Walter Harrison Buskirk was born May 12, 1890 in the old St. Charles Hotel along the Ohio River in Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia, the only child and son of Mortimer Buskirk and Perley W. Polin. At the time of Walter's birth, his parents were traveling back home to Clarington, Ohio, after visiting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Walter's father had been previously married, and Walter had six half-sisters and two half-brothers. One of his half sisters had died prior to Walter's birth.
In 1893 shortly after Walter's second birthday, his mother died. His father remarried, and the three of them, his father, stepmother Ann, and himself, moved to Benwood, Monroe County, Ohio. There in 1895, Walter's father died. In Walter's journal he says he lived with his stepmother for a few months and then went to live with his grandmother. As his paternal grandparents were both deceased, it would have been his maternal grandmother, Polin. Walter's mother was raised by George H. Polin (probably her uncle) and his wife Susan [Windland], and it is likely Mrs. Susan Winland Polin to whom Walter is referring to as his grandmother.
In the 1900 census of Center Township of Monroe County, Ohio a Walter H. Buskirk, age 11, born May of 1889, is enumerated with the family of George W. Baker (born September 1849) and his wife Christina J.. He is listed as grandson. Walter's father's first wife was Margaret Baker (born about 1866), so it appears that Walter was living with a brother of his father's first wife, and not only is Walter not a grandson, but he is not even a blood relative.
About 1907 at the age 17 he joined the U.S. Navy and sailed aboard the battleship, U.S.S. Virginia, as part of the Great White Fleet. He remained in the Navy only four years. Departing the Navy in 1911 on his 21st birthday. According to the family oral history, as related by Walter's son George, Walter then joined the Marine Corps under the name of Walter VanBuskirk or Van Buskirk. Walter did not like the Marine Corp and just left.
In 1917 using his alias of Walter Van Buskirk, he registers for the WW I Draft as a guest of Sheriff Howard H. Hasting in the Ohio County Jail. Although uncertain, he is believed to have been in jail at Wheeling Heights, Ohio County, West Virginia. On the draft card he lists his residence as Sardis, an unincorporated community in Monroe County, Ohio. A note on the card mentions Laings P.O., also an unincorporated community of Monroe County, Ohio. On May 27, 1918 in Woodsfield County, Ohio, " Walter V. Buskirk" enlisted in the National Army. He was assigned as a recruit instructor, and because of his prior military service, he was given the rank of Sergeant. With the end of WW I, Walter was honorably discharged from the Army on December 10, 1918 and returned to civilian life.
On June 18, 1919 Walter married Ethyl Mae Hawk of Belpre, Ohio. The couple resided in Belpre and over the course of the next twelve years, five children would be born. Walter worked for the B&O Rail Road until he was laid off during the depression. The family struggled financially on whatever meager wages Walter might earn.
At one time Walter was a member of the Klu Klux Klan. His daughter, Helen, remembers seeing the burning cross high atop a neighboring hill there near Belpre where the Klan held their periodic meetings.
On May 5, 1938, at the age of 47, Walter died from an automobile accident on the old Belpre bridge while driving back from Parkersburg. The old bridge was designed with an abrupt 45 degree turn as it came over the bank of the Ohio River into Belpre. The old car had steering problems which Walter could not afford to have repaired. Walter was taken to the hospital in Parkersburg where he would die some hours later.
Walter was buried in the Rockland Cemetery, Belpre, Washington County, Ohio. The Ohio Death Certificate lists his name as Walter Harrison Van Buskirk; certificate # 32141.
In 1893 shortly after Walter's second birthday, his mother died. His father remarried, and the three of them, his father, stepmother Ann, and himself, moved to Benwood, Monroe County, Ohio. There in 1895, Walter's father died. In Walter's journal he says he lived with his stepmother for a few months and then went to live with his grandmother. As his paternal grandparents were both deceased, it would have been his maternal grandmother, Polin. Walter's mother was raised by George H. Polin (probably her uncle) and his wife Susan [Windland], and it is likely Mrs. Susan Winland Polin to whom Walter is referring to as his grandmother.
In the 1900 census of Center Township of Monroe County, Ohio a Walter H. Buskirk, age 11, born May of 1889, is enumerated with the family of George W. Baker (born September 1849) and his wife Christina J.. He is listed as grandson. Walter's father's first wife was Margaret Baker (born about 1866), so it appears that Walter was living with a brother of his father's first wife, and not only is Walter not a grandson, but he is not even a blood relative.
