John Edwin Bicher ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}

   FamilySearch ID: L61K-ZSZ.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1900 in Carthage, Hamilton, OH. ⁷ The 1900 census recorded owning the home at 129 Second Street: Edwin Bichus [sic], traveling salesman, 42, born May 1858, living with wife Sarah, 42, Apr 1858. They were married for 19 years and she birthed 5 children, all alive in 1900. Living with them were: son John, clerk hardware,18, May 1882; son Earl, 13, Feb 1887; son Roy, 8, Oct 1891; son Herbert, 6, Jan 1894; and daughter Isabel, 4, May 1896. Also in their home was mother-in-law Mary Ritt, widow, 64, Jun 1835, who was married 46 years ago and had birthed 2 children; and brother-in-law Warren Ritt, painter, 45, Oct 1854. Everyone and their parents were born in Ohio except Edwin's and Mary's fathers in Pennsylvania.

2. Census in 1910 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, OH. ⁹ The 1910 census recorded renting at 2913 Jefferson Avenue: John E. Bicher, 28, living with wife Lillian, 28. They were born in Ohio as were John's parents. Lillian's parents were born in Germany. They were married for 3 years and had no children.

3. Newspaper: Daily Times: Bridge Out; Autoist Drowns, 27 Sep 1913, New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas, OH. ⁸ Bellefontaine, O., Sept. 27. -- A bridge, out since the March flood, unprotected by lights and unbarricaded since cattle knocked down the fence a few days ago, received an automobile containing three citizens of Middletown, O., near Bellefontaine, resulting in the death of J. E. Bicher, aged thirty-eight, a merchant, and the serious injury of George Mantz, a mail carrier. Bicher was drowned in two feet of water, held down by the automobile. Mantz has a fracture of the skull, four ribs and the collarbone broken and probably will die. D. M. Adams, a merchant, also of Middletown, owner and driver, escaped practically unhurt.

4. Obituary: Cincinnati Enquirer: Deaths: John E. Bicher on 28 Sep 1913 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, OH. ³ Deaths. Bicher--John E. Bicher, beloved husband of Lillian E. Bicher (nee Thiele). Suddenly, Friday, September 26, in his 32d year. Funeral from residence of his parents, 223 W. Second, at Carthage, Monday, September 29, at 1 p. m. Interment at Vine Street Cemetery. Friends invited.

5. Newspaper: Butler County Democrat: John E. Bicher Dead; Middletown News., 2 Oct 1913, Hamilton, Butler, OH. ¹⁰
It was John E. Bicher, 38, proprietor of the variety store at 214 Malvern avenue and not George Mantz, the mail carrier of 908 East Third street who was killed in the automobile accident near Bellefontaine Friday morning. Mr. Mantz, however, is suffering from a fracture of the skull, a broken collar bone and two broken ribs and is in a serious condition. D. M. Adams of 1039 Supering street was also injured.
According to a dispatch from Bellefontaine the party was motoring in Indian lake when they drove through an open bridge.
Bicher was caught under the machine and drowned. Mantz was also pinned under the heavy machine but was released by Adams. Adams was thrown clear of the machine.
Running at a high rate of speed shortly before 4 o'clock Friday morning and without a single warning, the machine tore through a rudely constructed fence and into the river.
No warning lights were out at the bridge, and Adams, who was driving the car, did not see the fence built across the pike as a protection until they were upon it.
A crash followed. All was darkness. The machine crashed through the open space, turned over and fell into the water. Bicher was held down in two feet of water by the weight of the heavy auto, and drowned.
Adams, who is thought to be internally injured, worked with all the strength left to remove the heavy machine from Bicher's body, but could not. He carried Mantz to a dry spot on the bank and, after walking a long distance, reached a farm house.
Adams and Bicher were carried to the farm house, which is about five miles from Bellefontaine. A call was sent to this city for medical aid, and Dr.s Hagner and Henning responded. Bicher was pronounced dead and was removed to the undertaking parlors of Lenard & Wichwoltz.
It was found that Mantz was suffering from a fractured skull, broken collar bone and two broken ribs. The physicians hold no hope for his recovery.
Bicher, Mantz and Adams departed from the city Thursday night at 4 o'clock for Indian lake park to fish and hunt. They intended to go direct to the lake and expected to reach their destination at daybreak.
News of the accident reached Middletown Friday morning. Mrs. Lillian Bicher was notified of her husband's death by Roy Bicher, his brother, who is employed at the store.
Mrs. Mantz was in Cincinnati at the time, visiting relatives. She received news of the accident and immediately left for Bellefontaine.
Mantz has been connected with the local post office for the past twenty three years. He was formerly employed as printer at the Journal. He was well known in this city, having lived here during his entire life.
As Mantz was on his vacation, the three men decided Thursday to make a trip to Indian lake to fish and hunt. With them they took fishing tackle and guns, fully intending to stay until late Sunday night.
Bicher is survived by a widow, Mrs. Lillian Bicher, and two brothers, Roy Bicher employed at the store, and Earl Bicher, of Hamilton. The remains will be brought to Middletown by relatives.
Adams' condition is more serious that at first reported. It was announced that he will be removed to his home in this city.

6. Newspaper: Marion Star: Supreme Court Reviews Bicher Case, 23 Dec 1916, Marion, Marion, Ohio, United States. ¹¹ QUESTION ON ROADS IN SUPREME COURT
Matter of Repairing State Roads Is Submitted.
Columbus, Dec. 23. The supreme court today was asked to decide whether county commissioners are compelled to keep state roads in repair. This request was made by the Logan county commissioners, who asked the court to review a case in which the appellate court of that county allowed Lillian Bicher damages against the commissioners for the death of her husband. Bicher's automobile went over a state road barricade which had replaced a bridge washed away by the March, 1813, flood.

7. Newspaper: Lima Times Democrat: Lillian Bicher Awarded $3,500, 26 Mar 1917, Lima, Allen, OH. ^{4 12} LOGAN COUNTY FORCED TO SETTLE FOR A LIFE
BELLEFONTAINE, O., March 26 \emdash A verdict for $3,500 was awarded to Mrs. Lillian Bicher of Middletown, against Logan county, in common pleas court here for the death of her husband, John B. Bicher, who was killed here in 1913. Bicher's automobile plunged into $toney creek after a bridge had been washed out by the flood. George Mantz also of Middletown was killed in the same accident, and George Adams was injured.

John married Lillian Elisa C. M. Thiele, daughter of John Henry Thiele Jr. and Hermina Schneidthorst. (Lillian Elisa C. M. Thiele was born on 5 Feb 1880 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, OH,¹³ died on 9 Jan 1927 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, OH ^{5 14 15} and was buried on 12 Jan 1927 in Cincinnati: Vine Street Hill Cemetery, Hamilton, OH ^{4 15}.)