Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 430

PHINEAS BUCKMAN, a general farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 3, Goshen Township, and one of the early settlers of Muscatine County, was born in Anne Arundel County, Md., on the 2d of April, 1819. He is a son of Phineas and Catherine ( Shreve ) Buckman, the former a native of Pennsylvania, born of English parentage, the later a native of Montgomery County, Md. Their wedding was celebrated in 1790, according to the rules of the Society of Friends, the marriage certificate being printed on parchment, and leaving space for all the names of the family. The father was born in 1760, and died in 1836, and the mother, who was born in 1765, departed this life in 1830. They were both members of the Society of Friends, and were the parents of five children, who grew to adult age, namely : Maria, who wedded Mohlan Gibson, but both are now deceased ; Charles, who died in Cedar County, Iowa, in 1883, leaving a wife and five children ; William Penn, who died in Baltimore Md., in 1854 ; Phineas, of this sketch ; and Thomas M., who is also deceased.

The Buckman family was founded in America, by ancestors who came to this country in company with William Penn. Accompanied by his wife and two daughters, Susan and Mary, William Buckman embarked in the sailing-vessel " Welcome," which landed in America in 1682, and to him, the direct line of ancestry can be traced.

The boyhood days of our subject were spent in Baltimore County, Md., and his education was received in the common schools. At the age of sixteen he learned the miller's trade, which occupation he followed for a livelihood until twenty-six years of age. He was united in marriage on the 7th of December, 1844, with Miss Cynthia Roberts, who was born in Baltimore County, Md., in December, 1817, and is a daughter of Jonathan and Wilhelmina ( Bouzer ) Roberts, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Both parents were members of the Society of Friends, and the father was a miller by trade. They were people highly respected in the community where they resided. The father died in 1840, and the mother departed this life in 1865.

After his marriage Mr. Buckman remained in Baltimore County. Md., until 1855, when, accompanied by his family, he emigrated to Muscatine County, where he purchased eighty acres of land on section 3, Goshen Township, where he has since continued to reside. At the time of his arrival the homes of the settlers were far apart, strolling bands of Indians were often seen in the neighborhood, deer were very numerous, and the prairie was covered with a thick wild grass, which, when dry, often caught fire, causing destruction to property and sometimes to life. In true pioneer style, our subject passed the first years of his residence in this county, engaged principally in the cultivation of his lands. To his original purchase he added until his farm comprised 384 acres of land which was under a high state of cultivation, but as his children grew up and left the parental roof, the farm was divided, he giving to each a share. Charles E., the eldest child, who wedded Louisa Walters, resides on a fine farm of 172 acres, and his sketch is given in this work ; Oliver H. engaged in farming during his early life, but at the age of twenty-one, having a natural ability in that direction, entered the Iowa State University, where he studied civil engineering, after which, in 1877, he went to California, where he secured employment, and has been eminently successful in his chosen work ; Catherine, now the wife of Albert Aikens, a well-to-do farmer of Cedar County ; Annie W., wedded James A. Irwin, a former resident of Indiana, but now a farmer of Goshen Township.

On coming to this county Mr. Buckman was in limited circumstances, but his arduous and untiring labors brought their reward, and he has now a comfortable competence which will enable him to pass the remainder of his days at rest from all toil. Among the citizens of this county none rank higher or are more deserving of the love and confidence of the people than this man, whose upright and honorable life has endeared him to all.


Back to 1889 History of Muscatine Co. Index Page

Back to the Muscatine Co. IAGenWeb Index Page