My Genealogy Hound

HIRAM BUCK, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Le Roy; one of the pioneers of Illinois; born in Seneca Co., N. Y., March 20, 1801; his father, William S. Buck, was a soldier of the Revolution, and assisted in the capture of Cornwallis, at Yorktown. Hiram Buck received a common school education; he remembers the war of 1812, as three of his brothers were soldiers in it, one of whom was captured at Queenstown Heights. In 1818, he removed, with his parents, to Hamilton Co., Ohio, the journey being made from Seneca Co. to the headwaters of the Alleghany River on sleds, then floating down the river from Orlean Point on a flat-boat, a distance of 900 miles, the time consumed being seventeen days. He then engaged in farming, which business he followed until 26 years of age, teaching school during the winter for five years; here he became acquainted with Gen. Harrison, who was afterward elected to the highest office within the gilt of the nation. During the seven years following his leaving the farm, he was engaged in supplying the steamboats on the Ohio River with wood, for which he received, delivered, $1.25 per cord, and also made several trips down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, to New Orleans, taking down provisions, etc. In 1826, he removed to Switzerland Co., Ind., where he lived until 1833, when he emigrated to McLean Co., Ill., and located at Randolph’s Grove, where he lived for a while, in a cabin near Campbell Wakefield’s house; his first claim of eighty acres, for which he paid $50, he entered in 1835. He opened the first hotel in Le Roy in 1837, which business he followed, in connection with farming, for eight years, when he located upon his present place, where he has since lived; his first tax receipt was for 20 cents, which increased until it reached upward of $500. He became a subscriber to the Star of the West upon the publication of its first number, and has continued his subscription, which he has always paid, for fifty-two years. Of township, county and school offices he has had his share, having been Justice of the Peace eighteen years, Postmaster at Le Roy seven years, County Commissioner, Surveyor, County Judge under the Constitution of 1848 for eight years, Supervisor of Empire Township four years, which office he now holds, Township Trustee of Schools, School Director, etc. In 1874, he was appointed, by Gov. Beveridge, one of the Trustees of the Illinois Industrial University, of Urbana; in 1875, he was elected Trustee of the Lombard University, at Galesburg, which office he now holds. Mr. Buck is one of, if not the largest landholder in Empire Township, and has never laid a claim against a deceased estate. His marriage with Mercy Karr was celebrated April 4, 1827 ; she was daughter of Capt. John Karr, one of the patriots of the Revolutionary struggle; the golden wedding of the above couple was celebrated April, 1877; it was attended by friends and relatives, from far and near; they came from surrounding counties and cities and States; they came from Iowa and from Cincinnati, Ohio; over one hundred representatives of all ages, from childhood to old age, came, among the latter being upward of thirty over sixty years of age; they gathered around the table, bountifully supplied; prayer was offered by the Rev. D. P. Bunn, of Decatur; the address of welcome was delivered by C. A. Buck, youngest son of the aged couple, out of respect to whom this vast company had gathered, and who showed unmistakably their feelings of love and respect by the many and valuable presents which they brought, among which was a heavy silver-headed cane to Mr. Buck, from the Hon. David Davis, of Bloomington, a solid gold-headed cane, from his neighbors, the presentation speech being made by Rev. D. P. Bunn, responded to, with much feeling, by the recipient; they also received a set of upward of fifty pieces of china, with gold band; Mrs. Buck was the recipient of a solid silver castor, from her children, large silver sugar-spoon, the gift of Mrs. Judge Davis, a $5 gold piece, from Mrs. Campbell Wakefield, a set of solid gold sleeve buttons and cuff pins, from ladies of Bloomington; of the above company gathered, three had witnessed the marriage ceremony, fifty years previous. The children of Hiram and Mercy Buck were — Amanda M., born July 10, 1828 (wife of James H. L. Crumbaugh, living three-quarters of a mile south of the old home); Thomas L. Buck, born Oct. 23, 1831 (lives in Le Roy); Elizabeth R., born Feb. 21, 1834, died Feb. 13, 1837; Martha E., born Dec. 14, 1838 (now wife of John McConnell, lives in Downs Township); Nancy J., born Feb. 19, 1843 (now Mrs. Isaac F. Dawson, of Downs Tp.), and Charles Albert Buck, born Aug. 19, 1849 (he is a graduate of Lombard University, of Galesburg, and lives across the road from his parents).