One of the great construction engineers of his era, Mr. Buck was educated at the Canton Academy before entering St. Lawrence University in 1859. His time at St. Lawrence was interrupted by the war, joining the Union Army where he would attain the rank of captain before mustering out in 1865. He then entered Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, where he graduated as an engineer in 1868. Mr. Buck would spend three years in the Croton Aqueduct department of New York before going to South America where for two years he worked at railway and bridge building in Peru. The Verrugas Viaduct, then the highest bridge in the world, was erected under his direction. He returned to the US where he directed his attention to various projects. Between 1877 and 1886 he largely rebuilt Roebling’s suspension bridge at Niagara, all done without interruption of traffic. In 1889, he took up the problem of bringing the Pennsylvania Railroad into New York City by means of tunnels, and in 1895 he became chief engineer of the East River bridge commission. At the time of his death, he was in charge of the construction of the Manhattan bridge over the East River into New York. (from Railway Age Gazette, July 23, 1909)
One of the great construction engineers of his era, Mr. Buck was educated at the Canton Academy before entering St. Lawrence University in 1859. His time at St. Lawrence was interrupted by the war, joining the Union Army where he would attain the rank of captain before mustering out in 1865. He then entered Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, where he graduated as an engineer in 1868. Mr. Buck would spend three years in the Croton Aqueduct department of New York before going to South America where for two years he worked at railway and bridge building in Peru. The Verrugas Viaduct, then the highest bridge in the world, was erected under his direction. He returned to the US where he directed his attention to various projects. Between 1877 and 1886 he largely rebuilt Roebling’s suspension bridge at Niagara, all done without interruption of traffic. In 1889, he took up the problem of bringing the Pennsylvania Railroad into New York City by means of tunnels, and in 1895 he became chief engineer of the East River bridge commission. At the time of his death, he was in charge of the construction of the Manhattan bridge over the East River into New York. (from Railway Age Gazette, July 23, 1909)
Gravesite Details
Civil Engineer, Captain Co A 60th NY Vol In; 1837-1909
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