John R Buttolph

BUTTOLPH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2009 at 11:40:13

John R Buttolph, near the village of Ogden resides John R Buttolph, whose home is on Sec 32, Pilot Mound township. Almost a half century ahs passed since his arrival in Iowa, and since 1856 he has made his home in Boone county, He was born in Lorain county, Ohio, August 18, 1842, and is a son of George Buttolph, a native of Massachusetts, while the grandfather of our subject was Starr Buttolph, a native of Connecticut. The family is of English lineage and was established in America in early colonial days by representatives of the name, who settled in the Charter Oak state. George Buttolph grew to manhood in Massachusetts, and when a young man removed westward, taking up his abode in Lorain county, Ohio, about 1828. In was then a sparsely settled region and with its pioneer development he became identified. He was married there in 1829 to Dorothy Clark, a native of Maine and a daughter of Bunker Clark. Mr Buttolph cleared away the timber from a tract of land, then built a barn and in course of time improved an excellent farm in Lorain county, where he remained for a number of years. He removed to St Joseph county, Indian, in 1842. Seven children were born in Lorain county, Ohio, and four in St Joseph county, Indiana, eleven altogether. In 1845 he came to Iowa, establishing his home in Linn county, but about 1856 he came to Boone county locating in Pilot Mound township, where he engaged in farming. His remaining days were spent here, and in 1872, when sixty-six years, passing away in 1895, at the ripe old age of eighty-five.
John R Buttolph was a lad of twelve summers when he came to Iowa and was fourteen years of age when he arrived in Boone county. He acquired a good common school education in Linn and Boone counties, returning to the former county in order to attend school there during the winter terms. When the country became involved in Civil War he found as a loyal defender of the union, enlisting in June , 1861, for three months service. Later he re enlisted for three years service, becoming a member of the Second Iowa Battery, and was in the Army of the Tennessee in the “Eagle Brigade,” participating in the battles of New Madrid, Island Number 10, Farmington, siege and battle of Corinth, the siege and capture of Vicksburg, Meridan, Jackson, Black River Bridge, Iuka, tupelo and Nashville, in altogether twenty-seven battles. He received two slight gunshot wounds at Vicksburg, but was not disabled, and he lost no time from illness and other causes during four years of active service. He was honorable discharged and mustered out on August 7, 1865, as first sergeant of his battery, at Davenport, and with a most creditable military record returned to his home, for he was a loyal soldier, never failing in the discharge of his duty, whether upon the picket line or in the thickest of the fight.
Again coming to Boone county, Mr Buttolph then entered upon his business career, renting land which he cultivated for some time. About 1869 he purchased 80 acres where he now resides. There were no improvements upon the place, but he built a little house and lived in it while opening up the farm. He afterward purchased an adjoining tract of 80 acres. This he fenced and built upon it a large substantial residence, also erected a big barn and convenient outbuildings, while fruit tress were planted and an excellent orchard developed. Shade and ornamental trees were set out upon the land and substantial improvements of a valuable and attractive kind were added. Mr Buttolph also engaged in raising a good grade of stock in addition to the cultivation of his place and is one of the progressive agriculturists of his community.
On December 24, 1865, our subject was united in marriage to Sarah A Myers, she was born in Seneca county, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob Myers, who was one of the first settlers of the county, locating here in 1854. Mrs Buttolph was reared and educated in Boone county and is a most estimable lady, who has indeed proven a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband since they started out on the journey of life together. They have three children: Ada C, now the wife of Sherman Elliott, of Fraser, Iowa, Ida L, the wife of Ralph Casey, of Beaver, ad J Frank, who is married and is now carrying on the home farm.
Mr Buttolph is well known in fraternal circles, being a valued member of Pilot Mound Lodge, I O O F and of J G Miller post, G A R, at Boonesboro. He is quiet prominent in political circles also, and since 1868 has voted the Republican ticket. He was elected and served for five years as township clerk, has also been assessor, filling the position for twenty consecutive years, and at the present time he is serving as township trustee. In the discharge of his official duties he has ever been prompt, reliable and faithful and has frequently been a delegate to the county and state conventions of the Republican party. His official career has ever been prompt, reliable and faithful and has frequently been a delegate tot eh county and state conventions of the Republican party. His official career ahs ever been a blameless one, as is indicated by his ling retention in office. During forty-six years he has made his home in Boone county, witnessing almost its entire growth and improvement, as the conveniences of an advanced civilization have been added to the pioneer district. He is a man of tried and true integrity, faithful to the duties of home life and to friendship and is as loyal in the discharge of his duties if citizenship as when he followed the starry banner of the nation upon the battle fields of the south.

1902 Boone County History Book