Rev. George Bucher
Biography from Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, PA, pp. 1032-1033
REV. GEORGE BUCHER, a noted preacher and farmer of East Drumore township, Lancaster county, was born at Cornwall, Lebanon Co., Pa., July 21 1845, son of Jacob and Veronica (Brubaker) Bucher.
Jacob Bucher was a son of Dr. Benedict Bucher, who was born at Denver, Lancaster county, in August, 1759, and grandson of Dr. Bens Bucher, a native of Switzerland, who settled at Denver, this county, in the earlier part of the eighteenth century. Dr. Benedict Bucher located at Cornwall, where he practiced medicine many years. Of his children, (1) John B., who was born in 1785, was a farmer in Lebanon county. He and his wife and four children are deceased. One of his grandsons, Cyrus, of Astoria, Ill., is a minister. (2) Benedict, born in April, 1792, had two daughters, and died in Lebanon county. His daughter, Eliza, married Isaac Brubaker, a minister, and his daughter, Sarah, became the wife of Michael Hershberger, of Lebanon county. (3) Christian, born in 1796, was a practicing physician in Lebanon county for many years. His family consisted of Dr. Samuel, of Freeport, Ill., now deceased; Susan, wife of Henry Houck, deputy State superintendent of schools, of Lebanon county; Dr. Alfred, deceased; Mary A., wife of Frank Goshert, of Lebanon county; Dr. Isaac, who is a prominent resident of Lebanon county; and Elizabeth, who was Mrs. Rocky. (4) Henry Bucher, born in 1798, settled near Cornwall, where he engaged in farming. He was the father of the following children: Mary A., wife of Dr. A. Smith, of Lebanon county; Catherine, wife of Joseph Horst; Dr. Benedict, of Lebanon; Lovina, unmarried; and Henry, a farmer of Lebanon county. (5) Susanna, born in 1802, died unmarried. (6) Maria, born in 1804, married Michael Snyder, and died in Lebanon county, leaving six children, Henry, Susan, Mary, Leah, Israel and Josiah. (7) Jacob was the father of Rev. George.
Jacob Bucher was born March 24, 1807, at Cornwall, and was reared in Lebanon county, where he followed farming all his life. His death occurred in November, 1871. He married Veronica Brubaker, who was born in January, 1812, at Cornwall, and died in November, 1868. In his religion, Mr. Bucher was a member of the German Baptist Church. He took a prominent part in school matters, being a member of the school board at the time free schools were established in Lebanon county. To him and his good wife were born the following children: (1) Christian became a minister early in life, and is now a bishop of the German Baptist Church. He has a wife and seven children; Mohler (a deacon), Alice, Esther, Allen (a minister), Clara, Amy and Ada. (2) Anna married Henry Horst, and is deceased. (3) Jacob, a successful farmer, is now residing near the old home in Lebanon county. (4) Susan married William Gingrich, of Lebanon county, and they have a son, Alfred, in the ministry. (5) Veronica married Jonas Royer, of Lebanon county. (6) Elizabeth married John Kettering, of Lebanon county. (7) George is mentioned below.
Rev. George Bucher was reared at the old homestead and received a district school education. Beginning life as a farmer, he also taught during the winter seasons for a time in Lebanon county. When a young man he was called to the ministry, and for thirty-six years has preached the gospel in Lebanon and Lancaster counties, being self-supporting. In 1896 he purchased a farm near Mechanic Grove, where he has followed farming, and he still preaches on the Sabbath. In 1898, very largely through his influence, a church was erected at Mechanic Grove, where he ministers to a congregation of some thirty families of the Dunkard faith.
In 1866 Mr. Bucher was married to Miss Anna Pfoutz, who died in 1881, leaving him seven children: (1) Mary is the wife of Prof. and Rev. Isaac Newton Harvey Beahm, now of Elizabethtown, who has proved himself one of the best of teachers and preachers. His labors have extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They have four children, Annie, Sadie, Willie and Esther. (2) Lizzie, for a time a successful teacher in Lebanon county, is the wife of Prof. L. D. Eikenbury, principal of the North Manchester (Ind.) College, and has two children, Anna and Flora M. (3) Sarah is the wife of John J. John, a minister, and teacher in the Union Bridge College, in Maryland, and they have three children, George B., Eva and Donald. (4) Prof. Aaron, born in Lebanon county, is unmarried, and lives in South Bend, Wash. He is a graduate of the Lebanon Business College. (5) George lives in the State of Washington, with his brother Aaron, who has filled important positions in Eastern colleges. (6) Annie lives with her parents. (7) Benoni also resides at home.
Rev. George Bucher was married Sept. 26, 1882, to Mrs. Fianna (Pfoutz) Philippy, at that time the widow of Peter F. Philippy. She was born Sept. 21, 1850, and belongs to one of the old families of Lebanon county, her father, Amos Pfoutz, being an old tailor and farmer of the county. To this union have come: (1) Rufus, born in 1883, who was selected for the ministry in 1901; (2) Fianna, born in June, 1886; and (3) Willie, born in September, 1888.
Mr. Bucher has never taken any part in politics, devoting himself entirely to his work as a preacher of the Gospel and to his farming, owning two large and well cultivated farms. Beginning with but little education, by close application and a lifetime of study he has become one of the best informed men in the county. His integrity is unquestioned, and he is greatly respected by all who know him.
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