Father: James Matthew Buchanan
Mother: Mary Jane Rakestraw
Birth: 26 May 1883 Union, USA
Death: 6 Mar 1962 Paducah, McCracken, Kentucky, USA
Residence: Union
-------------------------------
Warden William Jesse "Jess" Buchanan was born May 26, 1883 in Union County in western Kentucky to James Madison Buchanan and Mary Rakestraw, a stone mason/farmer and his wife. He attended public schools and worked with his father in his early years.
His first public position came in 1922 when A.W. Clements, newly elected Union County sheriff asked him to be one of his two deputies. The other one was Clements' son, Earle C. Clements, who was Buchanan's friend and brother-in-law. Buchanan's towering size and imposing figure---6 foot 8 inches tall and weighing 330 pounds was often used to his advantage in convincing arrestees it was better to come along than to challenge him. After the four year stint as a deputy, Buchanan was later elected and served four years as sheriff himself.
In 1932, at the height of the depression, Buchanan drove to Frankfort seeking a job with then Governor Ruby Laffoon from nearby Madisonville. Laffoon hired him as his aide who could also serve as a bodyguard.
In 1934, he was appointed as a deputy United States marshal and was stationed in nearby Owensboro, Kentucky. His duties included serving federal court papers, making arrests, seizing property, and other tasks. He occasionally went along with federal agents on moonshine still raids, something he had done as a deputy and sheriffs a few years before in Union County.
When his friend, Albert B. "Happy" Chandler ran for governor in 1935, Buchanan actively campaigned for him. Chandler in turn made Buchanan's selection to be the warden of the Kentucky State Penitentiary at Eddyville. Big Jess took office on July 1, 1936. When he took over, the prison had over 1,200 inmates in an institution built to house 800. In short order, he made numerous changes and plans to upgrade, update and put the institution in order. He implemented a modern accounting system for the prison as well as updated records and identfication systems. During his years as warden, Buchanan secured funding for the prison to purchase two farms totaling over 2,050 acres. Prisoners were taken in covered trucks from the main penitentiary to work on the farms and provide food for themselves. This became a very successful program. He also lobbied and got funding to build a new cellhouse to relieve overcrowing.
Known by prisoners and guards as "Mister Buck", Buchanan walked the prison yard unaccompanied carrying a walking stick. He expected and received respect from everyone.
The warden's job in those days was a political appointment---which was not lost on him. He was a staunch Democrat but when the Republican party won the governorship in the fall of 1943, he promptly resigned as warden. He served over 8 years during this first stint.
Not one to stay idle, he put the word out that he was "looking for a job" and shortly afterward, he was invited to join the security staff at the Reynolds Metals plant in Louisville, a position that he held until the Democrats regained the governorship in the fall of 1947. Interestingly, the new governor was quite familiar with Buchanan, he was Earle C. Clements, Big Jess's former fellow deputy. Clements made Buchanan's return to Eddyville a top priority and he began his second stint as warden in December 1947, less than a month after the election.
Comfortably back in the big chair at Eddyville, he continued with innovative programs to keep prisoners occupied and continuing their education.
In his two stints at Eddyville, Buchanan would serve 16 years, 3 months and 20 days as warden. During that time, he oversaw the execution of 51 men in Kentucky's electric chair. He had been a death penalty advocate up until 1943 when he handled the execution of the three killers of Lexington golfer Marion MIley and her mother. After that , he began to question the use of the death penalty although he did his duty in supervising executions until his final day as warden. After he left the position, he became a strong anti-death penalty advocate. In 1955, "Happy" Chandler was elected to a second term as governor 20 years after his first election. By then Chandler and Buchanan had parted ways politically. "Mister Buck" didn't give Happy the pleasure of firing him---he sent in his resignation effective in early December 1955. Buchanan and his wife had spent so much time in Eddyville and Lyon County that they bought a home there to retire. In 1959, he returned to public service under administration of Governor Bert Combs and took a position as an adviser---sharing his experience and knowledge with later wardens William L. Jones and Luther T. Thomas, who he was serving at the time of his death in 1962.
Clearly of the old school of prison administration, Buchanan handled many difficult situations---a major riot in 1952 along with some mini-riots, murders, and numerous escape attempts. Eddyville has always been known as the Castle on the Cumberland and in its maximum security role has always housed Kentucky's most violent criminals. In his day, there was absolutely no one better to serve as the captain at its helm, "Mister Buck" or "Big Jess" was clearly the man in charge.
