John R. Buchtel, 1820-1892. Akron, Ohio. Founder of Buchtel College

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John R. Buchtel. 1820 ~ 1892.

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FROM Wikipedia

John R. Buchtel (1820–1892) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He founded Buchtel College, which became The University of Akron. Buchtel High School, a public high school in Akron, Ohio, is named in his honor.

Buchtel was born on January 18, 1820, in Stark County, Ohio. He began his business interests in agriculture, acquiring a large amount of farmland in Stark County and in the state of Indiana. He then worked for Ball, Aultman, and Company, and led the development of the company's new factory in Akron, which became known as the Buckeye Mower and Reaper Company. When Buckeye Mower became independent, Buchtel served as its first president. He later became the general manager of the Akron Iron Company, and when it merged with several other firms to create the Columbus and Hocking Coal and Iron Company, he served as one of its vice-presidents. He was also an early investor in the rubber company of Dr. Benjamin F. Goodrich. In 1887, a stroke left him unable to work.

He died on May 23, 1892.

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FROM Find A Grave.com

Businessman. Co-founder, along with Lewis Miller, of the Buckeye Mower and Reaper Works in Akron, Ohio. He sponsored the construction of Buchtel College in Akron which opened in 1872. The College burned to the ground on December 20, 1899. The street in front of the building was re-named Buchtel Ave. The name Buchtel does not appear anywhere on the family plot. The main monument shows only a large "B" inscribed at the top, and the grave stones show only the first names.

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Elizabeth Davidson Buchtel

Wife of John R. Buchtel. They were married in January of 1844.

BY Angela Abel

The marriage represented a union of temperaments and a commitment to social improvement. It is difficult to trace Buchtel's involvement in antebellum reform groups. By the Civil War, however, she was involved with the Akron Soldiers Aid Society. She never held a position in the association, but in 1864 she volunteered for the small committee that solicited donations of machinery, manufactures and mechanical products for Cleveland's giant Sanitary Fair. The appointment was an ideal one. Her husband, who raised enlistments and bounty money during the Civil War, was also the agent of the Canton Buckeye Reaper and Mower Works. After the Civil War, she and her husband dedicated much time and energy to the founding of a new college in the city. The Buchtels, both members of the Universalist Church, lobbied to get the proposed Universalist College for the city and then donated much time and money to the enterprise. In the end, the new college (now The University of Akron) was named after John Buchtel. After the Civil War, the Buchtel name was synonymous with temperance. In 1874, John Buchtel ran for secretary of state on the Prohibition ticket. That same year, Elizabeth Buchtel signed the call for a temperance meeting at the First Methodist Church. That meeting led to the now famous Temperance Crusade of 1874 where Akron women visited saloons and prayed in the streets in an attempt to close down the liquor traffic in the city. At the age of 59, Elizabeth Buchtel was paralyzed. She died in Akron in 1891.

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Death of John Buchtel. John R. Buchtel's Father

Akron {OH} Daily Democrat, Wednesday, December 26, 1894, p. 1

John Buchtel, one of Akron's oldest and best known citizens, died at his home, 714 East Market st., at noon today, of exhaustion, aged 97 years 1 month and 19 days. Mr. Buchtel had been in feeble health for some time. The deceased was born in Center county, Pa in 1797; came to Ohio in 1816, settling in Coventry township. In 1821 he was married to Miss Catherine Richards of Green, who bore him five children three daughters and two sons, Wm. and John R., the only surviving son being Wm. Buchtel, the president of the board of city commissioners. The funeral will be held from the house at 2 o clock Friday afternoon."

