BUTLER, Marian S.

BUTLER, HORNIBROOK, COLE, DOUGLASS, AVERY, BUNDY, QUINN, LOOMIS, SCOFFTS, BEAL, SCOTT, ROBERTS, MARTIN

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 7/9/2006 at 18:05:30

Cherokee Democrat, March 6, 1895

DEATH OF DR. BUTLER

The Well Known Physician Passes Away Suddenly

The City Mourns the Loss of a Good and Respected Citizen-The Funeral Yesterday

Before this paper can be read the news of the death of Dr. M.S. Butler of this city will have reached most of our readers. To those who have not heard it, it will come as a great surprise and bring sorrow to all hearts as it has done in Cherokee. Dr. Butler died on his way home from New Orleans, where he had gone a short time ago for the benefit of his health. His serous illness of last winter will be remembered. When he left here with the party for New Orleans he was in fairly good health. He was enjoying the visit at New Orleans, felt well and was in good spirits up to Monday of last week, when he was taken sick. His complaint was catarrh of the stomach and bowels. He grew worse until Thursday, when it was decided that he could not live. He desired to be brought home and on Friday morning the start was made, his wife and Dr. Hornibrook and others of the party being with him. On Saturday morning at 7:30 he died on the train, about 200 miles south of Chicago. Arrangements were made by write, and during the stop of a few minutes in Chicago the body was placed in a casket. Telegrams were received here shortly after noon on Saturday, and it is needless to say the news was a terrible shock to all.

The party arrived here Sunday morning when a delegation of Masons took charge of the remains.

The funeral took place yesterday and people from all over this section of country came to take a last look at one who was widely known and universally respected. The Masonic fraternity had charge of all the affairs. At 11 o’clock the body was taken from the family residence to the Baptist church, where it laid in state until 1:30 p.m., when the services proper were held. At noon the pupils of the city school marched in a body to the church and viewed the remains, and during the forenoon a large number of people took advantage of the opportunity. Not more than one-third of the people could gain admittance to the church at one time. All of the Masonic orders, including the Eastern Star, were present in a body, also the medical fraternity. The services were very impressive. The principal remarks were read by Rev. Jesse Cole and were very appropriate. Rev. Mr. Douglass of Newell, who is a Knight Templar, also made a few remarks. Such a demonstration was evidence that the deceased had lived a good life, that he had been a good citizen and a good friend. No further eulogy is necessary.

The floral tributes were the most beautiful, we believe, that have been seen her on such an occasion. Among the most elaborate were the following: (long list of floral tributes. Email me if you’d like the list)

Among the physicians from abroad were Drs. Avery and Bundy of Aurelia, Quinn of Meriden, Loomis and Frye of Marcus, Schoffts of Remsen, Beal of Washta, Scott of Paullina, Roberts of Cleghorn, Martin of Pomeroy.

Dr. Marian S. Butler was born at Elyria, Ohio, September 4, 1830. During his early life he was engaged in teaching while not in school, and graduated from the Western Reserve College of Ohio, and afterwards studied medicine in both Ohio and Iowa, obtaining a medical degree in both states. He removed to Iowa in the early sixties, after having taught school in southern Illinois and after coming to Iowa he was engaged in teaching for several years, at Cascade and at the Academy in Hopkinton. During the latter part of the war he was in the south in the service of the government of the United States in his capacity as physician, and after he returned he located and practiced his profession at Tame City, Iowa, coming to Cherokee county in the fall of 1868.

When he came to this county he took a homestead about four miles west of town, where he lived for five years. During the winter of ’68-9 he taught school in the old court house, then located north of town, but during all the time was in active practice, which continued to the time of his death.

In 1886 Dr. Butler was elected as a member of the general assembly of the State of Iowa, serving with distinction in that body. He was made a mason by Hiram of Tyre Lodge of Tama City, Iowa, about 1864, and after coming to Cherokee united with the local lodge, and also joined the chapter and commandery, being one of the original members of both of those bodies.

During his residence in the county he has served about eight years as a member of the school board, and was a member of that body at the time of his death, and has always been prominently identified with the educational interests of the city and county.

Dr. Butler leaves a wife and one child, also a brother residing in Ohio, and a sister in Nebraska, and a sister who has always resided with him, and now living in Cherokee. There is also his adopted daughter, Miss Myrtle Butler, who now resides in Sioux City, to whom he was very much attached.

(The last paragraph are resolutions adopted by the Cherokee Country Medical Association in regard to Dr. Butler.)