USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals > Part 73
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117
402
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
was certainly kind and interested, and found a his friends who had thought him lost. The early place for young Buckingham in a surveying party years of his life were full of interest and incident, that started off in a day or two. In this trial " mingling with the aborigines of the country and trip he displayed such energy and skill as to to a considerable extent using their language or quite win the heart of the General, who gave penetrating the interminable forest of the west, him other work. and admitted him to his family among men almost as wild as the beasts whose circle. During 179S Mr. Buckingham surveyed skins and furs he songht, and in the course of a large portion of Muskingum county, having time returning again to civilized society, and William Nye as one of his assistants, and the gracing its refined circles, the judicial bench and meeting place of many of the surveyers, on Sun- the legislative hall." In 1804 he was made, by day was at a place called Laurel Point, five miles Jared Mansfield (then surveyor-general of the southwest of Zanesville on the Maysville pike, and United States), his deputy, and was engaged in now occupied by the "Rolling Plain church." surveying a part of the state of Indiana around The records at Columbus, Ohio, show that he was Vincennes. In 1805 he started a trading post at what was then called Springfield, now Zanesville, surveying Coshocton county in the fall of 1796. In the spring of 1799 his brother, Stephen, fol- in a two-story log cabin, which stood on Mus- lowed him to Ohio and assisted him that summer, kingum avenue just above the Sixth Street bridge, and in September of 1799 the two brothers re- and on November 27, 1805, he returned to Mari- turned to Cooperstown, N. Y., and by their glow- etta and married Miss Catherine Putnam, the same ing accounts of the new country, its delightful cli- young lady who had called him to breakfast nine mate and productiveness, they persuaded the years before. Returning to Putnam, at the birth whole family, with the exception of the three chil- of his only child by his first marriage, he had the dren already married, to move with them to Ohio. severe affliction of losing his wife, March 14, 1808. The journey was a tedious one, and must have In 1810 he built what was known as the "Buck- been trying in many ways. They started in De- ingham Store and Warehouse" on Muskingum cember, 1799, and traveled on sleds as far as avenne, just south of the present Sixth Street Pittsburg, where they had to wait six weeks for bridge, which was torn down in 1880. On April the ice in the Ohio river to break up. The cattle 6, 1816, he took into partnership with him his were sent through what was then a wilderness, brother Alvah and his brother-in-law. Solomon under the care of Stephen and Milton, to Middle Sturges (brother of his second wife). That part- island, just above Marietta, and the family, with nership was a prominent factor in the business of their goods and chattels, descended the river on a southeastern Ohio, and continued until it dissolved flatboat. Arriving in March, 1800, they shortly by Mr. Buckingham's sudden death in 1832. He after, with other families, ascended the Muskin- was married to his third wife, Eunice Hale, August gum river and located at the mouth of Killbuck 5, 1816. As the best means of conveyance, the creek, near the confluence of the Tuscarawas and wedding party, consisting of Mr. Buckingham, his Walhonding rivers, which there uniting, form the bride and her sister Anna, returned to Ohio over Muskingum. This was some miles above the pres- the Alleghany mountains on horseback. Soon af- ent town of Coshocton and the nearest white set- ter settling in Springfield, now a part of Zanes- tlement was Zanesville, thirty miles down the ville, Mr. Buckingham began to exercise an impor- river. The family remained at this place only two tant influence in the community, and by his sound years, finding the locality very unhealthy, and in judgment and excellent business habits did much the fall of 1802 they removed to Carthage town- to promote public interests, both in his neighbor- ship in Athens county. In the meantime Mr. hood and the state. He represented his district Buckingham, who had no taste for farming, had several times in the state senate, and' was one of established a trading post at Coshocton, which the first and most influential in promoting the en- town he surveyed and laid out. The Indians terprise of building the Ohio canal. As one of were quite friendly and familiar with the whites at the commissioners of the canal