John Rex Bucher

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Book:
JOHN REX BUCHER was born in the old family homestead, which stood on the site of the present Barnett hotel, at the corner of East Tuscarawas and Cherry streets, the date of his birth being August 29, 1827. He was a son of Jacob and Christina (Rex) Bucher, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Jacob Bucher was of German lineage and was reared to maturity in the Keystone state, whence he came to Canton in the early pioneer epoch, securing large tracts of land in the county and becoming an influential citizen, both he and his wife dying in Canton. They became the parents of twelve children, of whom three are living at the present time, namely: Harriet married a Mr. Doxie, of Massillon; Amelia married a Mr. Haffleigh, of Philadelphia; Catharine is unmarried.
John R. Bucher was early called upon to assume individual responsibilities and contributed his full share to the cultivation and improvement of the farm land owned by his father. As a youth the subject of this memoir was fond of study, having a very receptive mind, and thus he availed himself of such opportunities as presented for attending the common schools of the place and period, while his appreciative application in all the later years of his life made him a man of broad and comprehensive information. At the age of seventeen years Mr. Bucher engaged in the clothing business, in which he was associated with John Danner, they establishing a business on a small scale at Carrollton, in the adjoining county of Carroll. Subsequently he disposed of his interest in this enterprise and entered the employ of Charles Rawson, a pioneer merchant of Massillon. After remaining a number of years in that city, which was then a small village, he returned to Canton and here established himself in the mercantile business on the south side of the public square, his headquarters being in a building which stood on the present site of Ream's grocery, while later he removed to the Eagle block, on West Tuscarawas street, near Market street. Subsequently Mr. Bucher and John Danner again became associated in business, their enterprise at this time taking a more pretentious form, since they engaged in the manufacture of stoves, the venture proving successful under their energetic and careful management. In 1864 Mr. Bucher and the late Lewis Gibbs entered into partnership under the title of the Bucher & Gibbs Plow Company. Of his connection with this industry it has been said, "He completely consecrated himself to his work. It took earnest and constant effort to make a success of the enterprise, and twenty years of persistent labor and executive application were required to place the company upon the high and enduring plane which it now occupies. The business was conducted under the firm name of Bucher, Gibbs & Company until 1886, when Mr. Gibbs' interests were acquired by John R. Poyser, and the enterprise was then incorporated under the laws of the state, with a capital stock of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, Mr. Bucher being elected to the presidency of the new company at the time of its organization and continuing to hold this office until the time of his death, while the title of the concern has been retained as the Bucher & Gibbs Plow Company to the present time." The industry has become one of the most important of the manufacturing enterprises of Canton, its products being shipped to all parts of the Union and to many foreign countries, while its capital stock has been increased and also its facilities, the plant being one of the noteworthy ones of the city, while the great enterprise will stand as a perpetual monument to the ability and effective labors of Mr. Bucher.
At this point we quote from a previously published estimate of the life and services of the honored subject, whose grasp of business affairs of wide scope was ever masterful and whose life was unassuming and kindly in all its relations: "Mr. Bucher was a hard worker in his earlier life, but with advancing years he laid aside some of his business cares, as his earlier efforts had brought him prosperity. For a number of years his health had been impaired, since he was a sufferer from heart disease, but he bore all without complaining, desiring to avoid causing anxiety to those nearest and dearest to him. Several times he approached the portals of death, but rallied from the attacks. At last, however, the man who had successfully combated with hardships and with many obstacles in the business and financial world, was called upon to obey the inexorable summons of death, and he entered into eternal rest on the 29th of February, 1892, secure in the esteem of all who had known him. Mr. Bucher was deeply and sincerely mourned. His generous nature endeared him to his employes, who felt for him the tenderest regard, and those who were associated with him in business speak of him in the highest terms of praise, having had the utmost confidence in him. His aim in life was ever to uplift and benefit, and his record tells the story of manifold good deeds, through which he won the affection of all classes. His excellencies of character were many and 'even his failings leaned to virtue's side.' As a prudent man of affairs he was a model of rare excellence. As a successful captain of industrial development his place was in the front rank. As a social companion he was peerless; as a citizen he was without reproach. As a husband and father he was the type and embodiment of whatever is truest and kindest and best in human conception. His home was to him the dearest spot on earth and he could not do too much to enhance the happiness of his family. These are the words endorsed by those who knew the man long and well, and what more need be said to indicate to future generations that he was all in all a type of noble and symmetrical manhood. In politics Mr. Bucher was a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party and ever took a deep and intelligent interest in the questions and issues of the hour, while he was signally loyal to all that tended to conserve the best interests of his home city. He was reared in the Lutheran church and his views were ever in harmony with its faith, while he was a regular attendant and liberal supporter of Trinity church up to the time of his death.
In Canton, on the 11th of September, 1856, was solemnized the marrage of Mr. Bucher to Miss Emma Wikidal, who was born here, being a daughter of the late Martin Wikidal, who was one of the prominent and honored pioneer merchants and bankers of Canton, an individual tribute to his memory appearing on other pages of this work, so that a recapitulation of the family and personal history is not demanded at this point. Mrs. Bucher was born in the old Wikidal homestead, which stood on the site of the present Folwell building, in Canton, and in her girlhood she attended the Canton Female Seminary, conducted by the Goshorns, while later she continued her studies in an excellent Moravian seminary at Lititz, Pennsylvania, where she completed her education. She recalls that during her childhood days Canton was a small village, and that the site of the present home of Mrs. George D. Harter, on North Market street, was considered to be in the country. Mrs. Bucher still resides in her beautiful home, at 822 North Market street, the same being doubly dear to her through the grateful memories and associations of the past, and in the days of her widowhood she is solaced and comforted by the love of her children and exceptionally wide circle of friends, having long taken a prominent part in the social life of Canton, which has ever been her home. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Bucher we enter the following data in conclusion of this sketch: Helen is the wife of William J. Poser, secretary of the Bucher & Gibbs Plow Company; Martin W., who married Miss Catherine Cobaugh; and Clara, the wife of Willis H. Shanafelt, of Canton.