Akron {OH} Beacon Journal, Wednesday, December 26, 1894, p. 1

"Exactly at noon to-day death claimed one of Akron's oldest and most respected citizens, John Buchtel. The deceased was the father of City Commissioner William Buchtel and it was at his residence, 714 East Market street that he died. Mr. Buchtel had been ailing for some time and although his death has been momentarily expected the news was received by everyone with expressions of regret. , Deceased was 97 years, 1 month and 19 days old and was born in Myers township, Center county. Pa., Nov. 6, 1797. He came with his parents to Ohio in 1816, settling in Coventry township. He later removed to Green township and here it was that he met his wife, Miss Catharine Richards, to whom he was married Jan. 18, 1824. Mr. and Mrs. Buchtel pluckily began their wedded life in a log cabin, until a more comfortable place could be secured. Their life was indeed a happy one. Five children were to them as the fruits of their marriage, two of whom..." (article obliterated).

Akron {OH} Beacon Journal, Saturday, December 29, 1894, p. 2

"LAID TO REST. Funeral Services Over the Remains of the Late John Buchtel. The last sad rites over the remains of the late John Buchtel were conducted yesterday afternoon from the residence of his son William on East Market street. The obsequies were conducted by Rev. Seager of the Calvary Evangelical Church and were very impressive He spoke of the deceased in the highest terms and referred to his many sterling qualities in a very able manner. The remains were laid to rest in Glendale. Messrs. John W. Baker, Henry Young, J. B. Woods, Phillip Bock, J. A. Kohler, Esq., and Heppert acted as pall bearers."

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Mother:"Death of Mrs. John Buchtel

The Summit County Beacon, Akron, OH, Wednesday, July 13, 1881, p. 5

From Monday's Daily Beacon.

This venerable and estimable woman died at her late residence near the city, last evening at 9 o'clock. Mrs. Buchtel, whose maiden name was Catherine Richards, was born near Hagerstown, Md., April 14, 1796. In 1809 her parents moved into Stark County - then a wilderness country, difficult of access - and subjected themselves willingly to the hardships incidental to the settlement of a new section. On the 18th of January, 1819, she was married to John Buchtel. Five children, two sons and three daughters, were born to them, of whom three are now living, John R. and William Buchtel, and Mrs. Mary Wright. In 1835, Mrs. Buchtel united with the Evangelical Church, and through many years or varied experience of mortal trial and trouble, exemplified in an eminent degree, the power and graces of the Christian religion. 'Her children rise up and call her blessed ; her husband also praiseth her.' In June, 1874, by an accidental fall, she fractured her hip, and since that time has been helpless and a great sufferer; but patient and resigned she trusted in the great goodness of her Heavenly Father, and while she hoped for release, waited without murmuring for her change to come. The long-desired summons was joyfully heard, and she peacefully passed to her rest. 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord!' Her funeral will take place from her late residence, at the junction of Tallmadge avenue and Dayton street, at 4 o'clock to-morrow (Tuesday) afternoon. E."

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More Family History:

The Pennsylvania-German magazine, Vol. VIII, published in Lebanon, PA in 1907, pp. 589-594 has John the son of Peter and Margaret (Kreamer) Buchtel.

"Peter married Margaret Kreamer, sister of Abraham Kreamer, who was married to Peter's sister, Maria Buchtel. Peter lived on the farm later owned by the Jonathan Walker heirs, about one and one half miles southwest of Rebersburg. A member of the Buchtel family in Akron, Ohio, sent the following sketch of him several years ago:

Peter Buchtel settled on what is now the John Kepler farm, near East Liberty, in 1816. Summit County at that time was an almost unbroken wilderness. The nearest trading-place was Canton, 18 miles away, whither supplies were brought from Pittsburgh in wagons. To Canton members of the Buchtel family had to go whenever they wanted anything from a plug of tobacco to a hogshead of molasses. Peter Buchtel was a great hunter. He looked upon the woods in that country as his own, and it made him angry if any one settled within 5 miles of his home. He was an expert bee-hunter and kept his family well supplied with honey, as well as venison, which were two of the staple articles of food. The story connected with his death will probably never be learned. He left at the first outbreak of hostilities in the Harrison campaign and was never seen or heard of again. William Buchtel has spent considerable time and money in trying to get some trace of his grandfather, but without avail. No one was ever heard of who could throw any light on his fate."