Michael T. BUSKIRK is a retired farmer in comfortable circum-
stances residing on a well improved homestead in section 13, Washington
township, Clay county. His father, Michael Buskirk, was a Virginian, and
his mother, before marriage known as Elizabeth Bilderback, was born in
Kentucky. They were wedded in the latter state, and soon afterward
removed to Monroe county, Indiana, where their son, Michael T., was
born on the 21st of March, 1832. His father first entered land in that
county about 1818, and died July 16, 1856, aged seventy-three years, his
widow surviving him until May 19, 1871, and when eighty—four years old
passed also to the future life. They were the parents of eleven children,
Michael T., the youngest, being the only survivor.
    When the family removed from Monroe to White county, in 1851,
Mr. Buskirk was nineteen years of age. There he resided until the death
of his father five years later, when he removed to a farm of one hundred
and sixty acres in White county which he had purchased some time
previously. At that time he also owned eighty acres in Benton county,
Indiana. He resided on the farm in White county for about fifteen years,
when he sold that property and bought one hundred and ten acres in
Washington township, Brown county. After another period of faithful
husbandry covering six years he returned to Monroe county for a resi-
dence of two years, and then rented a tract of land in Marion county,
Missouri. In 1879 he located on the farm of eighty acres which he had
purchased in sections 13 and 24, Washington township, Clay county, and
this has since been his homestead and the center of his labors and affec-
tion.
    Mr. Buskirk has been a life-long Republican, and at times quite
active in politics and public affairs. He has served for two years and a
half as supervisor, one year for White county and a year and a half for
Brown county. He has long been a member of the United Brethren
church, and is identified with Bowling Green Post No. 373, G. A. R.
His eligibility to membership in the latter is based on the fact that on
March 18, 1865, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-
fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and although that command was as-
signed to the Army of the Potomac it had no active service and was hon-
orably disbanded in August of the same year. On the 14th of August,
1881, Mr. Buskirk married Miss Julia A. Zenor, a native of Washington
township, Clay county, born on the 13th of April, 1841, daughter of
David and Elizabeth Zenor, also natives of the county named. Their
child, Elizabeth J., is now the wife of W. C. Duncan, of Columbus,
Indiana, who holds the office of State Statistical Reporter. Mr. Buskirk
retired from active agricultural labors about eight years ago, and, with
his good wife, is enjoying a substantial harvest from his long-continued
and well-directed sowings.