My Genealogy Hound

LEVI VAN BUSKIRK. This is in brief the sketch of a man whose present substantial position in life has been reached through his own perseverance. He is now one of the well-to-do farmers and fruit-growers of the town of Tyre, Seneca County, and his business and social qualities are well known and appreciated in this locality.

Mr. Van Buskirk was born in the above town March 21, 1842, and is the son of Peter and Rosetta (Cuddeback) Van Buskirk. His paternal grandfather, who bore the name of Thomas, was descended from one of the old families of New Jersey, but at the time of the birth of his son Peter was living in New York City, being there engaged in dealing in horses. Later he removed with his family to Ontario County, where he became interested in farming to some extent, although the greater portion of his time was devoted to the raising of a fine grade of stock. In 1849, during the gold excitement in California, he went thither by way of the Isthmus and remained several years. He made two visits to that state, and was fairly successful in his ventures each time. On his return he removed to the town of Tyre, Seneca County, where his decease occurred in 1871, when seventy-seven years old. His remains were placed in the cemetery at Hopewell, Ontario County, where his wife was also buried. In early days he was a Whig, but after the formation of the Republican party never failed to vote for its candidates, and was a strong anti-slavery man. When a boy, his father, the great-grandfather of our subject, took charge of the horse of General Washington, during the winter which the army spent in New Jersey. The following spring he ran away from home, and for several years thereafter served as a soldier in the Continental army.

Peter Van Buskirk was born June 12, 1814, in the metropolis. He was there reared to mature years, after which he came to the town of Tyre and followed the trade of a cooper, which he had previously learned. Later he abandoned this business and engaged in farming, owning the ninety-seven acres of land on which his son, our subject, now resides. He married Miss Rosetta Cuddeback, and to them were born three children, of whom Levi was the eldest. Thomas is married and resides in Tyre, while Sallie is an inmate of the household of our subject. Peter Van Buskirk was a prominent Democrat in politics, and was the incumbent of many offices of trust and responsibility, being for many years Town Clerk and Collector. He was influential in the ranks of his party, and often represented it as a delegate to the various conventions. Religiously he was a member of the Christian Church, in the faith of which he died April 30, 1891. His good wife preceded him to the land beyond, dying January 31, 1883. They were both interred in Tyre Cemetery.

The subject of this sketch was given a good education, and when twenty-one years of age was engaged to teach two terms of school. When a lad of thirteen years his left limb became affected, and for eleven years he suffered with this misfortune. The next year his father gave him his time, so that on attaining his majority he possessed quite a little sum of money. He continued to reside at home, however, until forty-one years of age, when he established a home of his own, and was married, November 7, 1883, to Miss Catherine Alma Nearpass, of Tyre. She was born in this section in 1857, and was the daughter of Samuel and Emma (Golden) Nearpass.

Mr. Van Buskirk is a Democrat in politics, and in 1869 voted for MacClellan. Five years prior to this time he had been elected Clerk of his town, holding the office for three years. He was afterward made Town Auditor, and also served as Inspector of Elections. In 1871 he was elected Supervisor of the town of Tyre, and from 1886 to 1889 was the incumbent of the same office. He has always taken a very active part in local affairs, and as one of the influential men of his party in this locality has been a representative to the county and senatorial conventions.