San
Joaquin County
Biographies
CHARLES LEVER VAN BUSKIRK
A long life of service to his
community and to his fellowmen was that of Charles Lever Van Buskirk, who
throughout his successful and busy career showed a signal integrity of purpose,
and who probably did more than any other one man toward the building up of the
business district of Lodi, the buildings he erected now standing as monuments
to his progressiveness and faith in the future of this city. Born in Nova Scotia, September 29, 1845, Mr.
Van Buskirk came to Wisconsin when a youth and started to work as a logger in
the Wisconsin woods when he was only fourteen years old. He continued in this work for many years,
meeting with rapid advancement, and became known as one of the leading lumbermen
of Wisconsin.
The lumber business brought Mr. Van
Buskirk to California in 1893, when he and his brother, George W. Van Buskirk,
bought extensive timber lands in Calaveras and Amador counties. Soon afterwards Charles L. bought out his
brother’s interests, and later he sold three-fourths of his holdings to the
Brown Bros. Lumber Company of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and recently the
remainder to Charles F. Ruggles, a Michigan lumberman, still retaining a
certificate of investment in the holdings.
When Mr. Van Buskirk came to Lodi in
1893 he had the foresight to recognize the possibility of its growth and future
business prospects. Backing his
judgment, he bought a number of corner lots in the city, five of which are now
in the main business center. He designed
and built the Lodi Opera House, since remodeled and now occupied by M. Newfield
& Sons, the Van Buskirk Building, the Davis Building, the Telephone
Building, the Sentinel Building and the School Street Garage. He took an active part in obtaining the first
public library that Lodi had and afterward put forth his efforts to secure the
Carnegie Library. All matters pertaining
to schools, charitable organizations, the paving of streets, building of
churches, and other institutions of public benefit were not only encouraged but
received his assistance. He made a
strong fight against vice and intemperance and with others had the satisfaction
of seeing Lodi rid of saloons.
While a resident of Wisconsin, Mr. Van Buskirk
was married to Miss Angie B. Crocker, a native of that state, who was a loyal
helpmate to her husband in all his undertakings, for four years she was county
president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and is an active member of
the Lodi Woman’s Club. Both she and her
husband were devoted members of the Lodi Congregational Church, Mr. Van Buskirk
being one of its trustees for many years and a leader in all
its good works. Two sons were
born to them: Charles Raymond, a vineyardist, and Erle Lever,
manufacturer of the Vans pump, both married and residing in Lodi. Throughout his entire life Mr. Van Buskirk
was interested in every movement that was progressive, aiding every community
in which he resided. At his passing
October 7, 1920, Lodi lost one of its most enterprising and progressive
citizens, one who was deeply interested in the civic, social and moral uplift
of the community.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
972. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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