William L. Bucher ^{2 3 4}

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1880 in Columbia, Lancaster, PA. ³ Frederick Bucher, groceryman, 49, was living with wife Louisa, 39. He and his parents were born in Wurtemburg, she and the children in Pennsylvania. With them: Freddie, 12; Melea, 10; Wellie, 7, and Mary, 18. Also, Anna Meisenbach, 17, servant.

2. Census in 1900 in Columbia, Lancaster, PA. ⁵ The 1900 census recorded living at 603 Locust: Fred Bucher, landlord, 69, born Sep 1830 widowed, living with his children: Mary, 38, June 1861, single; Fred C., physician, 32, Mar 1868, married for 4 years; William L., druggist, 27, Mar 1873, single; and grandson A. Gordon Grove, 10 months, Aug 1898. Also in the home are servants Lottie M. Lintner, 14; Annie W. Shaub, 25 and her daughter Kate M. Hartman, 4. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania except Fred in Germany. His parents were also born in Germany. Fred immigrated in 1853 and was naturalized (a USA citizen).

3. Occupation: owner of two drug stores in 1903 in Columbia, Lancaster, PA. ^{2 3}

4. Residence: in 1914 in Columbia, Lancaster, PA. ⁶ The Farmer's Directory of Lancaster County for 1914 listed:
Pages 50-51:
Bucher, W. L. druggist B and Ind tels 403 Locust St Columbia.

5. Book: Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography: Bucher, William L., 1914. ¹
BUCHER, William L.,
Pharmacist, Enterprising Business Man.

Columbia, Pennsylvania, the scene of the professional activity of William L. Bucher, was likewise the place of labor of his honored father, Frederick Bucher, who founded his line of the German family in Pennsylvania.

Frederick Bucher, son of Joseph M. and Barbara (Bernhauer) Bucher, was born in Deggingen, Wurttemberg, Germany, September 18, 1830, and two years after attaining manhood came to the United States, soon after his arrival making his home in Columbia, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. His first employment was in the hardware store of Mr. Rumple, and he afterward entered the service of Henry Phaler, with whom he was associated until 1860. In this year he formed a business partnership with J. W. Cottrell, six years afterward embarking independently in grocery and hardware dealings, which he conducted successfully for more than twenty years. In 1857 Mr. Bucher made an extended trip throughout the South and West for the purpose of discovering a new home, but finding no location that suited him better as a permanent place of residence than Columbia returned to his home and there passed his remaining years. While maintaining the business previously mentioned, Frederick Bucher conducted important dealings in real estate, and under his personal supervision many residences were erected in Columbia. Among the other business interests that he contracted in concerns operating in the locality of his home were membership in the board of directors of the Keeley Stove Company and the treasurer ship of the Columbia Laundry and Machine Company, both of Columbia. He was a business man, keen and shrewd, and in long continued dealings with his fellows held closely to the most honorable rules of personal and business conduct, his upright life winning admiration and respect from friends and associates. Frederick Bucher was a lifelong Republican, and was called to the service of Columbia in 1884 as a member of the City Council, the following year becoming president of that body. In fraternal life he was prominent and popular, in 1856 affiliating with Susquehanna Lodge, No. 80, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, passing all of its chairs, in 1874 becoming a member of the Artisans' Order of Mutual Protection, and also belonged to Lancaster Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He had a short and uneventful military record, on September 13, 1863, enlisting in Company A, Second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out of the service on September 25, 1863.

Frederick Bucher married, in 1860, Louisa Bartch, daughter of Michael Bartch, of Chestnut Hill, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and had issue: Mary; Frederick C, married Estelle Brant; Emily, married Dr. J. W. Grove ; William L., of whom further.

William L. Bucher, son of Frederick and Louisa (Bartch) Bucher, was born in Columbia, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1873, and as a youth attended the public schools of Columbia entering, upon reaching his decision for his life work, the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He received his Graduate of Pharmacy from this institution in the class of 1894, and since that date has been proprietor of a pharmacy in Columbia, at one time conducting two stores in this place. His present business is confined to one store, in which he handles the well-known Rexall preparations, and his establishment, modern in every particular and splendidly managed, occupies foremost place among Columbia's pharmacies. It is known as the Central Drug Store, and while Mr. Bucher devotes his entire time thereto, sparing nothing to add to its attractiveness and usefulness, he yet finds time to serve as director of the Keeley Stove Company and of the Columbia Manufacturing Company. Mr. Bucher in 1907 caused to be erected a building of modern design and construction, known as the Bucher Building, containing within its four stories offices, stores, and lodge rooms, which is the finest structure of its kind in Columbia. Mr. Bucher, is, like his father, widely known fraternally, and in the Masonic order belongs to lodge, chapter, commandery, and shrine, also holding membership in the Artisans' Order of Mutual Protection.

Mr. Bucher married, in 1906, Emma Hess Fry, daughter of Phares Fry, a tobacco dealer and cigar manufacturer of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Bucher are the parents of William Lewis, born July 16, 1909, and Mary Louise, born July 31, 1913.

William married Emma Hess Fry, daughter of Phares Fry and Unknown, in 1906.¹