Frederick Buhl was born in Zelienople, Pennsylvania on November 27, 1806, the second of eleven children.[1] He went to Pittsburgh at the age of 16 to learn to be a jeweler, but ill-health forced him to change plans, and in 1833 he moved to Detroit.[1] There, he formed a partnership with his brother Christian H. Buhl, a trained hatter. The brothers began selling hats, but soon branched out into furs, establishing a large and successful company under the name of the F & C H Buhl Co.[1] They remained in business together for 20 years, after which Christian retired from the trade and Frederick Buhl continued in business independently under the name F. Buhl and Company.[2] In 1887, Buhl sold the company to his son Walter; the business was eventually sold to Edwin S. George in 1898.[1]
In addition to his furrier business, Frederick Buhl was the director of two banks, the president of Harper Hospital, president of the Fort Wayne and Elmwood Street Railway,[3] and one of the original directors of the Merchant's Exchange and Board of Trade.[1]
Buhl was a Republican,[4] and served on the city council, and was mayor of Detroit in 1848.[3]
In 1836 he married Matilda Beatty;[5] the couple had six children.[3] Frederick Buhl died May 12, 1890.[6]