fund of Ohio, an this time; but their morality was not proof against office he held at the time of his death, he evinced the temptation to appropriate anything they a sagacity and fidelity which would have done wanted, if they could get it. They once stole some credit to the ablest financiers. As far as his duty of Mr. Buckingham's horses, and ran them off required, he attended in person along the line of toward Lake Erie. He immediately pursued the canal. The favorable terms on which the, for them alone through the unbroken wilderness to that time, extensive loans of the state of Ohio Sandusky, where, by the aid of a friendly chief, were made, the facilities for the various financial he succeeded in recovering his horses. He re- operations of the state which were secured by the turned home in triumph, riding on a bark saddle, commissioners were practically the results of Mr. and without a hat, and was warmly welcomed by Buckingham's experience, talents and character
403
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
combined. In 1825, in connection with the other Coshocton. The nearest white settlement was commissioners, Gov. Allen Trimble and Mr. Jo- Zanesville, some thirty miles south, on the Mus- seph Perkins, they negotiated in New York city a kingum river. While the elder members of the loan of the youthful state bearing five per cent. in- family traded with the Indians for furs, robes, etc., terest at 973, and secured from the Manhattan the younger ones joined in their sports and learned County bank, which they made fiscal agents of the their strange language. And this was never en- state of Ohio, interest on funds in its hands, a con- tirely forgotten, as fifty years later counting in the cession which the bank had not made to the state Indian tongue was a source of great entertain- of New York, for which it was also the fiscal agent. ment to a delighted circle of little auditors. Their Among the results of his public spirit and sound amusements were, "throwing the tomahawk," judgment were the building of the two bridges, "shooting with bow and arrow," "tossing up which, prior to his death, crossed the Muskingum wood chips for old Indians to fire at," in which and Pataskala rivers at Zanesville. At the build- they were very expert, and other athletic sports. ing of one of these he unfortunately lost his life, In the fall of 1802, finding this location unhealthy, August 21, 1832, by the giving way, during a the family removed to Carthage township, in the flood, of the temporary supports upon which it southeastern part of Athens county, Ohio, on the rested during its construction. Mr. Buckingham Hockhocking river. Here the subject of this arti- early embraced the religion of Jesus Christ, and cle, Alvah Buckingham, had the inestimable priv- for more than twenty years was a consistent and ilege of attending school. Though it was four exemplary member of the Presbyterian church at miles distant from his home to the schoolhouse, he Zanesville. In this, as in other things, he was walked thereto daily. Out of school he assisted thorough. Not content with being a Christian in on the farm or indulged in hunting. This latter name, he practiced the duties which his religion was his favorite pastime, as at that early date inculcated, and exerted a decided Christian influ- game was plenty. The woods were infested with ence on all occasions when such influence was re- the bear, deer, panther, raccoon, opossum and quired. His sound principles of business, stern wild turkey. Near the farm was quite a celebrated adherence to the right, honesty above suspicion, deerlick, where, on moonlight nights, he was ac- gained for him the confidence of the public, while customed to station his watch, and many a victim his kind heart and generous hand won for him the rewarded his unerring rifle. It was in one of love of his personal and intimate acquaintance. these lonely watches that his quickness of thought In person he was commanding, his head massive, and rapidity of action saved his life and brought his dark eye clear and searching. Many of the down a huge panther poised just above him, and results of his efforts during the early years of the ready for the spring. Thus at the age of seven- state of Ohio will remain long after his name shall teen he met with a severe accident. Hunting in have passed from the memory of its inhabitants. the wood one day, his horse became frightened,
