Buhrer was educated mainly in Sunday school until he was twelve and he started learning a trade.

[2] Buhrer left the farm and traveled to Cleveland to work as a cooper.

Buhrer then became a traveling salesman before returning to Cleveland to open his own coopering shop.

[3] The Cleveland House of Correction & Workhouse was built during his tenure as mayor.

In 1848, Buhrer married Eva Maria Schneider and had three children: John, Mary Jane, and Lois Catherine.