Dr. Isaac Reily Bucher ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10}

  Noted events in his life were:

• Book: A Honeymoon in Vienna, 1898-1899. ** ANNOUNCEMENT OF BOOK REVIEW **

A HONEYMOON IN VIENNA, 1898-1899
By Mary Leah Christmas

A review of A Honeymoon in Vienna, 1898-1899, has just been published in the fall issue of the Historical Review of Berks County (PA). The book, published earlier this year, is based on the honeymoon diary of Vara Kalbach Bucher, the great-grandmother of Mrs. Christmas.

The review, by Barbara R. Goda of the Historical Society of Berks County, touches on what brought Dr. and Mrs. Hiester Bucher to Vienna during the time of Mark Twain's residence. The Buchers would meet Mark Twain, Clara Clemens, and Theodor Leschetizky at the home of the U.S. Ambassador on Thanksgiving Day, 1898; and Goda makes note of the gaffe by Mrs. Bucher that would unwittingly fuel Mark Twain's essay, "Diplomatic Pay and Clothes."

The Buchers lived in Vienna from October 1898 to March 1899, and the reviewer writes that, "while many entries in the diary are short and describe the routine of daily life, others provide insight into the political regime under Emperor Franz Joseph and still others describe cultural traditions..." Extensive annotations in the book also note the people and places the Buchers had in common with Mark Twain.

The review pronounces the book "delightful" and "a good afternoon read."

A Honeymoon in Vienna, 1898-1899, is 98 pages, including four pages of photographs, and retails for $6.95. Copies are still available to Forum readers at the special price of $6.00 each from: Mary Leah Christmas, P.O. Box 1475, Dover, DE 19903-1475.

• Census, 1850, Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁷ Christian Bucher, 54, physician, is living with wife Mary, 47; Samuel, physician, 23; Susan, 20; Isaac, laborer, 17; Mary, 16, and Elizabeth, 4. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. Christian's house is valued at $3,000.

• Census, 1860, Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁹ Christian Bucher, physician, 64, was living with wife Mary, 56; Alfred, merchant, 29; Isaac, physician, 28; Elizabeth, 14; and Ellen Valentine, 10. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. Christian's real estate was worth $5850 and personal estate $300. Alfred's personal estate was 20,000. The post office was Myerstown.

• Census, 1870, Heidelberg Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹¹ Isaac Bucher, 38, physician, is living with wife Mary, 35; John C., 7; Hannah E., 5; and John B. Hiester, 72. Living next door by herself is Mary Bucher, age 66, presumed to be Isaac's mother Mary. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

• Book: Biographical Annals of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, 1904. ⁵
I. Reily Bucher, M.D., and old and well-known physician of Lebanon county, who has been located in the city of Lebanon since 1876, becoming one of her most esteemed citizens, was born August 22, 1832, in Schaefferstown, this county, a descendant of a long line of eminent physicians.

Dr. Benedict Bucher, the great-grandfather of Dr. Bucher, of Lebanon, with his brother, Hannes Bucher, came to America about 1750, from the Canton of Bern, Switzerland, and with many others of their countrymen, settled in Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pa. Dr. Benedict Bucher, the grandfather of Dr. I. Reily, perpetuated his father's name and fame, and was born August 7, 1759, in Cocalico township, Lancaster county, and studied his profession under his father. About 1780 he located in Lebanon township, Lancaster county, which is now Cornwall township, Lebanon county, and there practiced his profession, became prominent in local affairs, and on account of eminent ability and superior education, was called upon to fill many public offices. His death occurred May 1, 1830; his wife, Susanna Mohler, born January 29, 1764, died September 1, 1827.

Dr. Christian Bucher, son of Dr. Benedict (2), was born in Cornwall township, Lebanon county, April 16, 1796, and died December 22, 1860. His marriage was to Mary Valentine, and they reared these children: Dr. Samuel, who located at Cedarville, Ill., where he died; Susan, who married Henry Houck, of Lebanon; Dr. Alfred; Mary Ann, who married Frank H. Goshert, of Lebanon; and Dr. Isaac Reily, or Lebanon.

Dr. Bucher was educated in the common schools of Schaefferstown, and during the winter of 1850-51 he attended the Strasburg Academy in Lancaster county. In 1852 he made a trip to Minnesota, which was then a Territory, but soon after went to his brother Samuel, who had removed to Cedarville, Ill., and was there engaged in the practice of medicine. Accepting a position as clerk in a store at Buena Vista, Ill., a village near Cedarville, he remained for a short time, but evidently inherited instincts and tastes urged him to enter the professional world, and he became a student of medicine under his brother, Dr. Bucher, at Cedarville. During the summer of 1853, he engaged in clerking in a wholesale and retail store at Peru, Ill., but in the following winter resumed his studies at Cedarville. In the spring of 1854 he took a walking trip through the State of Iowa, working his way by the performance of small jobs as he went along, and in the fall of the same year returned to his birthplace, and continued his medical studies under his eminent father. The winters of 1856 and 1857 were spent in attendance upon lectures at the Pennsylvania Medical College, and he was there graduated in the latter year. Upon his return home he took charge of his father's practice, and continued to reside at Schaefferstown until 1876, when he removed to Lebanon, where he has ever since remained, becoming both professionally and personally a most valued citizen.

On October 2, 1860, Dr. Bucher was married to Mary E. Heister, who was born May 2, 1835, in the residence now occupied by Dr. Bucher, and died in 1897. To this union eight children were born, the survivors being: Dr. John C. of Lebanon; Dr. Heister, of Reading, who married Vara Kalbach, and has one daughter, Mary Elizabeth; and May and Paul, twins, born in 1876. In his sons he sees his name and profession honorably perpetuated.

Dr. Bucher has, in every sense of the work, been a successful physician, being a man of large sympathy, calm discrimination and much tact and personal magnetism, and this, combined with the experience of many years and devotion to his profession, has enabled him to not only amass worldly possessions, but also to gain his fellow-citizens' confidence and esteem. Admirably, fitted to represent his profession, he has been highly honored by the various bodies, and in 1897 was called upon to become the president of the Lehigh Valley Medical Society. Much credit is due his efforts in the organization of the Lebanon County Medical Society, one of the representative bodies of the State. Since 1884 he has been a member of the American Medical Association, and with the ability and dignity he has represented the same at the conventions held in Cincinnati, Ohio; Nashville, Tenn.; Denver, Colo.; Nebraska; Baltimore, Md.; Washington, D.C.; and Atlantic City, N.J. His fraternal association is with the Masons, Mt. Lebanon Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Chapter and Commandery, of which latter he was treasurer. The Doctor's political connection is with the Democratic party. He has served as a member of the Lebanon city school board, and also on the board of health.

Isaac married Mary Elizabeth Heister, daughter of John B. Heister and Unknown, on 2 Oct 1860.¹ (Mary Elizabeth Heister was born on 2 May 1832 in Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, USA ^{3 4} and died in 1897 in Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, USA ^{4 12}.)