John Richards Buchtel was born in Green Township, Ohio. A successful businessman and philanthropist, he was a leading spirit in the Akron Library Association, donated to establish the Akron Public Library, and served as the first chairman of its board. In 1870, he donated $31,000 to found Buchtel College, which became The University of Akron in 1913, and he often paid the tuition of underprivileged students there. He also served as president of the college’s Board of Trustees and served on the board of A & M University, now The Ohio State University.