Comer Laverne Buckman was born May 16, 1832 (Source: Letter: Fred Buckman to Wilton F. Bucknam, 1890s.).

      On August 29, 1850 Comer L. Bucknum, 18 year old Miller born in NY, who had been attending school, was living at his cousin John M. Bucknum’s household 843 (Source: Census: 1850: NY: Dutchess: Clinton: Page: 108: Line: 30.).

      On June 18, 1860 Comer L. Buckman, 26 year old laborer born in NY with $200 worth of personal property; Mary, 22 year old born in NY; Frederick, 3 year old born in NY; Ella I., 1 year old born in NY; were living at household 350 (Source: Census: 1860: NY: Dutchess: Union Vale: Page: 49: Line 1.).

      Comer and Mary sat for a portrait (Source: Tintype, undated.).

[It isn’t a quality clear picture, sorry, but is the only known surviving photo of either Comer or Mary.]

      On June 24, 1870 Comer Buckman, 34 year old Laborer born in NY, was living at Samuel Smith's household 41 (Source: Census: 1870: NY: Dutchess: Hyde Park: Page 6: Line: 21.).

      On June 2, 1880 Mary Buckman, 43 year old born in NY; Ervin, 16 year old Cigar Manufacturer Worker born in NY; Edwin, 13 year old born in NY; who had been attending school, were living at 77 Main St., 1^st Ward (Source (p1)(p2): Census: 1880: NY: Broome: Binghamton: ED: 33: Page: 5: Line: 49.).

      My Grandfather was Seneca Buckman and my father, Comer L., who lives in Bagnall, NY, was born May 16, 1832. He had five children, myself, born November 10, 1856; Ella Isabell, born June 15, 1858; Frank, born July 17, 1861 in Danbury, CT; Irving, born September 22, 1864 in Binghamton, NY; and Edwin (Eddie), born July 14, 1869 (Source: Letter: Fred Buckman to Wilton F. Bucknam, 1890s.).

      On June 22, 1900 Mary Williams, 65 year old Widowed Housekeeper born Feb 1835 in New York, who had given birth to 5 children, 5 of whom were still living; was living at C. Martin’s farm 619 (Source: Census: 1900: NY: Broome: Union: ED: 47: Page: 33A: Line: 9.).

      On April 28, 1910 Miner Zimmer, 73 year old Widowed Farmer born in New York, who owned his own farm free and clear, Mary Williams, 74 year old Widowed Private Family Housekeeper born in New York, who had given birth to 5 children, 5 of whom were still living, Belle Bingham, 60 year old Boarder & Private Family Housekeeper born in New York, who had been married 28 years and who had given birth to no children, Fredrick Buckman, 54 year old Boarder born in New York, who had been married 7 years, Benjiman Parks, 64 year old Widowed Farm Laborer born in New York, were living at household 213 (Source: Census: 1910: NY: Broome: Maine: ED: 49: Page: 4A: Line: 23.).

      Mrs. Mary Bucknum, mother of Frank Bucknum, proprietor of the Buckeye Hat store and factory, died Tuesday at Binghampton, New York. Death was due to old age. She was 78 years old. No funeral arrangements have been made except that she will be buried in the east (Source: The Lima Daily News, Wednesday, May 13, 1914.).

      My father's father was a farmer from England and my grandmother (father's mother) was Mary Parks, the daughter of old Peter Parks - an Englishman. The nicest, gentlest old gentleman. They stayed at our house quite a bit and I never knew when they died. My grandfather dropped dead on the street after his breakfast. He had not been sick but he might have had diabetes. Oh, by the way, my grandfather's name was Comer Buckman. Strange name, I never heard of it (Source: Letter: Florence Fayden to Delia Palmatier, February 20, 1977.).

      My father's mother lived part of the time with us. Her father was an English gentleman named Peter Parks. He died in this country. My mother had a lot of respect for him but sometimes she did not like my grandmother. My grandmother disliked Catholics and was sort of mad because my father turned Catholic. His family were Episcopalians. Of course that was Church of England. But we kids liked grandma & in the morning we'd all crawl into her bed and she'd tell us stories and we liked when she told "Little Red Riding Hood" and when she would come to describing the wolf, when she would come to the question of what the wolf did with his mouth we'd ask, and what did he do with his mouth, she'd say, and make a grab for us - "The better to eat you up, my dear." And we'd always holler then laugh and that would end the session (Source: Letter: Florence Fayden to Delia Palmatier, January 5, 1978.).

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^{© Richard J. Bucknum}
March 12, 2007, Clackamas, OR