Lawrence Van Buskirk

Lawrence Van Buskirk
Born	Template:Birth date Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
Died	November 21, 1910(1910-11-21) (aged 43)
Occupation(s)	Politician, bank president, postmaster
Known for	Mayor of Bloomington, Indiana; president of First National Bank; treasurer at Indiana University

Lawrence Van Buskirk (June 21, 1867 – November 21, 1910) was the mayor of Bloomington, Indiana for a period of eight years during the late 1800s. In addition to his mayoral responsibilities, he also served as the postmaster and was the president of Bloomington's First National Bank.

Education and career

Buskirk completed his studies in philosophy and law at Indiana University and pursued further legal education at University of Michigan Law School for one year before health concerns compelled him to leave. He gained admission to the bar, as noted by the Royal Arch Masons of Indiana. Apart from his role as mayor, he held positions such as postmaster and bank president. At the time of his passing, he was serving as treasurer at Indiana University.

Personal life

Born in Bloomington to parents George A. Buskirk and Martha A. (née Hardesty), Buskirk belonged to a family with significant political influence; both his father and uncle Samuel Hamilton Buskirk had served as Speakers of the Indiana House of Representatives. He wed Alice Allen on April 22, 1891, and they had three children: Allen, Lawrence Jr., and Martha.

As a thirty-third degree Mason, Buskirk occupied the role of grand king within Indiana’s Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. Additionally, he possessed commercial real estate in Bloomington.

Buskirk passed away at his residence on November 21, 1910. His funeral, held at Indiana University, was the largest Bloomington had witnessed up to that time, resulting in the temporary closure of local banks.

See also

• List of mayors of Bloomington, Indiana