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Richard Flach

Richard Flach (1832-1884) was born in the Prussian province of Saxony, now a part of Germany, in 1832. He emigrated to Buffalo about fourteen years later, eventually becoming a prominent merchant and Democratic politician. He was elected an Erie County Supervisor in 1860, Fourth Ward Alderman of Buffalo from 1862 to 1866, and a member of the New York State Assembly in 1868. During the Civil War he as a Lieutenant in the 65th New York Infantry, serving at Gettysburg; later, he became Colonel of that regiment from 1865 to 1879. Mr. Flach was a president of the Saengerbund of Buffalo, and was active in other German-American organizations, including the Erie Fire Insurance Company, a mutual insurance company, and Modestia Lodge No. 340, the second German-American Masonic Lodge in Erie County.

Col. Flach died at Buffalo, October 18, 1884, at the age of 51. He was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery.