"Portrait and Biographical Record of Western Oregon, containing original
sketches of many well known citizens of the past and present."  Chicago: Chapman
Pub. Co., 1909. p. 388.
 
D. S. K. BUICK

     Possessing strong and intelligent convictions and good business tact, D. S.
K. Buick of Roseburg, is actively identified with the best interests of his
city, county and state, and holds a position of prominence among the leading men
of the Pacific coast. Energetic, persevering and progressive, he has materially
assisted in advancing the agricultural, mercantile and intellectual prosperity
of Douglas county, and by his diplomatic ability has rendered his fellow-
citizens efficient service as consul to a foreign country. The worthy
representative of a long line of honored Scotch ancestry, he was born, April 27,
1827, near Dundee, county Forfar. Scotland, which was also the birthplace of his
father, William Buick, and the home of his ancestors for more than four
centuries. His paternal grandfather, James Buick, continued the business
established by his forbears generations before, being a manufacturer and grain
merchant.
     One of a family of twenty-two children, William Buick, the youngest child,
was born, lived and died in County Forfar. Succeeding to the ancestral
occupation, he was a manufacturer near Dundee, and carried on an extensive
business as a grain dealer. He married Jane Jaffray, the descendant of an old
Scotch family, and she, too, spent her entire life in her native land. Three
children were born of their union, namely : D. S. K., the subject of this sketch
; Alexander, who emigrated to America when a young man, was assistant engineer
on the Grand Trunk Railway, and died several years ago in Canada; and a daughter
that died in Scotland.
     Educated at the National School and Red Hall Academy, D. S. K. Buick was
trained to the vocation of the Buick family, early in life being sent to
different houses and cities to perfect his knowledge of business. In the first
months of 1847 he came to New York City on a visit, and after studying the
business ways and methods of this country, he went to Albany, N. Y., as manager
of a business firm. Enthused by the excitement that followed the rumors of the
discovery of gold in California, he determined to personally test the truth of
the stories afloat, but first made a hurried visit to his old home. Leaving New
York City December 23, 1848, he sailed for Liverpool, going thence to Dundee. In
the early spring of 1849 he sailed around the Horn for San Francisco, arriving
at the Golden Gate in September, having been six months on the water. Going
direct to Calaveras county, Mr. Buick, with four companions, formed a company,
and there, and in Tuolumne county, was extensively engaged in mining operations.
In the fall of 1850 he bought the first steam engine used in mining on the
Pacific coast, setting it up at Murphy's camp. He was also engaged in the
mercantile business while there, being interested in a large and well known
firm.
     Returning to San Francisco in 1851, Mr. Buick was engaged in mercantile
pursuits in that city for three years, in those early days of 'Frisco having
many exciting adventures and experiences. Going thence to San Jose, he bought a
tract of land, and was there employed as a farmer and a merchant for a number of
years. Coming to Oregon in 1872, he bought a farm near Ashland, Jackson county,
but not liking the situation, there being no railways in the vicinity, he
removed to Douglas county in 1876. Purchasing a farm at Myrtle Creek, he carried
on general farming most successfully until 1884, when he located at Roseburg,
where he has since resided. Purchasing the Roseburg Plaindealer, he edited it
for two years, selling out his interest in the paper in 1895. During this time
he also dealt in real estate, establishing an extensive business in this line.
     In January, 1891, Mr. Buick was appointed by President Harrison United
States consul at Sonneberg, Germany. This country had other consulate agents in
Germany, under the control of the Sonneberg consulate, one being stationed at
Saxe-Mciningen, one at Coburg, and one at Bamberg. The office at Sonneberg was
one of official importance, there being but four larger consulates of the United
States in the world. Mr. Buick performed the duties devolving upon him with
exemplary fidelity, as far as possible protecting and enlarging the foreign
commerce of this country. Shortly after the inauguration of President Cleveland,
in September, 1893, Mr. Buick was relieved, and after traveling through Europe
returned to the United States, arriving in Chicago in season to witness the
closing of the Columbian Exposition. Since 1895 he has been actively engaged in
the real estate business at his old home in Roseburg.
     Mr. Buick married, in San Francisco, Miss Janet Brown, who was born in
Dumfries-shire, Scotland, the descendant of an old and prominent family. Nine
children have blessed their union, namely: John, who died in San Francisco ;
Edmund Arthur, who died in Douglas county, in the twenty-sixth year of his age;
John Hastings, a prominent contractor, residing near Redding, Cal.; William
Alexander, general manager of a large plantation on one of the Hawaiian Islands
: Walter Carrick, a stockman at Silver Lake, Ore. ; Charles D., of California ;
James, who was burned in the Silver Lake Hall fire ; N. Jane ; and Marian Kate,
agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Company, and operator for the Western Union
Telegraph Company, at Roseburg.
     Fraternally Mr. Buick is one of the foremost Odd Fellows of the Pacific
coast. He is a member, and past officer, of San Jose Lodge, I. O. O. F., also
belongs to the Grand Lodge, and has been a member of the Grand Encampment of
Oregon since 1872. In 1885 he served as grand patriarch of Oregon and British
Columbia, and during his occupancy of this chair the lodges were separated. He
organized three encampments in British Columbia, and granted dispensation for
the first canton in Oregon. He also served as president of the building
association that built the Odd Fellows' Hall and Opera House at Roseburg. He
likewise belongs to Roseburg Lodge, B. P. O. E., being a charter member. For a
number of years Mr. Buick was president of the Roseburg board of trade, of which
he is now an honorary member. He was formerly president of the District
Agricultural Society ; was the first president of the Douglas County
Agricultural Society : and for eight years was a member and one year president
of the State Board of Agriculture, resigning the position when he went to
Germany as consul. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and an ex-member of
the state central committee. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, in which he
has held all the offices.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2013 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.