About 1907 at the age 17 he joined the U.S. Navy and sailed aboard the battleship, U.S.S. Virginia, as part of the Great White Fleet. He remained in the Navy only four years. Departing the Navy in 1911 on his 21st birthday. According to the family oral history, as related by Walter's son George, Walter then joined the Marine Corps under the name of Walter VanBuskirk or Van Buskirk. Walter did not like the Marine Corp and just left.
In 1917 using his alias of Walter Van Buskirk, he registers for the WW I Draft as a guest of Sheriff Howard H. Hasting in the Ohio County Jail. Although uncertain, he is believed to have been in jail at Wheeling Heights, Ohio County, West Virginia. On the draft card he lists his residence as Sardis, an unincorporated community in Monroe County, Ohio. A note on the card mentions Laings P.O., also an unincorporated community of Monroe County, Ohio. On May 27, 1918 in Woodsfield County, Ohio, " Walter V. Buskirk" enlisted in the National Army. He was assigned as a recruit instructor, and because of his prior military service, he was given the rank of Sergeant. With the end of WW I, Walter was honorably discharged from the Army on December 10, 1918 and returned to civilian life.
On June 18, 1919 Walter married Ethyl Mae Hawk of Belpre, Ohio. The couple resided in Belpre and over the course of the next twelve years, five children would be born. Walter worked for the B&O Rail Road until he was laid off during the depression. The family struggled financially on whatever meager wages Walter might earn.
At one time Walter was a member of the Klu Klux Klan. His daughter, Helen, remembers seeing the burning cross high atop a neighboring hill there near Belpre where the Klan held their periodic meetings.
On May 5, 1938, at the age of 47, Walter died from an automobile accident on the old Belpre bridge while driving back from Parkersburg. The old bridge was designed with an abrupt 45 degree turn as it came over the bank of the Ohio River into Belpre. The old car had steering problems which Walter could not afford to have repaired. Walter was taken to the hospital in Parkersburg where he would die some hours later.
Walter was buried in the Rockland Cemetery, Belpre, Washington County, Ohio. The Ohio Death Certificate lists his name as Walter Harrison Van Buskirk; certificate # 32141.
Walter Harrison Buskirk was born May 12, 1890 in the old St. Charles Hotel along the Ohio River in Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia, the only child and son of Mortimer Buskirk and Perley W. Polin. At the time of Walter's birth, his parents were traveling back home to Clarington, Ohio, after visiting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Walter's father had been previously married, and Walter had six half-sisters and two half-brothers. One of his half sisters had died prior to Walter's birth.
In 1893 shortly after Walter's second birthday, his mother died. His father remarried, and the three of them, his father, stepmother Ann, and himself, moved to Benwood, Monroe County, Ohio. There in 1895, Walter's father died. In Walter's journal he says he lived with his stepmother for a few months and then went to live with his grandmother. As his paternal grandparents were both deceased, it would have been his maternal grandmother, Polin. Walter's mother was raised by George H. Polin (probably her uncle) and his wife Susan [Windland], and it is likely Mrs. Susan Winland Polin to whom Walter is referring to as his grandmother.
In the 1900 census of Center Township of Monroe County, Ohio a Walter H. Buskirk, age 11, born May of 1889, is enumerated with the family of George W. Baker (born September 1849) and his wife Christina J.. He is listed as grandson. Walter's father's first wife was Margaret Baker (born about 1866), so it appears that Walter was living with a brother of his father's first wife, and not only is Walter not a grandson, but he is not even a blood relative.
About 1907 at the age 17 he joined the U.S. Navy and sailed aboard the battleship, U.S.S. Virginia, as part of the Great White Fleet. He remained in the Navy only four years. Departing the Navy in 1911 on his 21st birthday. According to the family oral history, as related by Walter's son George, Walter then joined the Marine Corps under the name of Walter VanBuskirk or Van Buskirk. Walter did not like the Marine Corp and just left.
In 1917 using his alias of Walter Van Buskirk, he registers for the WW I Draft as a guest of Sheriff Howard H. Hasting in the Ohio County Jail. Although uncertain, he is believed to have been in jail at Wheeling Heights, Ohio County, West Virginia. On the draft card he lists his residence as Sardis, an unincorporated community in Monroe County, Ohio. A note on the card mentions Laings P.O., also an unincorporated community of Monroe County, Ohio. On May 27, 1918 in Woodsfield County, Ohio, " Walter V. Buskirk" enlisted in the National Army. He was assigned as a recruit instructor, and because of his prior military service, he was given the rank of Sergeant. With the end of WW I, Walter was honorably discharged from the Army on December 10, 1918 and returned to civilian life.