2. Census in 1870 in Canton, Stark, OH. ² John Bucher, 42, stove manufacturer, was living with wife Emma, 33; Helen, 10; Martin, 5; Clara, 4. Everyone was born in Ohio. His real estate was worth $20,000 and personal estate $15,000.

3. Book: History of Stark County, 1881. ³
JOHN R. BUCHER was one of the most prominent citizens and a leading manufacturer of Canton, and this work would indeed be incomplete without a sketch of his career. When called from this life, the county mourned the loss of one of its best citizens, and his friends and family felt that disaster had indeed fallen heavily upon then. He was born August 29, 1827, in a residence that stood at the corner of East Tuscarawas and Cherry Streets, and was a son of Jacob Bucher, a pioneer of Canton. After attaining to man's estate, he was married, September 11, 1856, to Miss Emma, daughter of Martin Wikidal, also an early settler of Canton.

One of the leading industries with which he was connected was the pitcher & Gibbs' Plow Company, which he established in 1864. He began the manufacture of stoves prior to that and proved successful. About that time, he added the manufacture of plows to his other interests, and completely consecrated himself to his work. It took earnest and constant effort to make the young enterprise succeed, and twenty years of persistent labor were required to place the company upon the high and enduring basis which it now occupies. The business was conducted under the partnership name until 1886, when it was incorporated with a capital stock of $250,0110. The plant is located near the tracks of the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad and the Cleveland & Canton Railroad. The factory is 50x226 feet, two stories high, and the foundry covers an area of 75x150 feet. The smithy department is 40x125 feet, and the grinding-room, storage and warehouse is it building 25xl25 feet, and two stories high, with two wings, each 25xl25 feet; another storage building is 40x80 feet, and the office is 35x75 feet, and two stories high. The machinery is of the latest and most highly improved kind and is operated by a steam engine of two hundred and fifty horse power. They employ one hundred and fifty men in the factories, and have twelve traveling salesmen upon the road. The goods are sold throughout the United States, Australia, the Argentine Republic, Chili, Mexico, and in portions of Africa. Branch offices have been established in Indianapolis, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Baltimore, Richmond, New Fork, Cincinnati and Louisville. At the time of his death, Mr. Bucher was President of the company, and the other offices were F. E. Myers, Vicepresident; H. A. Cavnah, General Manager; W. J. Poyser, Secretary; F. B. Niesz, Treasurer, and G. H. Ream, Superintendent.

Mr. Bucher was a hard worker in his earlier life, but with advancing years he laid aside some of his business cares, as his earlier efforts had brought him prosperity. For a number f years he had also been in poor health. He was a sufferer from heart disease, but he bore all complainingly, constantly desiring to avoid causing anxiety to others. Several times he seemed near death's door, but recovered. At last, however, the mail who had successfully combated with hardships, and many obstacles in the financial world, succumbed to the dread destroyer. He passed away February 29, 1892. For years he was an attendant and supporter of the Lutheran Church.

Mr. Bucher was deeply kind sincerely mourned. His generous nature endeared him to his employes, who felt for him the tenderest regard. Those who were associated with him in business speak of him in the highest terms of praise, and had the utmost confidence in him. His aim in life was ever to uplift and benefit, and his record abounds with good deeds, which won him the love of young and old, rich and poor. His excellencies f character were many "and even his failings leaned to virtue's side." As a prudent man of affairs, he was a model of rare excellence. As a successful captain of the industrial development, his place was in the front rank. As a social companion, he was peerless; as a citizen, he was without reproach. As a husband and father, he was the type and embodiment of whatever is the truest and kindest and best in human conception. His home was the dearest spot on earth to him, and he could not do too much to enhance the happiness of his family.

Mrs. Bucher is left to mourn the loss of a devoted husband, while three children, listed, wife of W. J Poyser; Martin W., and Clara, wife of W. H. Shanafelt, share her deep bereavement.

We are pleased to present a portrait of Mr. Bucher on another page of this volume.

John married Emma Wikidal, daughter of Martin Wikidal and Unknown, on 11 Sep 1856. (Emma Wikidal was born in 1837 in Canton, Stark, OH,^{2 4} died in 1922 ⁴ and was buried in Canton: West Lawn Cemetery, Stark, OH ⁴.)