Christian Buechler
Christian Buechler was born in South Russia April 13, 1844. Christian entered into Schritel College, in Odessa, Russia, graduating in 1865. In February, 1867, he married Barbara Zumbaum, and they had three children: Maria, August, and Henry. In 1874, Christian brought his family to Yankton where he worked in a lumber yard. A month later he opened a small grocery store and bought a house & lot in the city (near Broadway and 15th Street).
After the hard winter of 1874, settlers (near the now Freeman area) were left facing starvation. One story of survival is told as follows. “In the spring of 1875 the head of one family in the settlement decided to make the journey to Yankton”
“With his oxen barely surviving the winter he set out on the three day journey. Within a few miles of Yankton the ox team gave out. The settler stopped at a farm for lodging and a meal, but no money to pay. The next day the man arrived in Yankton in search of flour. He found none and was about to give up hope when he met a German storekeeper named Christian Buechler. Buechler trusted the man, giving him a good supply of flour, groceries, and fifty cents to repay the farmer for lodging. The man soon returned to the settlement and the colony survived. Soon after an appeal was made to the Relief Committee and 1,000 sacks of flour were distributed from Yankton for the needy.”
Around 1881, Christian moved his grocery store (20 by 50 feet) to Freeman (Schamber Store site) on a hayrack. This was the first business in Freeman. In 1881 brothers George and John Schamber bought the store. In 1883 Christian Buechler and John Gross built a Hotel & Saloon (Merchants State Bank site) operating until 1888. In 1885 Christian established the Bank of Freeman (Laber’s Meat Market site). In 1894 Christian started a mercantile business which lasted until 1901. In 1896 he purchased the grist mills of Freeman and ran a well-equipped elevator to buy and ship grain. In 1901 Christian bought back his building from the Schambers. Christian (the German storekeeper) is known as the “Father of Freeman” because he was very involved in the town’s development. Christian Buechler passed away in 1904 at the age of 61.
John Gross
John Gross was born in southern Russia, June 1st, 1860. He came to America in 1874 with his brothers and made his way to Yankton. John had 15 cents to his name but with a self-reliant spirit he was successful. He was employed by Christian Buechler and soon became partner in the grocery store. John came to Freeman when Christian moved his business to town. John’s niece Mary was the first baby born in Freeman. In 1883 John and Christian constructed Gross Hotel & Saloon. Christian left the business in 1888 and John ran it until 1902 when he bought Merchants State Bank. In February, 1888, John Gross married Miss Lydia Jans, they had six children; Ciara, Louisa, Amelia, Annetta, Henry, and Leona. In 1905 John started Freeman Nursery (east end of Sixth Street) which contained 25 acres of fruit, shade, and ornamental trees. John’s wife Lydia passed away in 1918. John Gross worked with the farming and cattle industry owning 2,400 acres of land. John passed away in 1959.