Edwin L. Buckman was born July 14, 1869 (Source: Letter: Fred Buckman to Wilton F. Bucknam, 1890s.).

      Katie Leane was born March 14, 1871 in Ireland (Source: Newspaper: Heppner Gazette, Wednesday, December 20, 1939.).

      Dad, in his teen years, worked in his older brother Fred Buckman's hat factory in Poughkeepsie, NY and that after the business went bankrupt, they changed their name to Bucknum. Mom emigrated to England when she was 8, lived with her sister Hannah [nee Leane] O'Sullivan's family and immigrated to Canada with them in 1889. Mom and Dad met when he was a barber and she was a cook at the Asylum in Binghamton. After they married, but before they moved from Binghamton, she suffered from Typhoid and a resultant temporary hair loss. They would often take the long "bicycle-built-for-two" ride out to visit aunt Mary Leane Strickland's family. Dad, a lean man just over 6 feet in height, sold his farm in Binghamton, NY in the winter of 1907 and took the train to Portland, OR in the promise of "unlimited job opportunities" according to James and Hannah O'Sullivan. Dad had planned on establishing a Barber practice, but his brother-in-law James O'Sullivan taught him the art of plastering. In the winter of 1907, Mom and the three boys came to Portland by train. I had one other brother Robert Lee who died when he was 4 months old about 1911 while we were still living in Portland. In 1913 Dad bought half-interest in a lumber mill in Heppner and Mom ran the local hotel until it burned down while the family was at a Fourth of July celebration. In 1917 and 1927 we traveled back to NY and PA to visit the family (Source: Interview: John G. Bucknum, 2000.).

      Edwin L. Buckman married Katie Leane June 08, 1895 in Binghamton, NY (Source: Newspaper: Binghamton Evening Herald, Monday, June 10, 1895, Photo.).

      I don't know when Aunt Katie came either. The first I remember of her was her wedding to Uncle Ed at St. Mary's Church in the sacristy and Genevieve and I went to the wedding (Source: Letter: Florence Fayden to Delia Palmatier, February 20, 1977.). 

      When Aunt Katie came she met my father's youngest brother Uncle Ed and married him and though we were little my sister and I went to St. Mary's sacristy to see them married. Uncle Ed turned Catholic before he died but at that time a non-Catholic could not be married in the Sanctuary but that is all changed now (Source: Letter: Florence Fayden to Delia Palmatier, January 5, 1978.).

      In 1888 Edwin L. Bucknum, cigar packer, was boarding at his brother Irving Buckman's, cigar maker, house at 7 Varrick St (Source: City Directory: 1888: Binghamton, NY.).

      In 1889 Edwin L. Bucknum, cigar packer, was boarding at 227 Washington St. (Source: City Directory: 1889: Binghamton, NY.).

      WEDDINGS – Buckman-Lean Saturday afternoon at St. Mary’s parochial residence, Mr. Edward E. Buckman and Miss Katie Lean were united in marriage. Rev. Father Hughes officiated. The bride, who was attired in steel lansdown silk, and was attended by Miss Nellie Griffin. Mr. A. J. Blake did the honors of groomsman. Mr. and Mrs. Buckman are both well known in Binghamton and are valuable attaches of the State Hospital (Source: Newspaper: Binghamton Evening Herald, Monday, June 10, 1895.).

      On June 5, 1900 Kate Bucknum, 29 year old Cook born April 1871 in Ireland, who had been married 5 years and given birth to no children, was working at Binghamton State Hospital, 12^th Ward (Source: Census: 1900: NY: Broome: Binghamton: State Hospital: ED 28: Page 3A: Line: 8).

      Katie, Bill, Elmer, Edwin & Edwin Jr. sat for a portrait (Source: Photo, undated.).

      On April 19, 1910 Edwin Bucknum, 41 year old born in Ire English whose parents were both born in Ire English, who had been married 15 years and had immigrated in 1891 and was working as a carpenter laborer and had been unemployed 8 weeks during the previous year; Kattie, 39 year old born in New York whose father was born in New York and mother born in Ire English, and who had given birth to 3 children all of whom were still living; Edwin Jr., 7 year old born in New York whose father was born in Ire English and mother was born in New York and was attending grammer school; Elmer, 5 year old born in New York whose father was born in Ire English and mother was born in New York; Wm J., 2 year old born in New York whose father was born in Ire English and mother was born in New York; and J. J. Sulivan, 50 year old border born in Ire English whose parents were both born in Ire English and who had been married 28 years and had immigrated in 1892 and was working as a steem engineer and had not been unemployed during the previous year, were renting the house at 1190 Wilbur St. (Source: Census: 1910: OR: Multnomah: Portland: ED: 238: Page: 188A: Line: 23.).

      In 1912 Edwin Bucknum was a plasterer (Source: City Directory: 1912: Portland, OR.).

