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BENJAMIN B. BUTLER

The Early Years

Benjamin B. Butler was born ABT 1819 possibly in Ohio. Not much is known about his early years, or his family before him. He married Emily Morland (Morlan) who was born in Ohio ABT 1825. They were married in Lagrange County, Michigan on September 3, 1845 by Andew J. Morhen, Justice of the Peace. Jacob Chapnis was listed as a witness to the ceremony. It was stated on the certificate that they were living in the town of Volina, Michigan at the time of the marriage. They may have lived a little while in Cass County Ohio before moving to Missouri. They had eight children together. Five were born in Michigan and the remaining three were born in Missouri.

Moving To Misouri

Benjamin Butler and his family moved to Christian County, Missouri ABT 1857. They settled in the town of Ozark in Christian County and by 1860, were residing at the community of Linden, located northeast of Ozark.

The Civil War

Benjamin Butler joined the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted in Captain Alfred's Co. (I), Missouri Home Guard, Greene County Regiment which was formed in Porter and Finley Townships in Christain County in the spring and summer of 1861. He enlisted under the name "B.B. Butler" on June 10th 1861 at Sunden, Missouri. During his service he contracted small pox which disabled him and resulted in his discharge from the service. He was dicharged from duty on August 10th 1861. He returned home but the Small Pox caused his death in March of 1862. A month later his wife Emily and an infant daughter would also died of Small Pox. They were buried in unmarked graves not far from their homestead near Ozark, Missouri, overlooking the Finley river. The five remaining children, five boys and one girl were placed with guardians. The two oldest boys were put into service for the Union Army by their guardian, Captain Dennis Roberts.

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FRANCIS "FRANK" MARION BUTLER

Francis Marion Butler was born in Cass County, Michigan on November 24th 1845. In July 1863, Francis enlisted at Springfield, Missouri in the Union Army. He served in Co. A, 2nd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers. Francis served as a private, scout and bugler. Francis married his first wife, Austa Jane St. Clair, in September 1864; however, she died two months later. By the time Francis turned 21, he had lost several loved ones: brother Fernando, father Benjamin, mother Emily, a baby sister, and lastly, his beloved bride, Austa. That much sadness at such an early age had to have affected Francis' personality. Indeed, it may have been a negative factor in his next marriage. About 1867-68, Francis married Lavina (Vina) Stout of Ozark County, Missouri. They eventually lived on a rented farm in Douglas County, Missouri, and it was there that he would later abandon Lavina and their three surviving children. Francis Marion Butler and Lavina had four children. William M. "Will or Billy" Butler, born about 1869 in Missouri, Madison Garrett "Matt" Butler, born on January 17, 1871 in Missouri, a daughter, Lucinda, born January 8th 1872 but who died about 1874 and Eugene Butler, born on September 5, 1878, in Missouri. Unknown to Lavina, Francis had met and married another woman, Mrs. Martha Elizabeth (Coker) Wilson, a widow of Marion County, Arkansas. Francis married Elizabeth sometime around 1873-74 if not earlier. The only child of Francis Marion Butler and Martha Elizabeth (Coker) Wilson Butler was George William "Willie" Butler, born on May 30,1875 in Arkansas. It is unknown what caused Francis Marion Butler to abandon both families sometime during 1877-78, but after September 1878, Lavina and sons never heard from him again. Surprisingly, and for some unknown reason, Francis did later in life occasionally communicate -- albeit secretly -- with his Arkansas son, Willie Butler. By 1880, Francis -- using his brother Norman Barnard Butler's name -- and his brother, Nelson Garrett Butler, were in California working on a farm outside of Marysville in Sutter County. Nelson stayed in California for four years, then returned to Missouri. However, 'Norman' met and married, on 24 Sept 1882, a 14-year-old girl named Lillie May Flannery. He was 35/37 -- old enough to be her father. Once again committing bigamy, he married Lillie without ever attaining a divorce from either Lavina or Elizabeth. As far as Lillie knew, she was Mrs. Norman Barnard Butler. They remained in California until moving to Oregon in 1888. On January 5, 1903, they purchased a two-story home in Springfield, Oregon, listing Lillie May as owner. They had two boys, Charles Nelson Butler, born on April 26, 1884 in California and John Butler, who died young, and a daughter Nina Butler, born August 6, 1897 in Oregon. Up to his death, Francis' Oregon family knew him only as Norman Barnard Butler. It was only after his passing on May 19, 1918, that brother William A. informed Lillie, Charles and Nina of Francis' true identity. Only then did they learn of his abandoned Missouri family. No one was ever told, however, of his Arkansas wife and child. That remained a well-kept, almost forgotten secret until 1992. Francis Marion Butler is buried at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Springfield, Oregon.

