George P. Buckey

From History of Frederick County. p. 1068-1069:

George P. Buckey, retired banker, Union Bridge, Carroll County, Md., son of Ezra and Susan (Root) Buckey, was born on his father’s farm near New London, Frederick County, Md., November 2, 1829.

Mr. Buckey, who belongs to one of the oldest families of Frederick County, is a descendant of the renowned Indian fighter, Colonel Henry Boquet. Colonel Boquet was a personal friend of George Washington, and a prominent officer under General Braddock. At Bushy Run, in the Alleghanies, in 1764, he won the fiercest battle ever fought between the white men and the Indians.

Mr. Buckey’s grandfather, George P. Buckey, died near Mt. Pleasant, Md., in 1882, aged ninety-two. (For family history see biographical sketch of Herman A. Buckey.)

Ezra Buckey, father of George P. Buckey, was born at Mount Pleasant, Frederick County, Md., October 3, 1803. He was an intelligent farmer and spent his life in cultivating and improving his land in Frederick County. Ezra Buckey was married to Susan Root who died at her home in Frederick County, aged thirty-three. Mr. Buckey’s second wife was his sister-in-law, Ann Root. He died at Johnsville, Frederick County, aged fifty-five.

George P. Buckey spent the first sixteen years of his life on his father’s farm near New London, Md., where he attended the schools of the district under Mr. Cassedy, George W. Cook, Mr. Wright, and Joel Hall. He was sixteen when his parents removed to Johnsville, and he completed his education in the school there under John S. Repp, leaving school at eighteen. Having finished his studies, Mr. Buckey learned milling at Pipe Creek mill, near Middleburg, Md., with the Eev. Daniel P. Saylor, and was employed for four years at the Linganore Mills, near Frederick, then owned by Cornelius Shriner. While he was working in the Linganore mill, Mr. Buckey purchased the Pipe Creek mill from his old preceptor, Daniel P. Saylor, and took possession of the property September 1, 1853. After carrying on business successfully for eight years, Mr. Buckey sold the mill to his brother, Daniel E. Buckey, and removed to his present home at Union Bridge, where he opened a store for the sale of general merchandise. In 1865, Mr. Buckey sold his store, and began dealing in grain. Four years later, however, he repurchased the store which he managed until 1884, when he finally sold the business. In 1884, Mr. Buckey opened his bank, known as the Banking House of George P. Buckey. On the opening day the deposits reached $5,000. and afterwards ran up to $92,000. Owing to failing health, caused by a severe rheumatic affection, Mr. Buckey was compelled to retire from business in 1900. His general health is excellent and, although he is eighty, he hopes to rid himself of the affliction by means of osteopathy, as he has been greatly benefited by the treatment. Mr. Buckey believes in sharing his good fortune and, in 1895, divided among his sister, his brother, and eighteen other relatives the generous sum of $100,000. Of the many farms which he owned, he has retained only two. Mr. Buckey has been successful in every financial undertaking His capital was very small. On attaining his majority, his father presented him with $1000, and he received a little more from his grandfather’s estate. This, with what he had saved, amounted to $2000. which he paid on the mill property, leaving him $7000 in debt. However, the business was so profitable that the indebtedness was cancelled in three years. Mr. Buckey has what some people call the business sense, and seems rather to feel than to see an opportunity. He is always on the alert, prompt to act, and yet able to bide his time with patience. He is a stanch Democrat, was converted to the principles of Democracy in his youth by his grandfather, Richard Root. He has never aspired to public office, but has been elected tax collector for the Twelfth District, of Carroll County, Md., for thirty-three consecutive years.

George P. Buckey was married, May 29, 1856, to Elizabeth E., daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Stoner) Shriner, of Carroll County, Md. Mrs. Buckey was a member of the Dunker Church. She died, December 29, 1906. aged seventy-six years and three months. They had been married fifty years and seven months. They never had any children.

Mr. Buckey never identified himself with any particular church organization, but claimed a birth right in the German Reformed Church. He was friendly to all denominations of Christian people, and contributed generously of his money towards building and sustaining churches. In 1860, when he moved to Union Bridge, there was not a single church in the town, and no place to hold religious worship except on an old dilapidated school house. In 1866, Rev. Thomas Slicer, the son of the venerable Rev. Henry Slicer, who was a young minister in charge of the circuit, began a revival in the old school house, which was packed to overflowing. Mr. Slicer made many converts and one day said to Mr. Buckey: “Brother Buckey, don’t you think that we ought to have a church in this town.” “Yes, by all means,” replied Mr. Buckey. “Then,” said the minister, “If I draw up a subscription paper to raise the money to build it, will you start the list with $100?” Mr. Buckey readily promised, and in a short time the money was ready and the Methodist Episcopal Church was built. This set the ball rolling and in less than twelve years there were five fine churches of as many different denominations in the town. To the building of each edifice Mr. Buckey contributed the same amount, $100, and has been a liberal contributor in sustaining them. Geo. P. Buckey has not only been a liberal contributor of his wealth to relatives and churches, but in January, 1887, he gave $500 to the Union Bridge Water Company, and in November, 1901 he gave $500 to the Maryland Collegiate Institute, now known as the Blue Ridge College of Union Bridge, Md.