[3] As a young man, Buckley worked as a conductor on the Omnibus Railway Company's North Beach and South Park line.

Buckley was a major force for the Democratic Party in San Francisco, influencing state affairs and counseling the president on federal patronage distribution.

After his death, however, the same newspapers lavished praise on him: The Chronicle described his charity acts, saying he had "a kindly, just and generous dispensation..The passing of the great leader will be a tragedy to many who were aided by him in time of need."

He was able to recognize people just by their handclasp when shaking hands, prompting the local Chinese population to refer to him as maang paak gwai, meaning the "blind pale spirit.

"[4] Ravenswood, the Livermore, California, estate Buckley built in 1885 as a summer home, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.