Buck moved to
Minnesota Territory in 1857 and eventually settled in the area that became
Mankato, Minnesota. He was on hand to witness the aftermath of the final climactic battle between the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes at the
Battle of Shakopee in 1858. Buck was a central figure in the founding of the Village of Mankato, the
Mankato Normal School, and the Mankato Area Chamber of Commerce. In 1866, Buck served in the
Minnesota House of Representatives as a
Democrat and then served in the
Minnesota Senate from 1879 to 1883. Buck also served on the Minnesota State Normal School Board and Mankato School Board. Buck was an associate justice of the
Minnesota Supreme Court from 1894 until 1899 when he resigned due to his wife's ill health. In 1904, Buck published his book on the Indian troubles in Minnesota, especially for the Spirit Lake actions. He intended his book
Indian Outbreaks to be a judicially impartial account. == Personal life ==