John Howe Bucher ^{1 2 3 4 5}

   Another name for John was John E. Bucher.⁶

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1850 in Peters Twp., Franklin, PA. ⁴ John C. Boocher, minister of the gospel, 45, was living with daughter Mary, 19; John H., student, 17; Joseph, student, 15; Henry, 14; Lydia, 11; Ann, 9; Ellen R., 7; Emma, 4. Also in the home: Henry Frey, 71; Catharine Wolfe, 64. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

2. Census in 1860 in Mifflinburg, Union, PA. ³ John C. Bucher, occupation "Reform Clergymen", age 56, is living with his children: Mary E., 28; John, 26, druggist; Mary, 25; Lydia C., 20; Anna, 18; Ellen R., 16; Emma, 14; and John, 2. Also in the home is Catherine Wolf, 64. All were born in Pennsylvania except Mary E., John, Lydia C., and Anna in Maryland, and the infant John in Illinois. John C. has no real estate and his possessions were worth $800. The post office was Mifflinsburg.

Since John C.'s wife died in 1847, the infant John born about 1858 in Illinois is probably a grandson.

3. Newspaper: Philadelphia Inquirer, 5 Jul 1876, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. ⁵ A TERRIBLE MISHAP.

AN EXPLOSION IN A DOWNTOWN DRUG STORE RESULTS IN THE KILLING OF FOUR MEN OUTRIGHT. - MORE VICTIMS OF FOURTH OF JULY PATRIOTISM.

One of the most singular and terrific explosions that has occurred in Philadelphia in years sent a thrill of horror through the lower wards of the city yesterday afternoon, it resulting in the death of four men and the wounding of another. The locality of this terrible and shocking mishap was in Dr. Bucher's drug store, at the northwest corner of Passyunk road and Moore street.

It seems that at an early hour in the afternoon, Dr. Henry F. Bucher, the proprietor of the establishment, and a drug clerk by the name of Bernard Kauseman, were engaged in the laboratory in the rear of the store manufacturing pyrotechnics for a private display of fireworks. Among other articles upon which they were engaged was a large quantity of colored fires. While compounding these the whole mass suddenly exploded with a startling force.

John H. Bucher, a brother of the proprietor, was standing engaged in watching the process of manufacture, and these three men received the full strength of the exploding combustibles. The flesh was literally torn from their bodies, which were hurled violently beneath the counter with such force as to break the boards. J. C. Bucher, the father of the doctor, was also watching his son at work, but, fortunately for himself, he stood some distance away, and had time to escape by a side door with only a slight burn upon one of his hands.

A resident in the vicinity by the name of William Young was entering the store to make a purchase when the explosion occurred, and he was blown into the street through a bulk window and thrown against a tree box with great violence. He clung to this box for a few minutes until some persons rushed to his assistance and carried him into an adjoining house, where he expired soon after. His body received a number of deep cuts from the broken glass, and the severance of a main artery in the right leg produced death.

The explosion fired the building, which was a three-story double brick, and in a short time it and its contents were completely destroyed, the charred walls only remaining. The loss by the disaster will amount to about $5000. A second alarm of fire was sent to the department, as the high wind that prevailed endangered the surrounding property. The flames were confined to the building in which they originated.

Mrs. Bucher, who at the time of the explosion was sitting in the second story of the dwelling part of the house, in the rear, was in great danger of death from fire and smoke. She was rescued by two citizens, who took her out of a window by the aid of a ladder.

Dr. Bucher's body was so terribly mutilated as to be utterly unrecognizable, and had it not been for the finding of a fused watch case in the pocket of his vest, his remains could not have been identified. He leaves a wife but no children. The clerk resided on Passyunk road, below Moore street, and was a widower with two children.

His charred remains were not discovered until last night. Young's home was the first house on Moore street, west of Passyunk road.

The scene of the occurrence was visited by hundreds of people during the afternoon and last night, and the accident itself was the topic that engaged universal public attention in the down town wards.

John married Mary Elizabeth Eby, daughter of George Eby and Dorothea Fritchey, on 10 Apr 1856. (Mary Elizabeth Eby was born in 1834 in , , PA and died on 27 May 1919.)