John G. Bubach, Princeton, was born in Harrisburg, Penn., April 15, 1818. He is the son of John G. and Elizabeth (Rickel) Bubach. The father died in Pennsylvania during our subject’s childhood. The mother died in Bureau County, Ill. The Bubach family, which is of German descent, came to Lancaster City, Penn., in 1750.
While young, our subject removed to near Lancaster City, Penn., and lived there till the fall of 1839. During his youth he spent four years in an apprenticeship at the tailor’s trade. In 1839 he came to Wayne county, Ohio, and worked at his trade in various places, till the spring of 1846, when he came to Princeton, Ill., with Mr. William Carse, and clerked for Carse a short time and then began in business for himself, in partnership with Justin S. Olds.
Later Mr. Bubach bought his partner’s interest in the business, and continued alone till 1853, when he engaged in the nursery business, and has continued in the same since. In later years he has abandoned the heavy nursery stock, and has given his time and attention to the growing of small fruits for market, and plants and vines for sale. Strawberries, raspberries, Snyder and other varieties of blackberries, he makes a specialty. Mr. Bubach has over 500 varieties of seedling strawberries, which he has scientifically originated. These he tested from single plants in 1883, and found many excellent varieties.
He was united in marriage in Princeton, to Miss Lucinda W. Phelps, May 1, 1848. She was born January 26, 1830, in Northampton, Mass., and is the daughter of Ebenezer and Anna (Wright) Phelps, who came to Springfield, Ill., in 1831, and to Bureau County in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Bubach have three daughters, viz.: Florence A., May V. and Alice, who is the wife of Douglas Judd, of Brooklyn, Iowa.
In politics Mr. Bubach is Republican, and is a strong temperance man.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885