      …the way up…climbing hills had a … good rest up in … Pine woods did us of good Mary…2 months had a … time tell your Mom [Katie, John, Bill & Elmer ford the stream (Source: Photo, Summer, 1916.).

      These are some pictures Mary took when we were up in the mountains this summer. We were sitting in front of our shack eating watermelon. See Elmer with a big hunk across his mouth [Katie, Bill, Elmer, John, Edwin, Jr. & Ed] (Source: Photo, Summer, 1916.).

      In 1917 E. L. BUCKNUM CO. (Edwin L. and Mrs. Katie Bucknum), proprietors of Eastern Hotel at May & southwest corner of Chase Street (Source: City Directory: 1917: Heppner, OR: Page 336: Line 13-15.).

      On January 2, 1920 Ed. L. Bucknum, 50 year old self-employed plasterer born in New York, who owned his own home free and clear; Katie, 49 year old born in Ireland, who immigrated in 1893 and naturalized in 1895; Edwin L., 16 year old born in New York, who had been attending school; Elmer J., 15 year old born in New York, who had been attending school; Wm J., 12 year old born in New York, who had been attending school; John G., 5 year old born in Oregon; and 7 lodgers (viz: George Cass; Ada Cauley; H. Watkins; Henry Carr; Harry McDonald; Dan Engleman; and Emil Gretkapp) were living at 5 May Street. (Source: Census: 1920: OR: Morrow: Heppner: ED: 137: Page: 1A: Line: 23.).

      Katie, John & Ed posed for a picture (Source: Photo, undated.).

      On April 10, 1930 Edwin Bucknum, 61 year old self-employed plasterer born in New York, who owned his own home valued at $3000, and who was 26 years old at the time of his marriage; Katie, 59 year old Rooming House Landlady born in Irish Free State, who was 24 years old at the time of her marriage; Gordon J., 15 year old born in Oregon, who had been attending school; were living at household 90 on May Street. (Source: Census: 1930: OR: Morrow: North Heppner: ED: 25-18: Page: 4B: Line: 66.).

      Katie doing the laundry (Source: Photo, undated.).

      Katie, Mary & Cecelia Bucknum posed for a picture (Source: Photo, 1938/39.).

      Katie, Elmer, Ronnie & Celia Bucknum posed for a picture (Source: Photo, 1938/39.).

      Mrs. E. L. Bucknum Honored at Rites Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock for Mrs. Edwin L. Bucknum, whose death occurred Saturday night after a short illness. Rev. Father Richard Healy officiated at the services, held from St. Patrick's church in which Mrs. Bucknum had long been a faithful worker. Interment was in Masonic cemetery with Phelps Funeral home in charge. Mrs. Bucknum was a native of Ireland where she was born March 14, 1871. She came to America in 1893 and was married to Edwin L. Bucknum June 8, 1895 at Binghampton, NY. They left New York in the spring of 1908 and came to Portland where they resided until 1912 when they moved to Morrow county, locating in Heppner which has been their home since, and where Mrs. Bucknum had conducted a rooming house for many years. Deceased is survived by the husband, four sons, Edwin L and William J. of Heppner, Elmer J. of Los Angeles and J. Gordon of Phoenix, Ariz., two sisters, grandchildren and nieces and nephews, and a host of friends who feel her untimely demise deeply. Kind and benevolent, it is said that Mrs. Bucknum never turned anyone in need of shelter away from her door (Source: Newspaper: Heppner Gazette, Wednesday, December 20, 1939.).

      Edwin L. Bucknum Called By Death Early Wednesday Funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Catholic church for Edwin L. Bucknum, 78, who passed away about 8 o'clock a.m. Wednesday at the home of Mrs. Walter Rood where he was being cared for. Rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the church. Mr. Bucknum had been failing for some time but insisted in looking out for himself until about two weeks ago his sons prevailed upon him to move to Mrs. Rood's to be cared for. Mrs. Rood had waited on him as usual at breakfast time and made him comfortable. About 8 o'clock Mrs. Edwin Bucknum Jr. went to call on him and discovered he was dead. Born March 15, 1889 at Binghamton, NY, Edwin La Verne Bucknum moved to Portland, Ore., in 1907, coming to Heppner to make his home seven years later. He engaged in the lumber business with Lee Slocum, operating a sawmill on Willow creek for two years and then came back to town and followed his trade of plasterer and cement worker for many years. His wife preceded him in death in December 1939. Surviving are four sons, Edwin Jr. of Heppner, Elmer J. of Los Angeles, William J. of Heppner and John G. of Los Angeles (Source: Newspaper: Heppner Gazette, Friday, June 8, 1947.).

      Katie Bucknum died December 16, 1939 in Heppner, OR (Source: Certificate: Death: OR: 49.).

      Edwin L. Bucknum died June 04, 1947 in Heppner, OR (Source: Certificate: Death: OR: 4385.).

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^{© Richard J. Bucknum}
March 7, 2007, Clackamas, OR