JOSEPH BUCHERT, proprietor hotel and farmer, Jackson Township, a native of Dearborn County, born in 1832, is a son of Peter and Mary (Egby) Buchert, he a native of Germany and she of France. They were married in France, and in 1826, with a family of five children, immigrated to America, landing at New York; thence by team came to Cincinnati where they remained one year, and in the fall of 1827 came to Dearborn County, Ind., and purchased forty-six acres of land on the southeast quarter of Section 30, in Jackson Township, upon which he resided through life. When he located upon this land there was but little cleared, upon which was a log-cabin into which they moved and commenced their pioneer work. Their first milling was done on the Whitewater, corn-bread and meat being their principal articles of food. Subsequently he purchased more land, erected a good log-house, and before his death he had a good farm and comfortable home. After Mr. Buchert had purchased his land and moved on to it with his family he had $4.75 left, all the money he had in the world, and no way to get any more but to make from the land, then all in the woods — a condition which would discourage most men of the present day. But the result of his life proved him equal to the undertaking. The first plow he had he brought on his back from Cincinnati; also the first grindstone he brought in the same way. He died in February, 1854, aged seventy-five years. His wife survived him and died September 24, 1874, aged eighty-three years. They were parents of eleven children. All grew to maturity, married and had families; six now living: Frances, now widow Miller; Joseph; Catharine, wife of Frank Sinderberger, residing in Cincinnati; Elizabeth, wife of M. Hoffrider, residing at Los Angeles, Cal.; Caroline, wife of Charles Schott, living in Shelby County, Ind., and Morton, also in Shelby County. The latter married and resided in Jackson Township until the spring of 1883, when he removed to Shelby County. In 1880 he was elected township trustee and had served three years. After he moved away his brother Joseph, was appointed to serve the balance of the unexpired term. Those deceased were Peter, Mary, who married Joseph Brandt; Anna, who married Lawrence Siefort, John and Terris, the latter married John Idoux. Peter, the eldest son, while young followed steam-boating from Cincinnati to New Orleans for several years. Subsequently he settled in Iowa, married and had two sons and one daughter. In 1853, in attempting to swim across Turkey River, when about the middle of the stream was seen to sink and was drowned, it is believed from cramps, as he was known to be an excellent swimmer. John, the other son deceased, married and had one child, Anna, who survived and is now the wife of Simon Zinser; John was a stove molder by trade. He was elected county commissioner in the fall of 1882, and was serving in that office at the time of his death. He died March 2, 1884, aged sixty-two years. Joseph, our subject, was the seventh child of his father, and was born in the log-cabin on his father's place and grew to manhood familiar with pioneer life. He remembers well when a child of running after the wild deer and turkeys, trying to catch them, and of the extensive forests that then covered almost the entire country. He was married, September 6, 1859, to Caroline Huber, born January 20, 1839, a daughter of Damas and Catharine Huber, he a native of Germany and she of France. They came to America in 1833. They had seven children, six now living: Caroline; Joseph; Catharine, wife of F. Houseman; Lewis; Louisa, wife of Christian Schook, and Anna, wife of F. Knoepfler. The one deceased, Mary, married M. Brisbo. By this union Mr. Buchert has had nine children, seven now living: Emma M.; Louisa E., wife of George H. Koenig; Frank J., Pauline A., Richard L., Martha A. and Edmond S. In the spring of 1859 Mr. Buchert purchased one acre of land upon which was a large building, part log and part frame. Here in partnership with John Medosch he opened out a hotel and grocery. Soon after Mr. Buchert bought the interest of his partner and continued the business till 1876, when he closed out his grocery stock, erected his present large and commodious brick house in which he has continued the hotel business to the present day. In 1856 Mr. Buchert made a trip to California and returned in 1859, prior to the purchase above mentioned. Mr. Buchert started in life with very little capital. Now he owns 111 acres of land and has one of the best and largest brick houses in Jackson Township, with other good improvements, the result of industry and a carefully conducted business.
FOOTNOTES: Source: Book "History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana" Page 734.