Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 973
WILLIAM H. BUTTLER

Among those worthy citizens of Harrison county, Iowa, who have, by virtue of their strong individual qualities, earned their way to a high standing in the estimation of their fellow-citizens, none is more worthy of specific mention in a work of this kind than the man whose name heads this paragraph. William H. BUTTLER came to this county shortly after the close of the Civil War and has lived here continuously ever since, passing through much of the hard work, privations and limitations of pioneer days in this section of the country. He has, by reason of his own exertions, attained a pleasing degree of material success and is now passing his days in retirement from the more active duties of life. Additional tribute is due him on account of the fact that he proved himself one of the loyal sons of the Union during the trying days of our civil struggle and was one of that vast army whose sacrifices made possible the preservation of our nation.

William H. BUTTLER is a native of the state of Ohio, having first seen the light of day in Licking county, that state, on November 19, 1846, being a son of Charles and Phioleta (PRATT) BUTTLER, who were the parents of six children. Both father and mother were born and reared in Massachusetts and brought to their early Ohio home many of the more advanced ideas and customs of the New England states. Their lives were given to the vocation of farming and its kindred interests and in the early days the successful farmer was much more indebted to the skill and accomplishments of his helpmeet for his success than is the farmer of today. Sufficient praise and appreciation can never be granted to the quiet, hard-working mother of pioneer days, for while her own life was so often �devoid of ease,� she instilled in the hearts and minds of her sons and daughters the proper appreciation of, and desire for, the finer things of life which has resulted in much of good for succeeding generations. William H. BUTTLER received his education in the schools near his boyhood home, where he remained under the parental roof until the time of his enlistment in the army. This was on May 1, 1864, when he became a private in Company D, One hundred and Thirty-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving until practically the close of the war. He was most fortunate throughout his term of service, never having been taken prisoner nor wounded. Among the battles in which his regiment was engaged was the famous Shenandoah, Maryland Heights and Martinsburg. After receiving his honorable discharge from the army, Mr. BUTTLER returned to his home in Ohio, but not to remain, however, for he came almost directly to this state, where he located on the Little Sioux river. In that location he acquired a fine farm of two hundred and seventy acres and earned the reputation of being one of the most thorough farmers of this section. There he remained, until the year 1900, when he retired from the active management of his farm and took up his residence in Little Sioux, where he and his good wife are accounted among the most prominent citizens of the town. Mrs. BUTTLER is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Wayne county on December 8, 1844. Her maiden name was Julia WILLIAMS, and she is one of the family of eight children of Hervey and Matilda (CONDIT) Williams. The parents were both born and raised in the state of New York and, shortly after their marriage, they went to Pennsylvania where they established their home and lived for many years.

William H. and Julia (WILLIAMS) BUTTLER are the parents of three children but were so unfortunate as to lose their only son, William Ray, in early infancy. They reared to maturity two daughters, both of whom are well educated and talented young women of whom the parents may be justly proud. Rena W., the eldest, was born on February 1, 1875, and is the wife of Fred A. Nisewanger, who resides in Onawa. She is the mother of four fine children, Elithe, Sibyl, Melba and Merle. Rena W. is a graduate of the Highland Park College, at Des Moines, and also attended the Nebraska State University at Lincoln. For several years she taught school and for some time was principal of the River Sioux school, and throughout her public services, as an educator of youth, she displayed the advanced methods and high ideals which won for her an enviable reputation among educators in this section. She has also attained considerable prominence as a writer of articles, many of which have appeared in such high-class magazines as �Technical World� and �Successful Farming,� as well as other scientific and agricultural periodicals. Kitty, the second daughter, early displayed a talent for music, and received the best of instruction along this line. She was born on July 24, 1878. She married Louis T. Adams and they make their home in Robstown, Texas, near which town they own and operate a fine farm. She is the mother of five children, Wilma W., Willis, Mildred, Donald and an infant child, the baby of the family. Kitty received her first instruction in music from teachers near her home, and when quite well advanced in her art, attended the Nebraska State University and finished her studies with a course at the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois. Her natural talent has been most carefully developed and, through long years of study she made of herself an accomplished musician.

William H. Butler is a Republican and, while taking a keen interest in the affairs of his party, he was never a seeker after public office. However, his influence has always been such that it is something to be desired by men who are seeking that form of public service. Owing to his strong interest in all things along educational lines, he has for a number of terms, been a school director and his practical ideas have been the means of bringing about many improvements. He is regarded as a citizen who has at heart the best interests of the community along social, moral and material lines, and is ever ready to back up his convictions by active service, if necessary. Mr. BUTTLER's fraternal affiliation is with the time-honored order of Freemasonry and he is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Both he and his wife are active members of the Eastern Star. Mr. BUTTLER is one of those broad-minded, liberal and forceful characters who impress their individuality upon their surroundings, and the well-regulated and honest life which he has led has gained for him the respect of a host of admiring friends. Because of his contribution to the general advancement of the community, he is eminently entitled to representation in a work of the scope intended in this volume.

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