Alvah Buckingham, born March 20, 1791, at reared and fell back on his rider. Stunned by Ballston, N. Y., son of Ebenezer and Esther the fall, he yet recovered to find his right leg (Bradley) Buckingham, was married October 3, broken both above and below the knee, himself 1819, at Glastonbury, Conn., to Anna Hale, who distant from the nearest house, which was his was born March 9, 1795, the sixth child of Benja- own home, over three miles away, and no aid for min and Martha (Welles) Hale. Mrs. Anna Buck- his rescue but his own mother wit. With a cour- ingham died on Monday, September 23, 1867, at ageous spirit, and by dint of crawling on his two 13 East Twelfth street, New York city. Mr. Alvah hands and one knee, he reached the river, which Buckingham died October 4, 1867, in Putnam fortunately was low enough to enable him to cross, (now the Ninth ward of Zanesville), Ohio, and both holding his mouth just above water, and thus are interred in Woodlawn cemetery, Zanesville, reach home just as his sinking strength gave way. Ohio. In 1794 his parents removed to Coopers- The limb was splintered as best could be in a town, N. Y. In 1796 his elder brother, Ebenezer, country home, but a long weary year's confinement left home to see the wilds west of the Alleghany was the result, and ever after a slight, though not mountains and the Ohio river, followed in the perceptible lameness. In 1804 the older brother, spring of 1799 by Stephen. In the fall of 1799 they Ebenezer Buckingham, moved to Putnam (now a part returned with such glowing accounts of this new of Zanesville), Ohio, and to assist him in business. land that their parents, with their numerous chil- Alvah followed in 1810, leaving his parents still at dren, except three married daughters, left Coopers- the Hocking farm. In 1813 Stephen, an older town for the western wilderness. They located at brother, died, and Alvah was called upon to take first at the mouth of Killbuck creek. This was charge of his business, which he did for two years. almost the first settlement inade in that region, In April, 1816, Solomon Sturges and himself (they and was some miles above the present town of afterward married sisters-the Misses Hale of
404
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
Glastonbury, Conn.,) formed a mercantile part- the firm name of "A. Buckingham & Co." was nership one-fourth each, with liis elder brother, dissolved, and a new firm name, "Buckingham & Ebenezer Buckingham, under the firm name of E. Sturges," established, composed of Benjamin H. Buckingham & Co., a firm widely known in their Buckingham and William Sturges, the two eldest then pioneer life. Ebenezer married Eunice Hale sons of the two former partners. In 1850 R. P. of Glastonbury, Conn., and returning to the West, Burlingame, a friend, was sent up to Chicago, Ill., brought his sister-in-law, Anna, the whole party crossing the Alleghany mountains on horseback,
to open up a lumber trade there, the funds being furnished by Alvah Buckingham. The next year as at that time there were no roads for carriages or the two built the first grain elevator in the city of wagons. In 1818 Anna Hale returned to her east- Chicago. It was built of wood, holding some 75- ern home, but as it proved for only a time. As 000 bushels of grain, at that time a great wonder. leader of the village choir she sat in her accus- It was called the Fulton elevator. In 1851 Alvah tomed place on the last Sunday of September, Buckingham established branch houses in New 1819, in the old church at Glastonbury. Glancing York city and Toledo, Ohio, for his two oldest below, her eye met the well-known figure of her sons, Benjamin H. and Philo, buying the Pendle- western friend. An interview-a hurried proposal ton elevator, the first one built in Toledo. They -- and a hurried marriage on the following Sabbatlı soon built a second elevator and here in the press evening-left our young couple free to start on and excitement of a too extended business, Philo, their homeward western route, and on horseback the second son, lost his health and died quite sud- again, as in her previons trip, the wife of Alvah denly, April 6, 1853, in the homestead, at Putnam, Buckingham was escorted to her pioneer home. Ohio. In 1854 Alvah Buckingham sold a third Returning to Putnam, they purchased on the banks interest in his Chicago Fulton elevator to his old of the Muskingum river a very modest homestead partner, Solomon Sturges, and shortly after they of one room, and there in 1820 set up their house- concluded a contract with the Illinois Central rail- hold goods. In 1821 they built a two-story brick road to do all their grain warehousing business for house, to which they subsequently added, in 1834, ten years. In 1856 they built and opened the two a more commodious addition. This was and is large warehouses called "A" and "B" in the the old homestead in which all their children city of Chicago, holding each some 700,000 bushels were born, and now (1892) occupied by their young- of grain-the marvels of the day. After this date, est son, James Buckingham.
