My Genealogy Hound

ISAAC W. VAN BUSKIRK, a prosperous farmer of the town of Preble, and commissioner of public schools for the 2d District of Cortland County, N. Y., is a son of Leonard and Elizabeth (Crofoot) Van Buskirk and was born in the town of Preble, this county, February 3, 1863. The family are of Holland antecedents, the first to settle in this country being the great-great-grandfather of our subject, who emigrated during the early colonial days of America, and located near Catskill on the Hudson. He served in the Revolutionary War, dying after American Independence had been won.

One of his sons, John Van Buskirk, was born near Catskill, grew to manhood, married and with a portion of the family came to the town of Preble in the latter part of the last century. There he passed the remainder of his days, employing his time with the work that usually falls to a pioneer agriculturist.

Isaac Van Buskirk, his son and the grandfather of the subject of this biography, was born at Coxsackie, Greene County, this state, in 1790. He learned the trade of a blacksmith, finishing at the age of nineteen, when he left his native village and came, on foot, to Preble, settling on what is known as Dutch Street, and there plied his trade successfully for many years. In after life he was obliged to abandon this occupation on account of failing eyesight, when he purchased a farm on which he busied himself until his death, which occurred in 1877. He was a Whig, but when that party gave place to the Republican party, he became identified with the latter organization; in his views on slavery, he was an ardent Abolitionist and favored any reform movement whose object was for the betterment and improvement of mankind. He was an abstainer from all intoxicating drinks, a frugal and industrious man, one on whom his friends could always rely. He was a devout and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. He was blessed with a most estimable wife, who did much towards his success, and was a comfort to his declining years. She survived him but four years, dying at the age of seventy-five, in 1881. She was Elizabeth Connine; her father, Leonard Connine, was a native of Catskill. Mr. Connine’s parents were at one time wealthy slave owners; after coming to Preble he worked at the trade of carpenter and joiner. Mr. and Mrs. Van Buskirk were the parents of nine children, five of whom are still living; following is the record: John died in infancy; John (2), a resident of Tully, Onondaga County; Leonard, deceased; Leonard (2), residing at Preble; William, a merchant tailor and a good business man of Syracuse, where he died thirty years ago; Abram, who was a captain in the 63d or 64th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf., and was killed while fighting for his country at Chattanooga, Tenn.; Catharine, the wife of Calvin Haines of Homer; Darwin, a millwright of Fayetteville; and Robert H., a prosperous and influential farmer of Preble.

Leonard Van Buskirk was born on Dutch Street, Preble, in 1821, and attended the district school until he reached the age of twenty-one. He then learned the trade of carpenter and builder, pursuing that vocation for forty years, and since then has been living on a farm and operating the same. He is a practical, thorough-going agriculturist, and has met with signal success in his undertakings. He was a Democrat until Lincoln’s second election, when with a great many others, who were dissatisfied with the policy pursued by that party, he turned to the Republican party as a political organization more nearly meeting his views; since then he has been prominently identified with the Republicans, and has filled many of the local offices. He was a prominent candidate for county treasurer, and in 1880 was census enumerator. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Crofoot, who is a most highly esteemed lady, possessing many noble characteristics. They still reside on their farm at Preble, surrounded by their children, most of whom are in their near vicinity. They are as follows: Charles L., deceased; Helen of Preble; Lydia, wife of Frank J. Collier, a prominent farmer and justice of the peace of Preble; David, deceased; Isaac W., subject of this biography; and James, who lives in Spafford. The father of Mrs. Leonard Van Buskirk was David Crofoot, who was born in Litchfield, Conn., but came with his father, James Crofoot, and family to Preble and was among the first settlers there. They made their home at what is known as the settlement of Baltimore. David Crofoot was for many years a highly prosperous tanner and shoe manufacturer of that community, acquiring a considerable fortune. For many years he was the recognized leader of the Democratic party in Cortland County. He was supervisor of the town for thirty years, probably longer than any other incumbent, and was president of the board part of that time. He was a man of a high order of intelligence, well versed in all points of law, and a good public speaker, holding the attention of his audience as if by magic. His advice was much sought after by his neighbors in all knotty questions, and he was quite a successful practitioner in the justice courts.

Isaac W. Van Buskirk pursued his studies in the district schools and at Homer Academy, receiving a good education. Six years previous to leaving school he was also engaged in teaching, commencing when but sixteen years of age. At the age of twenty-two he left school and gave his whole attention to teaching in Cortland and Onondaga Counties. He was possessed with the faculty, so desirable in teachers, yet not always to be found, of imparting knowledge to others in a clear and forcible manner, and his discipline, while not severe, was such as to make his school take rank among the best. After devoting six more years exclusively to teaching he turned his attention to farming. In the fall of 1896 he was elected commissioner of public schools for the 2d District of Cortland for the ensuing three years. He takes a lively and intelligent interest in politics, attending all the town and primary meetings of the Republican party. He is a member of Homer Lodge, No. 352, F. and A. M.; and Preble Lodge, No. 261, I. O. O. F.

Mr. Van Buskirk was united in marriage November 5, 1886, to Miss Fannie Masters of Otisco, Onondaga County. Their home has been made happy by the presence of two bright children, a son and a daughter, David C. and Lydia C. Mr. Van Buskirk is still but a young man, with most of his life before him, and it is the expectation of his numerous friends that he will achieve such marked success that his name will be long remembered as that of one of the most prominent men of his state.