Contributor: Searcher (48618521)
Mother: Mary Jane Rakestraw
Birth: 26 May 1883 Union, USA
Death: 6 Mar 1962 Paducah, McCracken, Kentucky, USA
Residence: Union
-------------------------------
Warden William Jesse "Jess" Buchanan was born May 26, 1883 in Union County in western Kentucky to James Madison Buchanan and Mary Rakestraw, a stone mason/farmer and his wife. He attended public schools and worked with his father in his early years.
His first public position came in 1922 when A.W. Clements, newly elected Union County sheriff asked him to be one of his two deputies. The other one was Clements' son, Earle C. Clements, who was Buchanan's friend and brother-in-law. Buchanan's towering size and imposing figure---6 foot 8 inches tall and weighing 330 pounds was often used to his advantage in convincing arrestees it was better to come along than to challenge him. After the four year stint as a deputy, Buchanan was later elected and served four years as sheriff himself.
In 1932, at the height of the depression, Buchanan drove to Frankfort seeking a job with then Governor Ruby Laffoon from nearby Madisonville. Laffoon hired him as his aide who could also serve as a bodyguard.
In 1934, he was appointed as a deputy United States marshal and was stationed in nearby Owensboro, Kentucky. His duties included serving federal court papers, making arrests, seizing property, and other tasks. He occasionally went along with federal agents on moonshine still raids, something he had done as a deputy and sheriffs a few years before in Union County.
When his friend, Albert B. "Happy" Chandler ran for governor in 1935, Buchanan actively campaigned for him. Chandler in turn made Buchanan's selection to be the warden of the Kentucky State Penitentiary at Eddyville. Big Jess took office on July 1, 1936. When he took over, the prison had over 1,200 inmates in an institution built to house 800. In short order, he made numerous changes and plans to upgrade, update and put the institution in order. He implemented a modern accounting system for the prison as well as updated records and identfication systems. During his years as warden, Buchanan secured funding for the prison to purchase two farms totaling over 2,050 acres. Prisoners were taken in covered trucks from the main penitentiary to work on the farms and provide food for themselves. This became a very successful program. He also lobbied and got funding to build a new cellhouse to relieve overcrowing.
Known by prisoners and guards as "Mister Buck", Buchanan walked the prison yard unaccompanied carrying a walking stick. He expected and received respect from everyone.
The warden's job in those days was a political appointment---which was not lost on him. He was a staunch Democrat but when the Republican party won the governorship in the fall of 1943, he promptly resigned as warden. He served over 8 years during this first stint.
Not one to stay idle, he put the word out that he was "looking for a job" and shortly afterward, he was invited to join the security staff at the Reynolds Metals plant in Louisville, a position that he held until the Democrats regained the governorship in the fall of 1947. Interestingly, the new governor was quite familiar with Buchanan, he was Earle C. Clements, Big Jess's former fellow deputy. Clements made Buchanan's return to Eddyville a top priority and he began his second stint as warden in December 1947, less than a month after the election.
Comfortably back in the big chair at Eddyville, he continued with innovative programs to keep prisoners occupied and continuing their education.
In his two stints at Eddyville, Buchanan would serve 16 years, 3 months and 20 days as warden. During that time, he oversaw the execution of 51 men in Kentucky's electric chair. He had been a death penalty advocate up until 1943 when he handled the execution of the three killers of Lexington golfer Marion MIley and her mother. After that , he began to question the use of the death penalty although he did his duty in supervising executions until his final day as warden. After he left the position, he became a strong anti-death penalty advocate. In 1955, "Happy" Chandler was elected to a second term as governor 20 years after his first election. By then Chandler and Buchanan had parted ways politically. "Mister Buck" didn't give Happy the pleasure of firing him---he sent in his resignation effective in early December 1955. Buchanan and his wife had spent so much time in Eddyville and Lyon County that they bought a home there to retire. In 1959, he returned to public service under administration of Governor Bert Combs and took a position as an adviser---sharing his experience and knowledge with later wardens William L. Jones and Luther T. Thomas, who he was serving at the time of his death in 1962.
Clearly of the old school of prison administration, Buchanan handled many difficult situations---a major riot in 1952 along with some mini-riots, murders, and numerous escape attempts. Eddyville has always been known as the Castle on the Cumberland and in its maximum security role has always housed Kentucky's most violent criminals. In his day, there was absolutely no one better to serve as the captain at its helm, "Mister Buck" or "Big Jess" was clearly the man in charge.
