war. In Virginia the Leavell feamily settled and there several generations of them lived and died. Lewis Livingston Leavell, the father of Buckner Leavell, was born in Virginia in 1807, son of Lewis Leavell, a native of that state, who emigrated with his family to Kentucky in the early part of the last century and settled in Todd county. He started the town of Trenton in Todd county, and there he had a large landed estate and was the owner of many slaves. His family comprised six children, the second born being Lewis Livingston. Lewis Livingston Leavell was reared on his father's plantation, where the family settled when he was quite small, and he was educated for a lawyer, in a school in New Orleans. About 1830 he located in Hopkinsville and engaged in the practice of law, which he continued for some time. Farm life, however, had more attraction for him that did the law, and he removed to his country home. He was the largest landowner in Christian county, had a large number of slaves and dealt extensively in tobacco, shipping to Liverpool, England. For many years he took an active interest in politics, and at one time represented his county in the state legislature. He died
in November, 1860. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters. The mother of this family was before marriage Miss Mary Ann Buckner. She was born in Virginia in 1812 and when a child came to Christian county, Kentucky, where she was reared. She was a
daughter of Frank Buckner, a prominent early pioneer of Kentucky, he having come from Virginia to this state, where he became the owner of many broad acres and dusky slaves. She was left an orphan when a child, and was reared by her aunt, Susan Buckner. The Buckners were the oldest family in
Christian county, the date of their arrival here being more than a hundred years ago. Buckner Leavell is the youngest son in his father's family. He was reared in Hopkinsville. At the early age of seventeen years he commenced farming operations on his own account, and continued thus employed for a period of thirteen years. Then he moved back to Hopkinsville and turned his attention to the real estate and insurance business, still, however,
retaining his farm, and superintending its operation up to the present time. For several years he dealt in real estate and wrote insurance, and during that time he served one term as city treasurer. He was elected city judge for a term of four years. This latter office he resigned in order to accept the position he now holds, that of steward at the Western Kentucky Asylum for Insane. Mr. Leavell married Miss Anna Monroe, daughter of Judge James Monroe, of Frankfort, Kentucky. Mrs. Leavell belongs to the same
family of Monroes that furnished the United States with a president. Fraternally, Mr. Leavell is identified with a number of organizations, including Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Woodmen of the World. He is also a member of
the Baptist church.