Lawrence Van Buskirk

Lawrence Van Buskirk (June 21, 1867 - November 21, 1910) was mayor of Bloomington, Indiana for eight years in the late 19th century. He was also postmaster and a bank president.[1][2]

Lawrence Van Buskirk
5th Mayor of Bloomington, Indiana
In office 1891–1897
Preceded by	Morey M. Dunlap
Succeeded by	A.M. Hadley
Personal details
Born	June 21, 1867 Bloomington, Indiana
Died	November 21, 1910
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Alice Allen (m. 1891)
Residence	Bloomington, Indiana
Alma mater	Indiana University Bloomington, University of Michigan Law School

Education and career

He graduated from Indiana University, having studied philosophy[3][lower-alpha 1] and law, and studied law degree one year at University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, having to withdraw due to ill health.[1][2] He was, though, reported by the Royal Arch Masons of Indiana to have been admitted to the bar.[4] Buskirk was mayor of the city for eight years, postmaster, and president of the First National Bank in Bloomington, Indiana.[2] At the time of his death, he was treasurer at Indiana University.[2][5]

Personal life

Born in Bloomington on June 21, 1867, he was the son of George A. Buskirk and Martha A. (née Hardesty) Buskirk. His uncle was Samuel Hamilton Buskirk.[1] Van Buskirk had four siblings, George, Phillip, Martha, and a sister who married Nat U. Hill, Sr.[1][2] On April 22, 1891, Buskirk married Alice Allen,[6][7] and they had three children: Allen, Lawrence, Jr., and Martha.[1]

He was a thirty-third degree Mason, having held the Indiana's second highest position of grand king of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons[4][5] and heir to commercial property in Bloomington.[2]

He died at his home on November 21, 1910[1] and his funeral was held at Indiana University.[2][5][lower-alpha 2]

Notes

1. His obituary stated that he was a "graduate of the literary department".[2]
2. At the time of his death, his funeral was the Bloomington's largest to that point and all banks there closed for the event.[5]

References

1. History of Lawrence and Monroe Counties, Indiana: Their People, Industries, and Institutions. B.F. Bowen. 1914. pp. 672–674.
2. "State School's Treasurer is Dead at Bloomington". The Indianapolis Star. November 22, 1910. p. 6. Retrieved May 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Indiana University Bulletin. The University. 1917. p. 49.
4. Freemasons. Indiana. Royal Arch Masons (1911). Proceedings at the Annual Grand Convention of the Grand Chapter of the State of Indiana. Elder & Harkness. pp. 42–45.
5. "Banks Close for Rites: Masons Bury Noted Member". The Indianapolis Star. November 26, 1910. p. 5. Retrieved May 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Minor City Matters". The Indianapolis Journal. April 22, 1891. p. 6. Retrieved May 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Lawrence Van Buskirk, April 22, 1891", Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940.

Further reading

• Indiana University (1951). Trustees and Officers of Indiana University, 1820 to 1950. Indiana University. pp. 518, 527–528.
• Van Buskirk News. Robert Van Buskirk. 1994. p. 679.