Contributor: Searcher (48618521)
Father: James Matthew Buchanan
Mother: Mary Jane Rakestraw
Birth: 26 May 1883 Union, USA
Death: 6 Mar 1962 Paducah, McCracken, Kentucky, USA
Residence: Union
-------------------------------
Warden William Jesse "Jess" Buchanan was born May 26, 1883 in Union County in western Kentucky to James Madison Buchanan and Mary Rakestraw, a stone mason/farmer and his wife. He attended public schools and worked with his father in his early years.
His first public position came in 1922 when A.W. Clements, newly elected Union County sheriff asked him to be one of his two deputies. The other one was Clements' son, Earle C. Clements, who was Buchanan's friend and brother-in-law. Buchanan's towering size and imposing figure---6 foot 8 inches tall and weighing 330 pounds was often used to his advantage in convincing arrestees it was better to come along than to challenge him. After the four year stint as a deputy, Buchanan was later elected and served four years as sheriff himself.
In 1932, at the height of the depression, Buchanan drove to Frankfort seeking a job with then Governor Ruby Laffoon from nearby Madisonville. Laffoon hired him as his aide who could also serve as a bodyguard.
In 1934, he was appointed as a deputy United States marshal and was stationed in nearby Owensboro, Kentucky. His duties included serving federal court papers, making arrests, seizing property, and other tasks. He occasionally went along with federal agents on moonshine still raids, something he had done as a deputy and sheriffs a few years before in Union County.
When his friend, Albert B. "Happy" Chandler ran for governor in 1935, Buchanan actively campaigned for him. Chandler in turn made Buchanan's selection to be the warden of the Kentucky State Penitentiary at Eddyville. Big Jess took office on July 1, 1936. When he took over, the prison had over 1,200 inmates in an institution built to house 800. In short order, he made numerous changes and plans to upgrade, update and put the institution in order. He implemented a modern accounting system for the prison as well as updated records and identfication systems. During his years as warden, Buchanan secured funding for the prison to purchase two farms totaling over 2,050 acres. Prisoners were taken in covered trucks from the main penitentiary to work on the farms and provide food for themselves. This became a very successful program. He also lobbied and got funding to build a new cellhouse to relieve overcrowing.
Known by prisoners and guards as "Mister Buck", Buchanan walked the prison yard unaccompanied carrying a walking stick. He expected and received respect from everyone.
The warden's job in those days was a political appointment---which was not lost on him. He was a staunch Democrat but when the Republican party won the governorship in the fall of 1943, he promptly resigned as warden. He served over 8 years during this first stint.
Not one to stay idle, he put the word out that he was "looking for a job" and shortly afterward, he was invited to join the security staff at the Reynolds Metals plant in Louisville, a position that he held until the Democrats regained the governorship in the fall of 1947. Interestingly, the new governor was quite familiar with Buchanan, he was Earle C. Clements, Big Jess's former fellow deputy. Clements made Buchanan's return to Eddyville a top priority and he began his second stint as warden in December 1947, less than a month after the election.
Comfortably back in the big chair at Eddyville, he continued with innovative programs to keep prisoners occupied and continuing their education.
In his two stints at Eddyville, Buchanan would serve 16 years, 3 months and 20 days as warden. During that time, he oversaw the execution of 51 men in Kentucky's electric chair. He had been a death penalty advocate up until 1943 when he handled the execution of the three killers of Lexington golfer Marion MIley and her mother. After that , he began to question the use of the death penalty although he did his duty in supervising executions until his final day as warden. After he left the position, he became a strong anti-death penalty advocate. In 1955, "Happy" Chandler was elected to a second term as governor 20 years after his first election. By then Chandler and Buchanan had parted ways politically. "Mister Buck" didn't give Happy the pleasure of firing him---he sent in his resignation effective in early December 1955. Buchanan and his wife had spent so much time in Eddyville and Lyon County that they bought a home there to retire. In 1959, he returned to public service under administration of Governor Bert Combs and took a position as an adviser---sharing his experience and knowledge with later wardens William L. Jones and Luther T. Thomas, who he was serving at the time of his death in 1962.
Clearly of the old school of prison administration, Buchanan handled many difficult situations---a major riot in 1952 along with some mini-riots, murders, and numerous escape attempts. Eddyville has always been known as the Castle on the Cumberland and in its maximum security role has always housed Kentucky's most violent criminals. In his day, there was absolutely no one better to serve as the captain at its helm, "Mister Buck" or "Big Jess" was clearly the man in charge.
