FREDERICK BUKER, of section 19, Warner Township, Clark County, was born in Holzhausen, Prussia, September 13, 1840, the son of Hermann Buker (deceased), also a native of Germany. The latter brought his family to the United States in the spring of 1847, settling in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, and at that time there were but two stores in the village of that name. They could find no shelter, but made booths of brush until they could build a cabin. They settled in the wilderness ten miles northwest of Sheboygan, in what is now the town of Herman. Wild animals and Indians were numerous, but the latter were not troublesome, and often traded with the family. They were the parents of eleven children, five of whom still survive Frederick, Emelia, Conrad, Henry and Mary but the last three are Mrs. Buker's children by a subsequent marriage.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and received a limited education in the public schools of his native country. He was a soldier in the late ware, in Company C, Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving three years. He was in the battle of Saline Bottom, where, with nine others, he stood and fought until the nine were killed and wounded, leaving him alone. The Rebels had six men to on Union man, but the latter came out victorious. He was also in many other engagements, and at the surrender of Mobile, where 263 guns were taken from the Rebels in one day. He came out without a scratch, except as a ball grazed his right ear and burned it, but had several holes shot through his clothing. Mr. Buker's company was composed mostly of Germans, and some of them could neither read nor write English, and he wrote many letters for them to their friends at home.

After the war Mr. Buker resumed farming in Sheboygan County, which he continued until the fall of 1873, when he came to this county, settling in Warner Township, which has since been his home. It was then a dense woods, but he cleared thirty-five acres on section 24, range 3 west. In 1875 he settled on his present farm of 400 acres, 110 of which he has since cleared. Mr. Buker has been Assessor of his town four years Chairman of the Town Board three years, and in both of these offices did excellent work for the people.

He was married December 22, 1865, to Charlotte Sharper, and they have had seven children, five of whom are now living, vis: Fred W., Edwin H., Amelia, George and Berth, all of whom are at home. The family are members of the German Reformed (Immanuel) Church. Politically Mr. Buker is a Republican, and socially a member of the A. O. U. W., Sons of Hermann, and also Select Knights.