Samuel G. Bucher, a well known former Woodland township resident, met with a tragic death near Nampa, Idaho, last Wednesday. He was helping to repair a barn and while on the roof, he fell a distance of about fifteen feet, alighting on his head and shoulders, sustaining a fractured skull. He was rushed to a hospital where he passed away about two hours later. He never regained consciousness. He was aged 65 years.
It is supposed by those who were closely associated with him, that he made a mis-step, due to impaired vision, as he could see with only one eye and very little out of it.
Mr. Bucher left Portis, Kansas on June 8th in company with his nephew Wilbur Blickenstaff. They visited his son Floyd and family in Denver, Colorado, and spent several days in Yellowstone Park. On June 15th they arrived in Nampa, Idaho, where they attended the annual conference of the Church of the Brethren, which was in session June 16th to 22nd. After the close of the conference, they worked on the farm among friends, he having lived there a year after the death of his wife in 1932. Working among friends was part of their plans before starting their return trip to Astoria to attend the Bucher reunion which will be held August 15th.
The remains were brought to Galesburg, accompanied by Wilbur Blickenstaff. Floyd Bucher joined him at Cheyenne, Wyo. Carl Shawgo, C. G., H. S., Ralph and Elgin Bucher and Mrs. Annie Blickenstaff met them at Galesburg Sunday morning.
Mr. Bucher had a large acquaintance in this section. For many years he was interested in fruit growing on the Woodland Fruit Farm east of Astoria. He was also manager of the telephone exchanges of Astoria and Moulton, Iowa and took an active part in church activities of the Church of the Brethren.
Rev. Samuel G. Bucher, eldest son of Elder Cyrus S. and Leah Gibble Bucher, was born near Reistville, Pa., June 18, 1872. At the age of ten he came with his parents to Astoria, Ill., near which place he has made his home the greater part of his life.
October 7, 1894 he was united in marriage with Mary Elgin, who preceded him in death Nov. 4, 1932. To this union ten children were born, two of which died in infancy. Those surviving are: Mrs. Fanny Becker, Glendora, Calif., Floyd of Denver, Colo., Mrs. Bessie Gruber of Astoria, Henry of Waterloo, Elgin of Mt. Morris, Ralph of Bradford, Mrs. Clara McDermott and Mrs. Fern Ketcham, both of Canton, who mourn the loss of a kind and affectionate father.
Others mourning his departure are three brothers, Cyrus G., Harvey S. and Ezra G., and seven sisters, Mrs. Mary Wickert, Mrs. Lydia Bucher, Mrs. Ida Senger, Mrs. Sarah Bubb, Mrs. Annie Blickenstaff, Mrs. Fanny Stambaugh and Mrs. Lizzie Lam and sixteen grandchildren.
On Nov. 28, 1894 he with his wife united with the Church of the Brethren. Sept. 11, 1900 he was elected to the ministry and Nov. 17, 1919 ordained to the eldership. He served a number of years in the Woodland and Astoria churches, also preaching at Liberty, Sheldons Grove, Bluff City and other points. He served the North Solomon Church of Kansas as pastor, closing his pastorate there just before starting on his western trip on which he was accompanied by his nephew, Wilbur Blickenstaff, and attended the annual conference of the Church of the Brethren, which in his own words “was the best he ever attended,” and he attended a number of them. His ministry was largely free, that is, without remuneration as far as money is concerned, but pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling, of God in Christ Jesus. He was conscientious, congenial and optimistic.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Astoria Church of the Brethren, conducted by Rev. E. F. Caslow of Virden, assisted by Rev. I. J. Gibson. Interment in the Woodland cemetery.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus