William F. Butler

The founder of the Butler family, of which the subject of this memoir is a member, was one John George Butler, who came from Germany at an early day, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. After peace was declared he studied theology, and became a Lutheran minister, preaching through Pennsylvania, Virginia and other Southern States. He died some time in the "twenties" (it is thought) at Cumberland, Md. He had been married to a Miss Miller, by whom he had five sons—George William, Paul, Gideon, George Whitefield (grandfather of our subject) and Jonathan—and one daughter, whose name is not now known. Of these, George Whitefield was a soldier in the War of 1812, a lieutenant of Pennsylvania Reserves. He was the first to come to Carroll County, Ohio, and by occupation was a tanner; he died in 1873, the father of the following named children: Washington (father of our subject), Franklin, Jonathan and Jefferson, all deceased; Adams, in Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa; Lafayette, in Marshall, Tex.; George, a farmer in Rush County, Kas.; Morgan, in Goshen, Ind.; Lizzie, now Mrs. Young, in North Carolina; Amanda, wife of Hon. M. P. O'Connor, of San Jose, Cal.; Cynthia, deceased, and Hattie, wife of Dr. B. B. Moore, of Marshalltown, Iowa. Of these, Washington was born April 6, 1819, in what is now Carrollton, Ohio, where he was reared, learning the trade of tanner, which he carried on for many years, owning a tannery, which he sold out after entering public life. He was in politics a Republican and Abolitionist, and served his county as deputy auditor, then as auditor (two terms), and again as deputy auditor, until his health failed; was deputy treasurer of the county about sixteen years, and also deputy clerk. He was elected a delegate to the second National Convention held in 1872, which nominated Grant for President. In 1864 Mr. Butler entered mercantile business in partnership with L. D. Rowley, under firm name of Rowley & Butler, opening in Carrollton a store for merchant tailoring and the sale of clothing, boots and shoes; in 1865 he bought out Rowley and took into partnership his son William, the style of the firm becoming W. Butler & Son, so continuing until the death of the father, which occurred in 1883, when he was aged sixty-four years. Since then the business, now mainly comprising general clothing and gents' furnishings, has been carried on solely by our subject. Washington Butler was married in 1843 to Miss Susanna Van Buskirk, daughter of Enos Van Buskirk, of Carroll County, and she is now residing on the homestead in Carrollton, Ohio; their family consisted of seven children: William F.; George J.; Ann E., wife of James W. Cellars; Mary F., wife of Rev. A. T. Aller (Presbyterian), in Norton, Kas.; Jane Marshall, wife of George H. Aller, of Malvern, Carroll Co., Ohio; Joseph C. and Harry Sumner, all being residents of Carrollton, Ohio, save as where otherwise stated.

William F. Butler, whose name opens this sketch, was born February 23, 1845, in Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ohio, and received his education at the common schools of the place. At the age of fifteen, after having spent a short time in draying, he commenced clerking with I. Crumrine; in 1862 with James Huston; in 1864 with his father and L. D. Rowley (firm name Rowley & Butler), in the store which he now successfully carries on.

On April 26, 1866, he was married to Miss Matilda, daughter of Gen. H. A. Stidger, of Carrollton. Gen. Stidger was a native of Virginia and a settler, in 1830, of Carrollton, where, soon after coming, he opened a store which he carried on until his death in 1885, he having then attained a good old age; his widow resides on the old homestead in Carrollton. To Mr. and Mrs. Butler has been born one child, Charles Harvey, who still resides at home.

Our subject is a member of the K. of P., and in his political predilections he is a Republican. In 1868 he was appointed chief of police, serving two years; was also constable and deputy sheriff, serving some seven years under David Skeeles and James A. George; was elected coroner in 1886, and acted, on the death of David T. Watt, as sheriff from January to July, 1887, or until the appointment of John N. Davis. He has been a representative at conventions—State and otherwise—and helped to nominate Ex-Gov. Foster. Physically Mr. Butler is tall and robust, weighing about 200 pounds, and is gifted with a fine basso-pro-fundo voice, which has often been heard to advantage in public, particularly at entertainments given by local and political glee clubs. He is proverbially popular, has a wide acquaintance, and is generally pronounced to be a sterling, genial and sociable companion.

Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Harrison and Carroll, Ohio, containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families, Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1891

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