Contributor: Searcher (48618521)
Mother: Mary Jane Rakestraw
Birth: 26 May 1883 Union, USA
Death: 6 Mar 1962 Paducah, McCracken, Kentucky, USA
Residence: Union
-------------------------------
Warden William Jesse "Jess" Buchanan was born May 26, 1883 in Union County in western Kentucky to James Madison Buchanan and Mary Rakestraw, a stone mason/farmer and his wife. He attended public schools and worked with his father in his early years.
His first public position came in 1922 when A.W. Clements, newly elected Union County sheriff asked him to be one of his two deputies. The other one was Clements' son, Earle C. Clements, who was Buchanan's friend and brother-in-law. Buchanan's towering size and imposing figure---6 foot 8 inches tall and weighing 330 pounds was often used to his advantage in convincing arrestees it was better to come along than to challenge him. After the four year stint as a deputy, Buchanan was later elected and served four years as sheriff himself.
In 1932, at the height of the depression, Buchanan drove to Frankfort seeking a job with then Governor Ruby Laffoon from nearby Madisonville. Laffoon hired him as his aide who could also serve as a bodyguard.
In 1934, he was appointed as a deputy United States marshal and was stationed in nearby Owensboro, Kentucky. His duties included serving federal court papers, making arrests, seizing property, and other tasks. He occasionally went along with federal agents on moonshine still raids, something he had done as a deputy and sheriffs a few years before in Union County.
When his friend, Albert B. "Happy" Chandler ran for governor in 1935, Buchanan actively campaigned for him. Chandler in turn made Buchanan's selection to be the warden of the Kentucky State Penitentiary at Eddyville. Big Jess took office on July 1, 1936. When he took over, the prison had over 1,200 inmates in an institution built to house 800. In short order, he made numerous changes and plans to upgrade, update and put the institution in order. He implemented a modern accounting system for the prison as well as updated records and identfication systems. During his years as warden, Buchanan secured funding for the prison to purchase two farms totaling over 2,050 acres. Prisoners were taken in covered trucks from the main penitentiary to work on the farms and provide food for themselves. This became a very successful program. He also lobbied and got funding to build a new cellhouse to relieve overcrowing.
Known by prisoners and guards as "Mister Buck", Buchanan walked the prison yard unaccompanied carrying a walking stick. He expected and received respect from everyone.
The warden's job in those days was a political appointment---which was not lost on him. He was a staunch Democrat but when the Republican party won the governorship in the fall of 1943, he promptly resigned as warden. He served over 8 years during this first stint.
Not one to stay idle, he put the word out that he was "looking for a job" and shortly afterward, he was invited to join the security staff at the Reynolds Metals plant in Louisville, a position that he held until the Democrats regained the governorship in the fall of 1947. Interestingly, the new governor was quite familiar with Buchanan, he was Earle C. Clements, Big Jess's former fellow deputy. Clements made Buchanan's return to Eddyville a top priority and he began his second stint as warden in December 1947, less than a month after the election.
Comfortably back in the big chair at Eddyville, he continued with innovative programs to keep prisoners occupied and continuing their education.
In his two stints at Eddyville, Buchanan would serve 16 years, 3 months and 20 days as warden. During that time, he oversaw the execution of 51 men in Kentucky's electric chair. He had been a death penalty advocate up until 1943 when he handled the execution of the three killers of Lexington golfer Marion MIley and her mother. After that , he began to question the use of the death penalty although he did his duty in supervising executions until his final day as warden. After he left the position, he became a strong anti-death penalty advocate. In 1955, "Happy" Chandler was elected to a second term as governor 20 years after his first election. By then Chandler and Buchanan had parted ways politically. "Mister Buck" didn't give Happy the pleasure of firing him---he sent in his resignation effective in early December 1955. Buchanan and his wife had spent so much time in Eddyville and Lyon County that they bought a home there to retire. In 1959, he returned to public service under administration of Governor Bert Combs and took a position as an adviser---sharing his experience and knowledge with later wardens William L. Jones and Luther T. Thomas, who he was serving at the time of his death in 1962.
Clearly of the old school of prison administration, Buchanan handled many difficult situations---a major riot in 1952 along with some mini-riots, murders, and numerous escape attempts. Eddyville has always been known as the Castle on the Cumberland and in its maximum security role has always housed Kentucky's most violent criminals. In his day, there was absolutely no one better to serve as the captain at its helm, "Mister Buck" or "Big Jess" was clearly the man in charge.
Contributor: Searcher (48618521)
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