Butler, J. M.

BUTLER

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 9/25/2008 at 14:59:40

J. M. Butler

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.174, Minden Twp.)
J. M. Butler, farmer, P. O. Neola, was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., September 8, 1847. He is the son of J. M. and Ruth (Gates) Butler. his father was a farmer and stock-dealer, born in New York December 17, 1808, and died in Harrison County, October 5, 1866. The mother of our subject was born in Ohio June 19, 1812, and died in Council Bluffs April 16, 1869. She was a relative of Gen. Gates, of Revolutionary fame. The parents had five children - two boys and three girls. Our subject received his education mostly in J. B. Rue's select school in Council Bluffs. he came to this county in 1857. In 1862, he went to Idaho, where he was engaged in herding, freighting and butchering up to August, 1864, when he returned and settled in Harrison County. he was one of the "Pony Express" in Idaho, which freighted across the mountains. He was also engaged in mining, railroading and farming. Upon his return, he purchased twenty acres of wild land at $5 per acre. He built on it and otherwise improved it. In 1871, he bought forty acres more, and has made subsequent additions of twenty, fifteen and forty acres, all of which was raw land, but is now in a good state of cultivation. He engages in general farming. He has been Justice of the Peace for ten years, Township Clerk for six years, and Township Treasurer. He was married, in Harrison County, this State, November 22, 1866, to Mary E. Wood, born in this county July 11, 1848. She is the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Merrill) Wood, both natives of Ohio, he born in May, 1817, and she April 16, 1815. Mr. and Mrs. Butler have had two children - Jeremiah Mayhew, deceased; and William H. Our subject is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics he is an Independent.