of 1855, Alvah Buckingham spent most of his
In October, 1824, Ebenezer Buckingham Sr., time at Chicago, and three years later removed his the father of Alvah, died at the old farmhouse in family there. His oldest son, Benjamin, removed Carthage township, Athens county, Ohio, and his to Chicago, but died in 1864, at Madison, N. J., wife, Esther, then removed to the home of her son, while on a visit to his father-in-law, Mr. John S. Ebenezer Jr., in Putnam, where she died June Potwin. Benjamin Buckingham was singularly 25, 1827. In August, 1832, the firm of E. Buck- sincere and just in his dealings with man, of great ingham, Jr. & Co., was dissolved by the sudden Christian purity and behavior; a man of unblem- and painful death of Ebenezer Buckingham, but ished character, and fine financial knowledge and the business was continued under the new name of ability. Philo, the second son, many will recall " A. Buckingham & Co.,'' and the following year with melancholy pleasure. He was a large-hearted, another brother, Milton, was induced to give up generous man; had a full faith, too great in human the old farm at Carthage and join the firm, taking nature, generous to a fault, fond of outdoor life, one-half of Alvah's share, while at the same time agriculture and stock-raising being his especial Solomon Sturges, Alvah's partner, persuaded his delight. The surviving brother, James, seems to brother Hezekiah to remove from Fairfield, Conn., have combined the qualities of both his brothers" and share in his share. At this time there was a in his business and occupation. In April, 1865, great need felt of good schools, and in 1835 a char- Mr. Alvah Buckingham removed to New York ter for a seminary was secured, to be called the city, where he purchased a home and with his "Putnam Classical institute " (now Putnam Fe- daughters, resided at No. 13 East Twelfth street male seminary), to be located at Putnam. Mrs. until his death. His daughter, Julia A., had married Eunice Buckingham - wife of Ebenezer - Alvah the Hon. Samuel S. Cox, of Ohio, and the other Buckingham, Solomon Sturges, Julius C. Guthrie daughter, Elizabeth, had married John A. Harden- and Austin A. Guthrie furnished the funds, and the berg, of New York. In the spring of 1866, having seminary was established which, through all its occasion to locate some lands in the West, Alvah vicissitudes of time, still continues worthy of pat- Buckingham took his youngest son, James, as a ronage. In 1843 Milton Buckingham removed to companion and traveled through Indiana, Illinois, Springfield, Ohio, and Alvah could thus admit his Missouri and Kansas, and though much of this- eldest son, Benjamin, to a partnership. In 1845 was accomplished in a spring wagon, over rough
405
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
roads, and at the age of seventy-five, it was with- asylum, at Columbus, Ohio, to finish, furnish and out any apparent fatigue. In the spring of 1867 open it. Also president of the Zanesville & Ohio he made a second pilgrimage to the West, this River railroad, from its beginning to completion. time traveling through Iowa and Nebraska, and He has been interested in farms, ranches and wild passing over the line of the Pacific railroad as far lands in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri as it was then finished. He was ambitious to be and Nebraska. on the first train through to the Pacific Ocean, but Decatur Buker, Otsego, Muskingum county, this anticipation was not to be realized. The sum- Ohio. The great-grandfather of our subject was mer of 1867 was spent with his family and two born in England and came to America, bringing daughters, Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Hardenberg, at his family. He settled in the town of Gray, Me. Saratoga, ending in a most pleasurable trip to the His son, and the grandfather of Decatur Buker, White Mountains. Returning to his New York was born in England, came to America with his home his wife was taken sick with pneumonia and parents when a boy, married and reared a family. died September 23, 1867, and her remains were He died when his son, Israel H. Buker, the father taken to their first home, Putnam, Ohio. In a week of our subject, was but eighteen months of age. Mr. Buckingham was stricken down, and eleven Therefore but little of his history is found in this days after his remains reposed by the side of his branch of the Buker family. Israel H. Buker was wife in Woodlawn cemetery, Putnam (now a part born in Gray, Me., April 17, 1756. On account of Zanesville), Ohio. He died October 4, 1867. of the early death of his father, he was bound out Mr. Alvah Buckingham was especially distin- when but two years of age to a farmer and tavern guished by those who knew his habit and mind: keeper. He continued to work for this man until First, as a conscientious Christian man; second, as a he was nineteen years of age. When the battles man of unfailing courtesy of demeanor; third, as a for freedom were fought at Lexington and Con- just, business-like, economic, yet speculative mer- cord, young Israel H. Buker, working on a farm chant; fourth, as possessing a rare genius for con- in far-off Maine, heard the stirring news and struction of bridges, elevators, houses, etc. ; fifth, as joined the company there drilling in the neighbor- a just citizen, who would prefer a sacrifice of his per- hood. He was obliged to be secret about his en- sonal interest rather than the least injustice to any rollment, as his employer was a tory. When his one or to the government; sixth, as a most affection- company was ready to march, Israel was with ate husband and indulgent father. For over half them. His employer told the captain of the com- a century in the region of Ohio where he lived, he pany that he should not go. The captain ordered was universally regarded as an honest man, above his men to halt and destroy the house of the tory, all reproach.
