George Butler (1916)

BUTLER, ELLIS

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 9/7/2007 at 13:48:41

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, November 22, 1916

It will be remembered that a few weeks ago a negro dropped dead at the bunk cars at his place and was buried in the Peru cemetery at the expense of the authorities. Every effort was put forth that was possible to find some relative or clue to the man or identity. Now a woman at Seattle, Washington writes William Weaver the following letter:

Seattle, Washington, Nov. 1 (1916)
While reading a clipping from the paper we find that a Geo. Butler was found dead and was buried in the Peru cemetery, and we are writing you to that effect as I have a boy by the name of Roy Butler. He has been in Hannibal, Mo. recently and a friend wrote me that he was on his way to Peru, Iowa. I also wrote a letter to Kansas City, address 1019 Oak Street. So I am writing to you to send me the full particulars, as I am his mother. I wish you would let me know as soon as possible. Thanking you very much I am yours sincerely, Mrs. Jennie Ellis, 1834 24th ave.-Peru Mail
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The East Peru Mail
Peru, Iowa
Friday, September 29, 1916
Page 1, Column 2

A SUDDEN DEATH.

Wednesday George Buttler, one of the negros at the bunk cars, dropped dead while frying steak for his dinner. Wednesday was pay day for the railroad men and this man had drawn his pay along with the others, and told his companions he was going home. He had taken a bath and changed his clothes and went to the market and brought himself a steak for his dinner, telling some one he was going to start for his home on No. 5, but dropped dead while preparing his dinner. No one seemed to know where his home was. Those in charge found a few letters on his person, but nothing to tell where he lived. One letter was Post Marked “Kansas City,” but that was the most information obtained. The authorities telegraphed to try to locate relatives and friends but with no response.

The body was taken to the town council room and a postmortem examination was made by Drs. Griffith and Craven. They found he died from natural causes, and the body was buried in the Peru cemetery to-day, Friday, by the town.
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The East Peru Mail
Peru, Iowa
Friday, November 10, 1916
Page 16, Column 1

THE DEAD NEGRO

It will be remembered that a few weeks ago a negro dropped dead at the bunk cars at this place, and was buried in the Peru cemetery at the expense of the authorities. Every effort was put forth that was possible to find some relative or clue to the man, but he seemed to be without friends or identity. Now a woman at Seattle, Washington, writes Wm. Weaver the following letter:

SEATTLE, Washington, Nov. 1—
Dear sir: While reading a clipping from the paper we find that a Geo. Butler was found dead, and was buried in the Peru cemetery, and we are writing you to that effect, as I have a boy by the name of Roy Butler. He has been in Hannibal, Mo., recently and a friend just wrote me that he was on his way to Peru, Iowa. I also wrote him a letter to Kansas City, Mo., address 1019 Oak Street. So I am writing you to send me the full particulars, as I am his mother. I wish you would let me know as soon as possible. Thanking you very much I yours sincerely, Mrs. Jennie Ellis, 1834, 24th ave.