N.B. Butterworth, b. 4 Jan 1830

BOOMER, SNYDER, VAN METER

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/22/2004 at 13:26:40

N.B. Butterworth represents the early settles of Perry Township he having accompanied his parents, who were pioneers of Jackson County, to this place in the spring of 1838, when he was not quite nine years of age, and, aside from some members of his family, he is the only one now living here who came at that early period. He is a man of wealth and influence in this community, where he owns much valuable property, including a fine farm on sections 22 and 23, besides owning three blocks of houses, a hotel and livery stable, and a residence in Andrew.

The father of our subject, Nathaniel Butterworth, during his life was a man of much prominence in these parts, conspicuous in public life, in business circles and in politics, and also quite a large land-owner and an extensive farmer. He was born, May 15, 1800, in Bellingham, Norfolk Co., Mass. His father, Otis Butterworth, was a native of Massachusetts, and was for many years a manufacturer of cloth in Milford, Mass. He served in the War of 1812, and finally died in the afore-mentioned town. His father was of foreign birth. The father of our subject was early sent to the public schools in Orange, Franklin Co., Mass., and being a close student and a great reader he secured an education, and became well informed. When a boy he went to Fall River, as an operator in one of the mills owned by Claflin & Co., and for his attentiveness to his work and faithful service, was promoted step by step, to the position of overseer of the mill. He was married, in 1827, to Sarah Boomer, a native of that city, born April 13, 1801. Her father, Nathaniel Boomer, was a farmer by occupation, and was born and died in Fall River. His father was of English birth, and located in Massachusetts during the last century.

In 1829 Mr. Butterworth left Fall River with his family and moved to Mina, Chautauqua Co., N.Y., where he bought 160 acres of land from the Holland Purchase Co. He became an early settler in Mina, and engaged in farming. In 1837 he made a pedestrian tour to this part of the country, and bought a claim to 160 acres of land near what is now Andrew. In the spring of 1838 he sold his property in New York, and returned with his family by boat on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Bellevue, and thence by team to their destination near Andrew, they being among the first settles of that locality. The country round about being in its primitive condition plenty of wild game abounded, and the father amused himself hunting and trapping, making a grateful addition to the somewhat limited bill of fare, while at the same time he disposed of the furs at Galena. He busied himself in preparing his land for cultivation, improved it, and erected a substantial set of buildings, and was so prospered in his work that he was enabled to purchase more land, until he became the possessor of 600 acres of valuable farming land. He was the first Postmaster of Perry Township, on the old stage road between Dubuque and Davenport, and he also ran a hotel for years. He was County Treasurer at one time, and Justice of the Peace for years, and was an active Democratic politician. In 1850 he went to California with our subject, remaining one year, and then his health being greatly improved, he returned home by the way of Panama and New Orleans. After that he continued to reside on the farm until his death Oct. 15, 1881. His devoted wife had preceded him to rest, dying Aug. 24, 1876. Eight children were born of their marriage: Laura A., deceased; N.B.; Sarah J., deceased; W.C. occupies the old homestead; Lydia M., Otis P. and Augustus are all deceased; Laurane resides in Andrew.

The subject of this biography was born in Mina, Chautauqua Co., N.Y., Jan. 4, 1830. His early life was passed on his father's farm in his native town, and there he received the rudiments of his education in a public school. He was eight years old when his parents came to Perry, and there were no schools here in this then recently settled country. He was but nine years old when he began driving and breaking cattle and horses, and followed that exciting work for years. Abundance of deer and other wild game incited him to partake of the pleasures of the chase. He remained at home until he was twenty years old, and in the spring of 1850 he started with his father to cross the plains with teams, taking the North Platte route. They arrived in Placerville in July, and engaged in mining in that place, and then on the south fork of the American River. They were materially improved, both in health and fortune. In 1851, pocketing their gains, they returned home by the way of Panama and New Orleans, thence to St. Louis, and from there by stage to Andrew. After his return our subject resumed farming, and removing to Guthrie County, in this State, became an early settler there. He bought 160 acres of wild land, began its improvement, remained there one year, and then returning to this county bought 200 acres of land near the old homestead in Perry Township. He improved it, and continued to manage it until 1872, when he rented his farm, and removing to Andrew bought a hotel and livery stable, which he took charge of until 1883, then returned to his homestead, having rented his hotel and livery stable.

Mr. Butterworth was married, in Bellevue, June 17, 1855, to Miss Margaret Snyder, and their pleasant wedded life has been blessed to them by the birth of four children: Nathaniel E., Alfred S., Willis F. and Wales, twins; the latter dying at the age of ten years. Nathaniel, who is married and has his home in Maquoketa, is traveling in the interests of Clement and Sayre, Chicago, Ill. Alfred S., married and living in Maquoketa, is a confectioner, and a retail and wholesale dealer in tobacco. Willis is a student under Dr. Loose, at the pharmacy at Maquoketa.

Mrs. Butterworth was born in Hebron, Ohio, July 23, 1834, to Alfred and Mary (VanMeter) Snyder. Her father was born in Maryland Jan. 15, 1800. His father, Michael Snyder, a native of Germany, came to America sometime during the last century, and located in Maryland, where he was engaged as a miller. He spent his last days in Ohio. The father of our subject was a wagon-maker, and worked at his trade at different places in Ohio. In 1847 he came with his family to Iowa, traveling by wagon to Cincinnati, thence by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Rock Island, and from that point overland to his new home in Andrew. He engaged in wagon and carriage making at first, and later turned his attention to farming, buying eighty acres of land, which he cultivated a few years, and then resumed his former business in Andrew, where he resided until his death in October, 1863. He was a strong Democrat, a good man of business, and well thought of in his community. The mother of our subject was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1809. Her father, Col. John Van Meter, a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., was an early settler of Lancaster, Fairfield Co., Ohio, where he engaged in farming. He took an active part in the War of 1812; was Colonel of George Sanderson's company of Ohio Volunteers, under Gen. Hull, and was present at the engagement at Ft. Malden and the surrender of Detroit. He died, Sept. 26, 1841, at the age of sixty-five years. His father was a native of Holland. Mrs. Butterworth's mother died in Lancaster, Ohio, in 1839, leaving four children; Mary. E., living in Andrew; Margaret, our subject's wife; Thomas, now deceased; Lavonia, living in Hopkinton, Delaware Co., Iowa. Mrs. Butterworth was thirteen years old when she accompanied her father to his pioneer home in Andrew. She received the advantages of a good education, and for a period of six years was a very successful teacher, being engaged one year as assistant teacher at the Normal School.

Mr. Butterworth is one of the leaders of the Democracy in this part of Iowa, and is a member of the Democratic Central Committee. He has served on both the Grand and Petit Jury. Our subject has been prominent in the administration of local affairs, has been a member of the School Board, and held other local offices, and while a resident of Andrew was Mayor of the city one term. He is a man of good parts, is well endowed physically and mentally, and his reputation for truth and honor is of the highest.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)