. E~z~-S1ave Storlea	~ ‘~~i
	~jstrict #5	L~
	~9~derburgh County
Lauafla Creel	A Slave, Ambassador and City Doctor,


Freemen‘s As$ociation. I-le f bought a grarrimar r~rn a white 8chool boy and $tudied it at home. When sixteen years of age he was employed . to teach negro children and grieves to recall how limited his ability was bound to have been. “When a father considers sending his son or daughter to school, today, he orders catalogues, consults his friends and considers the location arid surroundings and the advice of those who have patronized the different schools. He finally decides upon the school that promises the boy or girl the most attractive and corn— fortable ßurroundings. When I taught the African childrøn I boarded with an old man whose cabin was filled with his own fainfl~y. I climbed a ladder leading from the cabin into a dark uncomfortable loft where a comfort and a straw bed were my only conveniences.“

	Leaving Greensburg the youn~g mulatto made his way to Indianapolis where he became acquainted with the first educated negro he had ever met. The r~egro was Robert Bruce Bagby, then principal of the only $chool for negroes in Indianapolis. “The same old building is standing there today that housed Bagbyts institution then,“ he declares.

	Dr. Buckner recalls that when he left Bagby‘s school he was so low financially he had to procure a position in a private re~idence as house boy. This position was followed by many jobs of serving tables at hotel‘\s and eating houses, of any and all kinds. While engaged in that work he met Co1one~~. Albert aohnson and his lovely wife, both natives of Arkansas and he remembers their congratulations when they learned that he was striving for an eduóation. They advised lus entering an educational institution at Terre Haute. His desire had been to enter that institution of Normal Training but felt doubtful of succeed— ing in the advanced courses taught because bUis advantagea had been so limited, but Mrs. Johnson told him that “God gives his talents to the