Jonas Franklin Bucher Sr. ^{1 2 3}

   Other names for Jonas were Franklin Bucher ^{2 4 5} and J. Frank Bucher.⁸

   FamilySearch ID: GZ4S-3KJ.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1850 in Chillisquaque Twp., Northumberland, PA. ² Nicholas Bucher, 42, farmer, is living with Eliza, 38; Samuel, 22; John, 21; Sarah, 16; Franklin, 15; and Catherine, 11. Next door is Catherine Bachman, 62, living alone, who is presumed to be Nicholas' mother-in-law. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania, including Nicholas who in other Census years is listed with a birthplace of Switzerland. Nicholas' farm is valued at $1,500.

2. Census in 1860 in Chillisquaque Twp., Northumberland, PA. ¹⁰ Nicholas Bucher, age 54, farmer, is living with Eliza, 48; Sally, 28; Catherine, 18; and John, 30, farm hand. Nicholas' farm is valued at $5,000 and his possessions worth $800.

Living next door is his son, Samuel, 32, laborer; Rebecca, 25; William H., 1; Charles F., 2; and another son of Nicholas', Franklin, 25, a school teacher.

Everyone is born in Pennsylvania except Nicholas whose birthplace is listed as Germany. The post office is Milton.

3. He served in the military on 1 Nov 1862 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. ¹¹ Jonas Frank Bucher, 28, born 1834.
Enlistment Date: 1 Nov 1862, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Muster Date: 1 Nov 1862, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Regiment: 172nd Pennsylvania Drafted Militia, Captain James B. Roney's Company B
To Serve for 9 Months to 1 Aug 1863
Marched to Washington, D.C. arrived 4 Dec 1862
.

4. Census in 1870 in Turbot Twp., Northumberland, PA. ⁵ Franklin Bucher, blacksmith, age 32, was living with wife Adda, 28; Lizzie, 5; Mary 3; 9 months old in June, 1870. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office was Milton.

5. Census in 1880 in Milton, Northumberland, PA. ¹² In the North Ward of Milton, Jonas F. Bucher, blacksmith, age 46, was living with wife Adeline, 38; Lizzie, 14; Mary, 12; Clara, 10; John N., 8; Jennie M., 5; and Jonas F., 2. They and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

6. Fact: The town of Milton burned in the great fire, as described in "The History of Northumberland County" published in 1891., 14 May 1880, Milton, Northumberland, PA. ¹³ The great fire of Friday, May 14, 1880, was one of the most serious disasters that ever involved an inland town of the size and population of Milton. It originated in the framing shop of the Milton Car Works, just above Locust street, east of the canal and opposite D. Dinger's planing mill, and the alarm was given at fifteen minutes before twelve o'clock by the blowing of the whistles. The day was bright and clear, but a high wind prevailed, and, although when first discovered the fire had just begun, it was rapidly communicated by the combustible materials of the shops to the dry house and other buildings on the south; burning faggots were carried by the wind directly toward the business and residence portion of the town, and only a few minutes elapsed before several houses and the Lawson and Bickel & Bailey foundries were being rapidly consumed. By this time the alarm had called out the citizens, and heroic efPorts were being made to suspend the progress of the conflagration. The utter futility of their work became apparent when it was seen that the Reformed and Methodist churches were in flames, and with the increasing volume and velocity of the wind it became evident to the most sanguine that the work of the citizens was utterly inadequate; telegrams were sent to neighboring places for assistance, and the people, abandoning efforts at united resistance, turned to their houses to save, if possible, their most valuable effects. Families left their homes, carrying with them such things as could be hastily collected, or, in many instances, glad to escape with life and Hmb unimpaired. At one o'clock in the afternoon the entire district lying between Locust and Broadway had been consumed, except the west side of Arch and either side of Front above Walnut. The Academy of Music, Associate Reformed, Methodist, Reformed, Presbyterian, and Catholic churches, with a number of residences and stores and several factories, were in ashes.

The desolating element had also included in the theater of its activities that part of the town south of Broadway; and soon after the Reformed church was found to be in flames, fire was discovered in the post office building on the south side of Lincoln park, occupied by the Western "Union telegraph office, the Miltonian, etc. Thence the flames spread to the opposite side of Front street, and down that street on both sides as far as the bridge, where their progress in that direction was stayed by the action of the wind and the efforts of the firemen. In an easterly direction, from Front street to the railroad, and from Broadway to Lower Market, scarcely a building remained except a planing and flouring miU and a few small houses between the canal and railroad at the Mahoning street bridge. Prominent among the buildings destroyed in this part of the town were the Baptist, Lutheran, and Evangelical churches, the Milton National Bank building, the principal stores and hotels of the town, with a number of residences and industrial establishments. Of the business of the place but two small groceries and one drug store remained. In three hours one hundred twenty-five acres had been burned over, involving a loss of property aggregating in value two million and a quarter dollars, six hundred sixty-five buildings of all kinds were Consumed, and six hundred families were rendered homeless.

