Christian H. Buhl

Christian H. Buhl (May 9, 1812 – January 23, 1894) was a businessman and industrialist from Detroit, Michigan. He served as the city's mayor in 1860-61.

Biography

Christian H. Buhl was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania on May 9, 1812.^[1] He learned the profession of a hatter, and in 1833 moved to Detroit, where he went into business with his older brother Frederick Buhl. The two diversified from hats into the fur trade, establishing a large and successful company under the name of the F & C H Buhl Co. In 1855, Christian retired from the fur trade and went into business with Charles Ducharme as a wholesale hardware firm. Buhl was also part owner of the Sharon Iron Works, the Detroit Locomotive Works (later the Buhl Iron Works).^[1] Buhl was also connected with the Detroit, Hillsdale, & Indiana Railroad and the Detroit, Eel River, & Illinois Railroad, as well as the Michigan State Bank, the Second National Bank of Detroit, and the Detroit National Bank, the last of which he was president of.^[1] He also organized Detroit Copper and Brass Company and the Peninsular Car Company.^[2]

Buhl was originally a Whig, but became a Republican after the party first formed.^[2] He served as an alderman of the city of Detroit, and was mayor in 1860-1861.^[1] In 1885, Buhl donated a substantial law library, worth $15,000, to the University of Michigan, and on his death willed an additional sum of $10,000 to increase the library.^[3]

In 1842, Buhl married Caroline DeLong of Utica, New York.^[1] The couple had five children, only two of whom — Theodore D. and Frank H. — outlived their parents.^[1] Christian H. Buhl died January 23, 1894.^[4]

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