Henry W. Bucher

BUCHER, WALTER, MILLIGAN, HOOD

Posted By: P. Bergmeier (email)
Date: 2/18/2005 at 19:16:19

Henry W. Bucher, merchant and postmaster, Lester, Iowa, was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1834, a son of Christian and Martha (Walter)Bucher, also natives of Adams County, his father born in 1809, died December 25, 1844, and his mother born in 1814, is still living in Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Adam Bucher, who was a native of the same county, but of English parentage, was born in 1775, and died in May, 1847. His maternal ancestors were natives of Germany, but came to this country prior to the Revolution, and he has heard his greatgrandmother, who died in 1848, aged ninety-six years, tell of that struggle for liberty. His maternal grandparents died in Pennsylvania, the father April 1, 1845, aged sixty-six years, and the mother in 1849. Our subject was but ten years old when he was left fatherless, and when he was thirteen he began to learn the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked till 1858. He came West in 1855, and lived in Illinois three years, and in February, 1858, came to Black Hawk County, Iowa, and remained till 1867, when he returned to his old home in Pennsylvania, but two years later came again to Iowa and has since made this his home. He was been supervisor of the First District, consisting of Lester, Bennnington, Mr. Vernon, Washington and Union townships since 1884, has been township treasurer four years, and has also served as assessor and township clerk. He has been postmaster at Lester seven years. He commenced his mercantile business in January, 1877, and carries a good stock, valued at $2,000, his annual sales amounting to about $5,000. He has a good farm of eighty acres, and a pleasant residence in the village of Lester. Mr. Bucher was married December 27, 1869, to Rebecca (Milligan) Hood, widow of Captain Thomas Hood, who was killed at the battle of Shiloh. She is a native of Pennsylvania, born October 10, 1838, and came West to Illinois with her parents when a young girl. Mr. and Mrs. Bucher have four children-Mattie, born May, 1870; Bernice, February, 1873; Blanche, March 14, 1877; Nettie, December 27, 1878. In politics Mr. Bucher is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Free-Will Baptist church.

History of Black Hawk Couny 1873-1904
p. 290