A. N. BUCKMAN

A. N. BUCKMAN comes of Quaker parentage. He is a native of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, born January 21, 1838; is a son of William and Sarah (Cooper) Buckman. He was reared in his native place and spent his early life on a farm, receiving his education at the Friends' school at Wrightstown until the age of eighteen, when he entered the State Normal school at Millerrsville, afterward taking a course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Philadelphia. A portion of his time since leaving school has been spent in the profession of teaching In May,1861, he enlisted In Company C, Third Pennsylvania Reserves, under Colonel Sickle,serving until October 1, 1865 he fought in quite a number of battles; among the most noted were the seven days' battle of McClelIan's army before Richmond, the siege of Petersburg, Deep Bottoms, Fort Fisher and Bentonville. He enlisted as a private and was promoted step by step until he was made captain, and finely brevetted major of volunteers by President Lincoln, for "gallant and meritorious services in the field." His horse was killed under him at Deep Bottom, where the slaughter far exceeded that at the famous "charge of the Light Brigade;" but there was no Tennyson to immortalize it. Out of eighteen officers in his regiment that went into the fight, thirteen were either killed or wounded within fifteen minutes after the battle began. He lost another horse in the Fort Fisher expedition.

After his return from the United States service he settled in Philadelphia, where he engaged in business for two years; he then came west, spending one year in Nebraska. In 1869 he came to Iowa, locating in section 18, Douglas Township, Shelby County, on the farm he now owns. Here he has made himself a home; he improved his land, adding to it until he now owns 140 acres, which is chiefly devoted to grass-raising. He has experimented largely in fruit-growing, and has now an apple orchard of 400 trees and five acres of grove. Mr. Buckman, since his residence in the county, has devoted himself to farming and teaching. From 1873 to 1877 he was county superintendent of schools, holding the first Normal institute in the county during the first year of his superintendency. He has held most of the township offices, especially those connected with the educational interests of the county. He has had to undergo most of the hardships incident to pioneer life, coming, as he did, in the early history of the county. He was married January 31, 1867, to Emma V., daughter of William Hurst. She was born October 10, 1839, arid died May 29, 1882. Four children graced this union; two died in infancy: Willie and Grace are at home, Grace being a teacher in the public schools. Mr. Buckman married again December 27, 1883, to Amanda T., daughter of W. A. and Mary (Jones) Blane; she was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, October 16, 1868. Two children have been born of this marriage-Mary (deceased) and Warner. The family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Kirkman. Mr. Buckman is a member of A. F. & A. M., Parian Lodge, No. 321, and of the G. A. R. Post at Harlan. He is the present secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Shelby County, Iowa, being one of the active promoters in the establishment of this institution in the county. He also assisted in the organization of the Shelby County Agricultural Society, serving as the first secretary, and filling that office for several years. He is now the president of that association.

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 301-302. Transcribed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.

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