author

B. B. (Buckley B.) Paddock

1844–1922

A driving force in early Fort Worth, this Texas editor, civic booster, and historian helped shape how the city and region saw themselves. His books and public work capture the energy of a fast-growing frontier community turning into a modern city.

1 Audiobook

Early Days in Fort Worth, Much of Which I saw and Part of Which I Was

Early Days in Fort Worth, Much of Which I saw and Part of Which I Was

by B. B. (Buckley B.) Paddock

About the author

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 22, 1844, Boardman Buckley Paddock later made Fort Worth his life's work. After service in the Civil War and a period studying law in Mississippi, he moved to Texas in 1872 and quickly became a major local figure through journalism, politics, and civic promotion.

He is best remembered as editor of the Fort Worth Democrat, where he vigorously promoted Fort Worth and North Texas, and later as a business and political leader. He served as president of the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway Company, helped build up the city's Board of Trade, served multiple terms as mayor of Fort Worth, and also represented Tarrant County in the Texas legislature.

Paddock also worked as an editor of books on the history of Fort Worth and northwest Texas, which is why his name still appears on historical volumes today. More than just a writer, he was one of the people most closely tied to Fort Worth's early growth, its public image, and its civic ambitions. He died in 1922.