Richard Flach as born on 23 September 1832 in Eibenstock, Saxony, then a province of Prussia and now a part of Germany, in 1832. He emigrated to Buffalo with his parents in 1849. Trained as a baker, he began his working career in Buffalo in that occupation. Eventually he become a prominent grocer and Democratic politician, operating a grocery store at the corner of Clinton and Ellicott streets. He was elected as an Erie County Supervisor in 1860, as an alderman of Buffalo from 1862 to 1866, and as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1868.
Richard Flach was one of the small group of leading Buffalo citizens who initially invited Frederick Law Olmsted to Buffalo to design a first-class park for the city. In 1869, he was appointed by Mayor William Rogers as one of the original members of the Buffalo Board of Park Commissioners.
He served on the Board until a new state law reorganized and expanded the body in 1872. In 1872, sought election to the state assembly, but was unsuccessful. That same year he was appointed as Canal Collector at Buffalo.
Mr. Flach very actively participated in the New York State militia. He helped to organize an independent company of cavalry in 1856, which was attached to Buffalo’s 74th Regiment, N. Y. S. Militia. After 3 years with that unity, he joined, and was elected First Lieutenant of Company A of the 65th Regiment, N. Y. S. Militia as regimental quartermaster. He was so serving when both Buffalo militia regiments were called in late June 1863 to 30 days of service and ordered to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as a blocking force should the Confederate forces converging on Gettysburg evade or overcome the Union forces there. When his unit was activated, Lieutenant Flach was detailed as regimental quartermaster. While at Harrisburg, both regiments were shifted to New York City to assist in quelling the four days of anti-draft rioting which broke out there. In recognition of his personal bravery against the rioters, he was appointed Major. Their thirty day service period over, both the 65th and 74th Regiments were returned to Buffalo in late July. When regimental elections were held the month after the units returned, Major Richard Flach was elected Lieutenant Colonel. Two years later, when the incumbent retired, he was chosen Colonel of the regiment, a position he filled from 1865 until August 1879 when Colonel Flach himself retired from military service. He gained entitlement to the honorific of Colonel in recognition of his service.
Col. Flach was a president of the Saengerbund of Buffalo, and he was active in other German-American and fraternal organizations, including the Erie Fire Insurance Company (a mutual insurance company), Excelsior Lodge, No. 19 of The Honorable Grand Lodge Ancient Order of Good Fellows of the State of New York (a mutual benefit society, of which Flach was a Past National Grand Master) and Modestia Lodge No. 340, the second German-American Masonic Lodge in Erie County.
He married Caroline Mencke in 1853; the couple had three children, two of which died in infancy. Subsequent to her death in 1879, he married a widow, Louise Dorst Ripoint of Buffalo.
Col. Flach died after a brief illness at Buffalo on October 18, 1884, at the age of 51. His wife and one daughter survived him. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
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