Buckner College, Witcherville, Arkansas, opened its doors as the largest and most imposing structure in the state of Arkansas devoted to education in 1875, under Dr. A. S. Worrell, its first president. It closed for the last time when its last president, John W. Goolsby, later a Hartford Attorney, moved to Fort Smith in 1910.
     This institution was named to honor William Buckner, an outstanding Baptist missionary to the Cherokees for whom the Buckner Association of the Baptist Church was also named, and was the result of the inspiration and energy of Rev. E. L. Compere, the most famous Baptist clergyman in Western Arkansas and the Eastern part of the Indian Territory of that day. Through his efforts, small donations were secured sufficient to finance the founding of the college.
     The building was a frame structure, 60'x120', three stories high and contained an auditorium, six classrooms, and living quarters for the president and his family. It cost approximately $15,000.00, and was never entirely finished. To appreciate the magnificence of this building, contrast the University of Arkansas where the students at this were attending classes in a two story frame building, 24'x40', costing $975.00. (Later in 1875, the trustees of the University of Arkansas accepted "Old Main" in approximately its present form.)

     As did all colleges in Arkansas, including the University of Arkansas, Buckner operated a preparatory division and a college division. This was necessary as the public school system existed mainly on paper and there were few high schools in the state, and still less in the Indian Territory. Although its curriculum varied, it always stressed languages and mathematics. At one time, it offered four years of each Latin, Greek, French, and German, and a graduate had to master three of these subjects. A student, however, could chart his own course within those offered. Although subjects such as Botany and Zoology were offered, there was no laboratory and its library was apparently limited to personal books of the faculty.
     No sound financial planning was ever set up. School fees were kept low so as to give the best education and a nominal cost, and the burden was too great for the Baptists of the Concord and Buckner associations. Buckner College was sold to satisfy its mortgage to the Episcopalian Church. The same difficulty caused it to be passed to the hands of the Presbyterians. Again, it was mortgaged and this time sold back to the Baptists of the Concord and Buckner Associations who attempted to obtain statewide Baptist support for the college. The "Convention" Baptists, however, continued their support of Ouachita College at Arkadelphia to the exclusion of Buckner and this signaled the beginning of the end.
     The "Association" Baptists tried to carry on although the original building was in too bad a state of repair to be mortgaged again. A new foundation was laid with much fanfare, but the new building did not materialize. There was neither the inspired and energetic leadership of a Rev. Compere, or the desperate need there had been. Public education improved so that the preparatory division was not needed and transportation improved so that students could go greater distances to college.
     Successors of Dr. Worrell as president in order were Dr. J. L. Reynolds, Dr. C. James, Dr. McDonald, J. B. Williamson, W.A. Hill, Charles X. Williams, Professor Irby, Professor Vermillion, Dr. Hansley, and John W. Goolsby.
     Several factors other than financial stress contributed to the comparatively short life of Buckner College. Its course of study was not balanced. Public transportation (railroads) never came to it as did those colleges of that period that survived. Industrialization (coal mining) hit its peak about the time Buckner closed, and the curriculum did not change to meet the condition.
     It was not a failure, however, as among its alumni former students and faculty were the leaders of Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma for more than two generations and those who have been closely associated with the persons connected with Buckner College still remember it with fondness.

(NOTE: Robert E. Johnson is the son of the late Geo. W. Johnson.)