Immediate measures were taken for the relief and comfort of the destitute. A relief committee was formed, composed of Rev. S. H. Eeid, J. F. Bucher, George J. Piper, Robert Riddle, W. A. Schreyer, W. P. Dougal, J. M. Hedenberg, Alem Dieflenderf er, R. F. Wilson, C. C. Straub, C. H. Dougal, George W. Strine, Moses Chamberlin, 0. W. Tharp, Daniel Weidenhamer, J. F. Wolfinger, W. C. Lawson, A. Cadwallader, George Barclay, S. L. Finney, W. H. Weber, Cyrus Brown, Jacob Seydell, Frank Bound, and O. B. Nagle, by whom an appeal was issued to the country at large for assistance. This appeal met with a prompt response. Lewisburg and Williamsport were the first to send provisions; the next was a car from Harrisburg, and these, with wagon-loads from the adjoining farming region, supplied the immediate necessities of the people. On Saturday a consignment of tents was received from Harrisburg, and these afforded protection and temporary shelter. Cash contributions to the amount of eighty-seven thousand eight hundred nineteen dollars, nineteen cents were received from various cities and towns throughout Pennsylvania and adjoining States, and distributed among the sufferers by the fire under awards made by Benjamin S. Bentley, James Gamble, and Samuel Linn, masters in chancery appointed by the court of common pleas of Northumberland county, August 12, 1880. The expenses of this commission were deducted from the relief fund, and a small balance, less than a hundred dollars, was placed to the credit of the borough for the benefit of the poor. Assistance from outside sources was also received in the rebuilding of churches, and the legislature made an appropriation to aid the directors in erecting a school building. While the town was thus almost completely demolished, its resources remained substantially unimpaired, and under the energetic efforts of its citizens the work of rebuilding was promptly begun and continued, with such results to the general material, religious, and educational interests of the community as need no amplification here.

7. Obituary: Sunbury Weekly News on 19 Sep 1890 in Sunbury, Northumberland, PA. ⁸ J. FRANK BUCHER DEAD
Ex-County Treasurer J. Frank Bucher, formerly of Milton, who has lately been living on his farm, died Monday morning. About a week since he was attacked by a paralytic stroke. Mr. Bucher held many offices of trust and was highly respected by a wide acquaintance. He was elected Treasurer of Northumberland County in 1881 by the Democratic party and filled the office with ability. He also served as School Director and Councilman and filled other municipal offices with credit. He was a member of Lodge No. 259, A. Y. M., and Henry Wilson Post, No. 129, G. A. R.

8. Obituary: Northumberland County Democrat on 25 Sep 1890 in Sunbury, Northumberland, PA. ⁹ Funeral of J. Frank Bucher. The funeral of the late Frank Bucher took place Thursday morning at 10 o'clock, from his late home in Chillisquaque Township. The interment was made in the Lower Cemetery at Milton. It was a very large funeral.

9. Book: History of Northumberland County, 1891. ¹
J. F. BUCHER, deceased, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, May 24, 1834. His father, Nicholas Bucher, was a native of Switzerland, and settled in Northampton county when a boy. He married Elizabeth Bachman, and in 1837 removed to Northumberland county, where he engaged in farming. He was a member of the Reformed church. He was the father of six children, five of whom are living: Samuel; John, of Milton; Sarah; J. F., and Catharine, wife of David Kohler.
The subject of this sketch received his education at the Lancaster and Milton schools, and at the age of eighteen years learned the blacksmith trade, which occupation he followed for some time. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-second Pennsylvania Volunteers as first lieutenant, serving nine months.
In 1868 he removed to Milton, where he worked at his trade until 1874. In 1886 he located upon the farm where his family now resides, and where his death occurred, September 15, 1890.
In 1864 he married Adeline, daughter of John Wolfe, by whom he had eight children: Elizabeth; Mary; Clara W.; John N.; Margaret J.; J. F.; Frederick B., and Adeline, deceased. He was a member of the F. & A.M. of Milton and the G.A.R. Politically he was a Democrat; he served in the offices of justice of the peace and auditor of the township, and was elected county treasurer in 1881, serving three years. Mr. Bucher was a member of the Reformed church, to which his family also adheres.

10. Newspaper: Miltonian, 14 Oct 1892, Milton, Northumberland, PA. AUDITORS NOTICE.
In the Orphans' Court of Northumberland County.
In re Estate of J. Frank Bucher, Deceased.
The undersigned Auditor, appointed by the said court to make and report distribution of the funds In the hands of W. H. Koch and John H.Cawley, administrators of J. Frank Bucher, deceased, as shown by their first and final account, to and amongst the persons legally entitled thereto will attend to the duties of this said appointment at his office in the Borough of Milton on Friday the 11th day of November, 1892, at 10 o'clock A, M.. when and where all partles interested must attend or be debarred from sharing in said funds.
C. G. VORIS, Auditor.

Jonas married Adeline Wolfe, daughter of John Wolfe and Elizabeth Smith, on 18 Feb 1864 in Chillisquaque, Northumberland, PA, United States.¹ (Adeline Wolfe was born on 13 Mar 1842 in Kelly Twp., Union County, PA,^{5 6 14} died on 24 Feb 1901 in Chillisquaque, Northumberland, PA, United States ¹⁴ and was buried in Milton: Harmony Cemetery, Northumberland, PA ¹⁴.)