but the wife of the tory interfered and told her
James Buckingham, born October 22, 1831, husband that the soldiers would surely destroy the at Zanesville, Ohio, third son of Alvah and Anna house. Seeing this lie came out and said: "Well, (Hale) Buckingham, was married November 5, 1856, let him go, and give him some food." The com- at Chillicothe, Ohio, to Jane P. Wills, third child pany joined Washington's army, and Israel was at of Dr. David and Eliza (Peebles) Wills, born Oc- the battles of Trenton and Princeton, and crossed tober 8, 1832, in Chillicothe, Ohio. Mr. James the Delaware with Washington through the ice. Buckingham was educated at Marietta, Ohio, and He was with the army during the disastrous and Brown university, R. I., leaving the latter place awful encampment during the winter at Valley in February, 1852, on account of ill health. A Forge. He was also present at the surrender of part of the winter of 1852-53, he was in his fa- Burgoyne. He was a member of the famous reg- ther's elevator in Chicago. In June, 1854, he in- iment which the celebrated French general, La vented the cogs placed on the outside of the driv- Fayette, armed, equipped and clothed. Israel ing wheels, used on all mowing and reaping Buker was made an orderly sergeant in this regi- machines, but did not patent it. In September, ment, and frequently saw Gen. La Fayette, who 1863, lie removed from his farm at Duncan's upon one occasion personally addressed him. He Falls, Ohio (where he had lived since April, 1853), was wounded during a skirmish, the ball passing to the house in Zanesville, where he was born and through the back- of the neck, which he afterward where he still resides. The spring and summer stated "felt like the burning of a red hot iron." of 1864 he was a member of Company A, One At one time a ball passed through his hat. As Hundred and Fifty-ninth O. V. I., stationed in an orderly sergeant he carried a sword which was Virginia and Maryland. From January, 1865, given him by Gen. La Fayette. After the war he to January, 1873, he was director of the Ohio returned to Gray, Me., and married Sallie Carver. State Agricultural society, four years of the time and to them were born ten children: Israel (who its treasurer and one year, 1872, its president. was a collegian and president of a college), La Also one of the trustees of the Central Lunatic Fayette, Eleazer, Carver, Livey, Cyrus, Caleb, Al-
406
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.
pha, Edson, and Sallie, are those remembered. church and class-leader, and was a man of good Mr. Buker taught school in Maine and was also character, descending from good English stock. a farmer. In 1808 he came to Ohio and settled When twenty years of age Mr. Buker bought a in Coshocton county, near the present town of farm of fifty acres near Otsego, and resided there Coshocton and here he owned a farm of 200 acres, seven years, then coming to his present farm of which he cleared up from the wilderness. He was 500 acres. To Mr. and Mrs. Buker seven chil- one of the first school teachers in Coshocton dren were born: Mary M. (deceased at twenty-five county. His wife did not come to Ohio with him, years), Charles W., Emma L. (deceased), Sarah but died in Maine a few years after. The journey J., Albert L., Scott H., now a physician and sur- from Maine to Ohio being great, and at that time geon, and Rose. Mr. Buker is a stanch republican through a dense wilderness, was the reason the in politics and formerly was an old line whig. He family did not join Mr. Buker. After a few years has voted on the prohibition ticket and is a strict his son, Caleb, joined him in 1819, and his son, temperance man. He served several years as Alpha, came about 1822. They were school township trustee and was elected eleven successive teachers and farmers. Nearly all of Mr. Buker's years treasurer of the township, and served six sons were school teachers. Caleb Buker became years as justice of the peace, and was colonel of the wealthiest man in Monroe township. In 1816 the Third regiment of Muskingum County militia. Mr. Buker married again, Sallie Black, daughter Both Mr. and Mrs. Buker are members of the of John Black, of Washington county, Penn., who Methodist Protestant church, and Mr. Buker has was a farmer and came with some other farmers filled the office of Sunday-school superintendent, to Coshocton county, Ohio. She was the mother chairman, trustee, class-leader and steward. He of eight children: John, Xerses, Mary, Sallie, Mar- has been school director many years, and is a man rion, Decatur, Maloney, Emeline, the youngest, of great general intelligence, has been a wide who was born when his father was nearly eighty reader and kept up well with the times. He has years of age. Mr. Buker was the father of eight- not tasted a glass of liquor in fifty years and does een children. He taught school for forty years, not know the taste of tobacco. and was well educated and a fine mathematician.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.