My Genealogy Hound

JOHN BUCKMAN,an extensive general agriculturist and fruit-grower of Sodus Township, Berrien County, Mich., has occupied his line farm of two hundred and sixty acres for about two-score years, and, enjoying a wide acquaintance throughout the county, is esteemed a man of practical experience and sound judgment. Our subject is a native of the Sunny South, and was born in Anne Arundel County, Md., October 10, 1827. The paternal great-grandfather settled in America in the days of William Penn, and located in the Quaker State when it was only a Territory or colony. His son Abner Buckman, was born, reared, married and died in the old Pennsylvania home. The father of our subject, William Buckman, born in Bucks County, Pa., early left the scenes of childhood and settled in Anne Arundel County, Md., but after spending many years in the South, finally removed to Ohio, where he died at the good old age of seventy-two years. His excellent wife, Jeanette (Brown) Buckman, bore her husband ten sons and daughters, three of the children now surviving. Our subject is the seventh in order of birth, and was but a little lad five years old when with his parents, brothers and sisters he journeyed to Erie County, Ohio.

In the new home John, as soon as he was old enough, attended the common schools and aided his father in the work of the farm. Day by day he increased his practical experience, and arrived at his majority a self-reliant and enterprising young man. Beginning life for himself, he worked out two years in Ohio as a farm laborer. In the meantime, three of his brothers had located in Berrien County, Mich., and were experiencing the various vicissitudes of those pioneer days. The elder brother borrowed from his mother before leaving home $10, which she had saved from the sale of turkeys, eggs and butter. With that amount the son had started out to seek his fortune, and walked the entire distance to Michigan, accompanied by his next two brothers, and after a time all secured homes and land in the Western wilderness. John finally sent them money to make payments with, and came himself to Berrien County, settling permanently in Sodus Township in 1853. Our subject brought a good team of horses with him, and resolutely took up land and entered ambitiously upon its improvements. He was for a time very much dissatisfied with the country, but after a few weeks became well pleased, and later, revisiting his old home, expressed himself to friends and neighbors as being unwilling to return again to live in Ohio, even if proffered a gift of forty acres of the best land in the State to do so.

Mr. Buckman has always been a very energetic man, toiling early and late, and has well earned every dollar of the competence he now possesses. He received $600 at the death of his father, but $400 he deposited in a bank, which afterward assigned, and the money was a total loss, with the exception of one year’s interest, about $55. Forty acres of the beautiful and valuable home farm are devoted to an orchard of a choice variety of fruit. The attractive residence, the substantial barns and other buildings, and the well-kept fields, especially in the harvest season, present a picture of thrift and generous abundance long to be remembered.

In 1854, John and Miss Juliet Rees were united in marriage, the day of the wedding being April 30. The parents of Mrs. Buckman were Martin and Elannah Rees. The father is deceased, but the mother is yet surviving, and is eighty-four years of age. Seven children were born unto our subject and his estimable wife, of whom four are still living: Charles W., Nellie, Jessie and Robert. One little one died in infancy; two others passed away later in life. Alena, the eldest daughter, married Charles Kendall, and died some years ago, leaving two children, residing in Pipestone Township. Nellie is the wife of Jacob Hushaw. The other three children are at home.

Mr. Buckman has been a devout member of the United Brethren Church for thirty-five years, and is an official — an honored Trustee. He is also a member of the Old Settlers’ Association of Berrien County, and is politically a Prohibitionist, but until late years was a pronounced Republican. Upright and conscientious in the daily discharge of duty, our subject gives to the affairs of the day earnest consideration, and in local elections lends his support to the best man for the place, regardless of party considerations. Now, nearing the evening of his age, Mr. Buckman may with pleasure review his unblemished record as a friend, neighbor and citizen, and rest content in the esteem and high regard of his fellow-townsmen.