Butters, Samuel D.

BUTTERS, HEAD, CONAWAY, HOLDEFER, KINGDON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 11/23/2008 at 13:01:06

BUTTERS, S. A.; President of Citizen's Bank; Prairie City; was born in Highland Co., Ohio, July 17, 1830; came to this county in 1856. Has 355 acres of land, valued at $20,000. Is Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Married Margaret A. CONOVERS; she was born in Frederick CO., Maryland, September 10, 1831; mother of eight children-John W., Sarah C., Amanda S., Ira N., Riley N., Emma S., Frank L., Annie. Emigrated from Ohio direct to this county, where he has resided since. Mr. B. came here with limited means, and by his own exertions has accumulated a fine property, and is one of the sound men of the county. Has one of the finest brick dwelling-houses in this Township, well arranged and comfortably furnished. ~ "The History of Jasper County" (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878), 637

Transcriber's note: An "ERRATA SHEET" in the back of the book lists corrections and additional information. "Pertaining to BUTTERS, S. A. Note: Samuel D.".
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Samuel D. Butters, who is by nature with such gifts as characterize true r manhood in all that the word implies, is descended from an honorable ancestry, his family tree taking root on American soil in the Colonial days of Virginia, to which region his ancestors came from England. The grandfather, John Butters, was born in England, and while on his way to this country with his parents and sister the parents died, and he and his sister landed in this country orphans. Very little more is known of the family history. The grandfather settled in Virginia, where he accumulated considerable property, but subsequently moved to Highland County, Ohio, where he was among the early pioneers. There his death occurred. He was the father of four sons. Samuel made his home in the Old Dominion and was a mill owner; he was accidentally killed by the discharge or a revolver during the Civil War. James, who was a prominent farmer, went to Ohio and resided in Highland County; he was a man of considerable ability and was quite a politician. George came from Ohio to Prairie City, Iowa, at an early date and died in this city. He was single.

The father of our subject was born in Virginia about 1804, and moved with his parents to the Buckeye State. In 1856 he came to Iowa and purchased land in Prairie City, but later engaged in merchandising in that place, becoming quite wealthy. He was prominent in local politics and held the office of Township Trustee, Justice of the Peace and other offices. His death occurred in 1873. He married Miss Susan Head, a native of Highland County, Ohio, born about 1806. She was the daughter of Biggar Head, who was a native of Pennsylvania, a pioneer of Ohio, and a soldier in the War of 1812. He had three sons and one daughter. William W., who went to Illinois, was prominent as a local politician; he had two sons in the Civil War, one of whom was an officer. Biggar J. first went to Illinois, then to Iowa, and finally to Missouri, where he died; he had two sons in the Civil War. The third child born to Mr. Head was of a roving disposition. He left home and nothing further was ever heard of him. The Heads were all Methodists. Mrs. Butters died in Prairie City.

Samuel D. Butters was next to the eldest of six children, four sons and two daughters. Wilson H. served in Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Infantry, and died at Island No. 10 during service; William died in early manhood; John H. was also a soldier in the Civil War, and died at Island No. 10. Our subject was born in Highland County, Ohio, July 17, 1830. On the farm in Ohio he passed his early life, and his scholastic training was received in the primitive log schoolhouse of the day. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Margaret Conaway, a native of Maryland, and the daughter of Nimrod Conaway, who was a wagon maker by trade. At an early date Mr. Conaway moved to Ohio, where he now lives, being eighty-four years of age. He has been a prominent man in the Methodist Episcopal Church and for many years was Class-leader. Mrs. Butters had one brother, John T., who served in the Rebellion three years, and is now a farmer of Ohio.

In the year 1856 Mr. Butters and family moved to Iowa by team, and settled on a farm of one hundred and four acres near Prairie City. From that time on he added to the original tract until at one time he was the owner of six hundred acres. For some time he was engaged in merchandising, and was induced to accept the Presidency of a bank at Prairie City. In this he invested heavily, but a number of years later it suspended through the mismanagement of its cashier. In this Mr. Butters lost heavily, but was not entirely ruined, and is now fast getting on his feet again. At present he is living quietly on his farm adjoining the town, where his home has been for many years. He takes a deep interest in public matters and is a prominent local politician. He served as County Supervisor, was Township Trustee, and is now Justice of the Peace.

Mr. and Mrs. Butters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is one of the Trustees of the same; for twenty-five years he has been an Odd Fellow, a member of the Grand Lodge and District Deputy Grand Muster. To his marriage have been born eight children, seven of whom are living. Sarah C. married Jacob Holdefer and resides in Prairie City; John lives in Prairie City; Ira is in California; Amanda S. married I. M. Kingdon, a hardware merchant of Yale, Iowa; Riley N. lives in Prairie City; Emma, Frank L. and Anna are at home. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 377