Fred D. Buck, South Fourth street, long a prominent figure in Springfield's business and political life, died at his residence at 8 o'clock last night. He was 90 years old. Mr. Buck came to Springfield in 1872 from Hagerstown, Md., where he was born June 24, 1852. He followed his older brother George, who had come to the city shortly after his discharge form the Union army a few years before. His first nine months in the city he worked as a candy maker, a profession he had been trained in at his old home. He then took a position with the J. H. Adams company, an early day hat manufacturer of Springfield.
After a few years, Mr. Buck purchased the Adams company and in 1881 moved it from its location at the present site of the Kresge store on Fifth street to the north side of the square to a new building at 527 East Washington. He continued active in the hat business and at the time of his retirement in 1938 at the age of 86, he was the city's oldest merchant.
A lifelong Democrat, Mr. Buck took an active interest in political affairs of the community. He was named president of the Springfield park board in 1908 and later was renamed for a second term. He also was a member of the Sangamon county board of supervisors for one term.
For more than forty years the Buck residence was at South Seventh street in a home which he built shortly after he and Miss Catherine L. Brown of Springfield were married. The lot on which Grace Lutheran church now stands, was sold by him to the church in 1892. He was a member of Grace Lutheran church and St. Paul's lodge, A. F. and A. M., and of Elwood Commandery, Knights Templar.
He leaves his wife, Catherine; one son, Frederick J. Buck, Chicago; three daughters, Mrs. Sophia Vandeveer and Mrs. Lucy Delano, Springfield, and Mrs. Jeannette Rodger, Wilmette. He also leaves seven grandchildren. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL, 9-4-1942
After a few years, Mr. Buck purchased the Adams company and in 1881 moved it from its location at the present site of the Kresge store on Fifth street to the north side of the square to a new building at 527 East Washington. He continued active in the hat business and at the time of his retirement in 1938 at the age of 86, he was the city's oldest merchant.
A lifelong Democrat, Mr. Buck took an active interest in political affairs of the community. He was named president of the Springfield park board in 1908 and later was renamed for a second term. He also was a member of the Sangamon county board of supervisors for one term.
For more than forty years the Buck residence was at South Seventh street in a home which he built shortly after he and Miss Catherine L. Brown of Springfield were married. The lot on which Grace Lutheran church now stands, was sold by him to the church in 1892. He was a member of Grace Lutheran church and St. Paul's lodge, A. F. and A. M., and of Elwood Commandery, Knights Templar.
He leaves his wife, Catherine; one son, Frederick J. Buck, Chicago; three daughters, Mrs. Sophia Vandeveer and Mrs. Lucy Delano, Springfield, and Mrs. Jeannette Rodger, Wilmette. He also leaves seven grandchildren. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL, 9-4-1942
Fred D. Buck, South Fourth street, long a prominent figure in Springfield's business and political life, died at his residence at 8 o'clock last night. He was 90 years old. Mr. Buck came to Springfield in 1872 from Hagerstown, Md., where he was born June 24, 1852. He followed his older brother George, who had come to the city shortly after his discharge form the Union army a few years before. His first nine months in the city he worked as a candy maker, a profession he had been trained in at his old home. He then took a position with the J. H. Adams company, an early day hat manufacturer of Springfield.
After a few years, Mr. Buck purchased the Adams company and in 1881 moved it from its location at the present site of the Kresge store on Fifth street to the north side of the square to a new building at 527 East Washington. He continued active in the hat business and at the time of his retirement in 1938 at the age of 86, he was the city's oldest merchant.
A lifelong Democrat, Mr. Buck took an active interest in political affairs of the community. He was named president of the Springfield park board in 1908 and later was renamed for a second term. He also was a member of the Sangamon county board of supervisors for one term.
For more than forty years the Buck residence was at South Seventh street in a home which he built shortly after he and Miss Catherine L. Brown of Springfield were married. The lot on which Grace Lutheran church now stands, was sold by him to the church in 1892. He was a member of Grace Lutheran church and St. Paul's lodge, A. F. and A. M., and of Elwood Commandery, Knights Templar.
He leaves his wife, Catherine; one son, Frederick J. Buck, Chicago; three daughters, Mrs. Sophia Vandeveer and Mrs. Lucy Delano, Springfield, and Mrs. Jeannette Rodger, Wilmette. He also leaves seven grandchildren. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL, 9-4-1942
After a few years, Mr. Buck purchased the Adams company and in 1881 moved it from its location at the present site of the Kresge store on Fifth street to the north side of the square to a new building at 527 East Washington. He continued active in the hat business and at the time of his retirement in 1938 at the age of 86, he was the city's oldest merchant.
A lifelong Democrat, Mr. Buck took an active interest in political affairs of the community. He was named president of the Springfield park board in 1908 and later was renamed for a second term. He also was a member of the Sangamon county board of supervisors for one term.
For more than forty years the Buck residence was at South Seventh street in a home which he built shortly after he and Miss Catherine L. Brown of Springfield were married. The lot on which Grace Lutheran church now stands, was sold by him to the church in 1892. He was a member of Grace Lutheran church and St. Paul's lodge, A. F. and A. M., and of Elwood Commandery, Knights Templar.
He leaves his wife, Catherine; one son, Frederick J. Buck, Chicago; three daughters, Mrs. Sophia Vandeveer and Mrs. Lucy Delano, Springfield, and Mrs. Jeannette Rodger, Wilmette. He also leaves seven grandchildren. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL, 9-4-1942
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