On June 18, 1919 Walter married Ethyl Mae Hawk of Belpre, Ohio. The couple resided in Belpre and over the course of the next twelve years, five children would be born. Walter worked for the B&O Rail Road until he was laid off during the depression. The family struggled financially on whatever meager wages Walter might earn.
At one time Walter was a member of the Klu Klux Klan. His daughter, Helen, remembers seeing the burning cross high atop a neighboring hill there near Belpre where the Klan held their periodic meetings.
On May 5, 1938, at the age of 47, Walter died from an automobile accident on the old Belpre bridge while driving back from Parkersburg. The old bridge was designed with an abrupt 45 degree turn as it came over the bank of the Ohio River into Belpre. The old car had steering problems which Walter could not afford to have repaired. Walter was taken to the hospital in Parkersburg where he would die some hours later.
Walter was buried in the Rockland Cemetery, Belpre, Washington County, Ohio. The Ohio Death Certificate lists his name as Walter Harrison Van Buskirk; certificate # 32141.
In 1893 shortly after Walter's second birthday, his mother died. His father remarried, and the three of them, his father, stepmother Ann, and himself, moved to Benwood, Monroe County, Ohio. There in 1895, Walter's father died. In Walter's journal he says he lived with his stepmother for a few months and then went to live with his grandmother. As his paternal grandparents were both deceased, it would have been his maternal grandmother, Polin. Walter's mother was raised by George H. Polin (probably her uncle) and his wife Susan [Windland], and it is likely Mrs. Susan Winland Polin to whom Walter is referring to as his grandmother.
In the 1900 census of Center Township of Monroe County, Ohio a Walter H. Buskirk, age 11, born May of 1889, is enumerated with the family of George W. Baker (born September 1849) and his wife Christina J.. He is listed as grandson. Walter's father's first wife was Margaret Baker (born about 1866), so it appears that Walter was living with a brother of his father's first wife, and not only is Walter not a grandson, but he is not even a blood relative.
About 1907 at the age 17 he joined the U.S. Navy and sailed aboard the battleship, U.S.S. Virginia, as part of the Great White Fleet. He remained in the Navy only four years. Departing the Navy in 1911 on his 21st birthday. According to the family oral history, as related by Walter's son George, Walter then joined the Marine Corps under the name of Walter VanBuskirk or Van Buskirk. Walter did not like the Marine Corp and just left.
In 1917 using his alias of Walter Van Buskirk, he registers for the WW I Draft as a guest of Sheriff Howard H. Hasting in the Ohio County Jail. Although uncertain, he is believed to have been in jail at Wheeling Heights, Ohio County, West Virginia. On the draft card he lists his residence as Sardis, an unincorporated community in Monroe County, Ohio. A note on the card mentions Laings P.O., also an unincorporated community of Monroe County, Ohio. On May 27, 1918 in Woodsfield County, Ohio, " Walter V. Buskirk" enlisted in the National Army. He was assigned as a recruit instructor, and because of his prior military service, he was given the rank of Sergeant. With the end of WW I, Walter was honorably discharged from the Army on December 10, 1918 and returned to civilian life.
On June 18, 1919 Walter married Ethyl Mae Hawk of Belpre, Ohio. The couple resided in Belpre and over the course of the next twelve years, five children would be born. Walter worked for the B&O Rail Road until he was laid off during the depression. The family struggled financially on whatever meager wages Walter might earn.
At one time Walter was a member of the Klu Klux Klan. His daughter, Helen, remembers seeing the burning cross high atop a neighboring hill there near Belpre where the Klan held their periodic meetings.
On May 5, 1938, at the age of 47, Walter died from an automobile accident on the old Belpre bridge while driving back from Parkersburg. The old bridge was designed with an abrupt 45 degree turn as it came over the bank of the Ohio River into Belpre. The old car had steering problems which Walter could not afford to have repaired. Walter was taken to the hospital in Parkersburg where he would die some hours later.
Walter was buried in the Rockland Cemetery, Belpre, Washington County, Ohio. The Ohio Death Certificate lists his name as Walter Harrison Van Buskirk; certificate # 32141.
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