Herman E. Buck

{{Lead too short|date=January 2026}} '''Herman Emerson Buck''' (May 14, 1847 – March 7, 1916) was an American businessman and politician from New York.

== Life == Buck was born on May 14, 1847, in Farmington, Washington County, Wisconsin Territory. His father was Benjamin F. Buck.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last1=Hakes|first1=Harlo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NvM1AQAAMAAJ|title=Landmarks of Steuben County, New York|last2=Aldrich|first2=Lewis Cass|publisher=D. Mason & Company|year=1896|location=Syracuse, N. Y.|pages=205|language=en|chapter=Part III Family Sketches}}</ref> Shortly after he was born, the family moved to Ridgebury Township, Pennsylvania.<ref name=":1" />

At the age of 15, Buck enlisted in the 75th New York Volunteer Infantry, Company K, as a drummer boy to fight in the American Civil War. While serving in Louisiana, he contracted malarial fever and was in an army hospital for six months. He never fully recovered from the illness. He retained an interest in the Civil War, and kept one of the largest libraries on Civil War history in western New York.<ref name=":1" />

Buck was discharged from military service with a surgeon's certificate of disability. In 1869, he moved to Hornellsville, New York, and worked for Joseph Harris, senior member of the dry goods dealer firm J. Harris & Sons. In 1870, he moved to Canisteo and worked for Wm. B. Taylor & Co. He later worked in the retail boot and shoe business. He also was involved in the Canisteo Fire Department. He served as clerk and trustee of the village of Canisteo, and was town supervisor for two terms.<ref name=":2" />

In 1891, Buck was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing the Steuben County 2nd District. He served in the Assembly in 1892<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Lloyd|first=Will L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5THmWKSAlucC|title=The New York Red Book|publisher=James B. Lyon|year=1892|location=Albany|pages=109–110|language=en}}</ref> and 1893. While in the Assembly he introduced a bill to appropriate funds for the Hornell Armory.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Murlin|first=Edgar L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1cwGAQAAIAAJ|title=The New York Red Book|publisher=James B. Lyon|year=1893|location=Albany|pages=114|language=en}}</ref> In 1896, he was the village president.<ref name=":0" /> In 1910, President Taft appointed him postmaster of Canisteo.<ref name=":1" />

Buck was a freemason and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Elbertine Shuart of Pennsylvania in 1872. They had two children, Gertrude S. and William E.<ref name=":0" /> Elbertine died in 1903. Buck then married Anna Rice of Bath in 1906. He was an active member and elder of the Presbyterian church.<ref name=":1" />

Buck died at home from cancer on March 7, 1916. He was buried in Hillside Cemetery.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=8 March 1916|title=Death of Hon. Herman E. Buck|volume=XLII|page=1|work=The Times|issue=10|location=Canisteo, Steuben County, N. Y.|editor-last=Lathan|editor-first=J. C.|url=https://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Canisteo%20NY%20Times/Canisteo%20NY%20Times%201916-1917/Canisteo%20NY%20Times%201916-1917%20-%200084.pdf}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* ''[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/buck.html#410.06.19 The Political Graveyard]'' * [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80288443 Herman E. Buck] at ''Find a Grave''

{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-ny-hs}} {{succession box | title = New York State Assembly <br>Steuben County, 2nd District | years = 1892-1893 | before = Milo M. Acker | after = Merrit F. Smith }} {{s-end}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Buck, Herman E.}} Category:1847 births Category:1916 deaths Category:People from Washington County, Wisconsin Category:People from Bradford County, Pennsylvania Category:People of New York (state) in the American Civil War Category:Union army soldiers Category:People from Hornellsville, New York Category:People from Canisteo, New York Category:Town supervisors in New York (state) Category:Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly Category:New York (state) postmasters Category:American Freemasons Category:Presbyterians from New York (state) Category:Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Category:19th-century members of the New York State Legislature