First Homicide in Jefferson County

BUTLER, WOODWARD

Posted By: nancy dorwart (email)
Date: 12/17/2003 at 17:10:14

HISTORY IN AN IOWA CEMETERY - FIRST HOMICIDE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY by Hiram Heaton

In 1856 occurred the first homicide in this county. John Woodward on his return from CA learned that his wife's name had been connected in gossip with a neighbor, Hardin Butler. Woodward thought his honor demanded that he should kill Butler. Butler had been prominent in the county,a member of the First Constitutional Convention. Butler had gone to CA, but earlier than Woodward. Butler knew of Woodward's intentions to kill him and one morning with his son Elkanah, drove by Woodward's cabin to get a load of wood. Woodward saw him pass and ran out, and began discharging his revolver at him. He (Butler) gave the lines to Elkanah and took his squirrel rifle and taking aim, killed Woodward. Woodward was buried in Union Cemetery, but away by himself as in the potter's field, and no one has known for many years the place of his grave. It was said at the time that Woodward had $800.00 in gold which he had secreted somewhere in the woods, but it was never found. Butler removed to MO and lived to a great age.