Francis Marion Butler
Family Photo Album

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WILLIAM ALVIN BUTLER

William Alvin Butler was born on October 22, 1847 in Cass County Michigan. After his father and mother died he enlisted as a volunteer in the Union Army. His guardian, Dennis W. Roberts, falsley listed his age as eighteen on the declaration of recruit and on July 19, 1863, he became a private in the Co. A, 2nd Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers. In June of 1865 he was disharge from service. After the War, he resided for a time in Arizona. But on December 31, 1872, he married Anna Marple in Morgan County, Missouri. They were married by David S. Brim, Minister of the Gospel. Seven children were produced from this marriage. During their marriage, they resided at Appleton, Kansas. It was here that William Butler owned and operated a hardware and dry goods store. Anna Marple died on August 10, 1885, and sometime after August 1886, William moved his family to Beaver County in "No Man's Land" (Oklahoma). By 1887, they were back in Missouri. On August 7, 1891, William married Helen E. Payne in Aurora, Missouri in Lawrence County. Unfortunately, they were divorced shortly thereafter. No known children were born to that marriage. William's last marriage was to Mrs. Sarah Bell (Boyers) McDonald, who he married on July 12, 1897 at Joplin, Missouri. No known children were born during his marriage to Sarah. She and William initially lived in and around the Joplin, MO area. They apparently had marital trouble and were separated about 1912, with William eventually moving to Beckley, Oregon by 1913. In October 1916, he purchased land at Berdugo, Harney Co., OR, and he and Sarah were suppose to have reunited by this time. Whether they did is still uncertain, because William moved to Stockton, California by April 30, 1917, and no mention of Sarah's whereabouts has yet been found amid family records. On June 8, 1917, he checked himself into the Veterans' home (old soldiers & sailors home) at Sawtelle. As time passed, he apparently checked in and out of the home, each time returning to Stockton, except for September 1919, when William checked himself out of the home and went to live in Redding, CA. Within two months, however, he was again at daughter Hattie's Stockton home, and records indicate that he died there on December 3, 1919. William Alvin Butler is buried at Rural Cemetery in Stockton, CA.

Read a touching letter by William A. Butler

Etta Butler b. February 20, 1873 - d. September 19, 1950

Hattie Butler b. May 07, 1875

Emma Butler b. May 03, 1877 - d. August 18, 1882

Unknown child

Benjamin Franklin Butler b. January 20, 1880 - d. August 19, 1882

William C. Butler b. March 23, 1882

Garrett M. Butler b. January 30, 1884

William Alvin Butler
Family Photo Album

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NORMAN BERNARD BUTLER

Norman Bernard Butler was born in June of 1852 in Cass County Michigan. He married Almina Gardner on May 25, 1879 in Ozark Parish, Missouri in Ozark County. They were married by Daniel Upton, Minister of the Peace. Almina had two children, Julia Ann Mahan (b. Abt 1870) and Sara E. Mahan (b. Abt 1874) from a previous marriage. Norman and Almina had two children, both boys. Norman moved to Oklahoma after the turn of the century and settled in McCurtain County which is located in the southeast corner of the state along the Arkansas / Texas border. They settled ouside of Bethel, Oklahoma and Norman took a job at the Bethel store. It was also around this time that Norman lost his left arm while fishing with dynamite. Norman died Abt 1920 and is buried in the Bethel Cemetery.

Ollie Butler b. April 5, 1887

Colorado "Collie" Butler b. March 1880

Norman Bernard Butler
Family Photo Album

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FERNANDO BUTLER

[ Not much is known about Fernando. He is metioned by Nelson Butler in Past and Present of Greene County Missouri; Volume II (copyright: 1915) as being deceased. ]

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BENJAMIN JOBE BUTLER

Benjamin Jobe Butler was born on July 6, 1854 in Cass County, Michigan. He married Mary A. Harper on December 24, 1877 in Greene County, Missouri in the presence of James Hilton and D.A. Saller. They were married by D.J. Baucom. Benjamin and Mary had four children, one girl and three boys. Benjamin Butler divorced Mary and married Dodie Wakita

Pleasant Marion Butler b. September 30, 1879

Norman David Butler b. on February 9, 1881

Joshua L. "Josh" Butler b. November 3, 1883

Benjamin Sherman Butler b. May 17, 1888

Benjamin Jobe Butler
Family Photo Album

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NELSON GARRETT BUTLER

Nelson Garrett Butler was born on October 24, 1857 near Ozark Parish, Missouri in Christan County. Nelson was living on his grandfathers farm at the time of his parents death. He continued to live with his granfather until he was seven years old. He then went to live with his uncle until he was ten years old when he went to live with an older brother where he stayed for about a year. He then went to live at the home of Matt Martin for six years before coming to Green County to be hired out to James Decker. He worked for Thomas Rose for two years and then worked for G.W. O'Neal for two years. He then moved to California where he lived for four years. When he moved back to Missouri he settled in Cedar County, and a year later came back to Greene County where he was once again under the employ of G.W. O'Neal. Mr. O'Neal moved to Republic to look after his lumber yard, and left Nelson in charge of his farm. Nelson later rented the farm and operated it for five years, and while there purchased eighty acres of land in Section 13, Republic Township, where he built a home. He managed his affairs in a succesful manner and was the owner of a productive farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres, on which carried on general farming and stock raising. Nelson married Martha (Wade) Britain on September 12, 1886 in Republic, Missouri in Greene County. Martha was born in Georgia and moved to Greene County, Missouri when she was a child. She recieved her education in the common schools of Pond Creek. Nelson recieved his education in Christian and Webster counties. Nelson and Martha had four children, three females and one male. Politically, Nelson was a Republican and alway voted this ticket in national affairs. He and his family were also a member fo the Missionary Baptist Church at Hopewell, Missouri. Nelson was also one of the citizens featured in a book entitled Past and Present of Greene County Missouri; Volume II (copyright: 1915). Nelson died on December 18, 1941 in Republic, Missouri in Greene County and is buried at Wade Chapel Cemetery in Republic, Missouri. Martha Butler died in August 1958 in Republic, Missouri in Greene County and is also buried at Wade Chapel Cemetery in Republic, Missouri.

Elouise "Elsie" Elizabeth Butler b. September 6, 1888

Nadine "Nadie" Alice Butler b. September 13, 1889

Maude Opah Butler b. March 24, 1892

Everett Francis "Frank" Butler b. April 15, 1900

Nelson Garrett Butler
Family Photo Album

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MARY ISABELLA BUTLER

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THANK YOU