Butler 
Congress 
Welcome to the Butler Family Association history section devoted to honoring Butler kin who have served in the House of Representatives and Senate of the United States Congress.
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Butler kin who have served in the House of Representatives of the Continental Congress and the United States Congress.
Benjamin Franklin Butler became one of the most notoriously infamous members of any Butler family ever. He was born 5 Nov 1818 in Deerfield, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, a son of John Butler and Charlotte Ellison. He moved with his mother to Lowell Ma. in 1828 and attended Exeter Academy. He graduated from Waterville College (now Colby College), Waterville, Me. in 1838. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1840. He set up practice in Lowell, Ma. He was elected to the Massachusetts State House of Representatives in 1853 and to the State Senate in 1859. He served as a delegate to the Democratic Party National Convention in Charleston, SC and Baltimore, Md. in 1860.
When the Southern states seceded and established the Confederate States of America, Benjamin entered the northern army as a brigadier general on 17 Apr 1861. On 13 May, 1861, he entered Baltimore at the head of 900 men and occupied the City in the union moved to prevent Maryland from seceding and joining the Confederacy. On 16 May he was promoted to major general and was assigned to command of Fort Monroe and what the yankees termed the "Department of Eastern Virginia". While he was at Fort Monroe, some slaves came into the fort and their owners demanded he return them. Against both federal and state law, he refused and declared the slaves to be "contraband of war" -- even though Maryland was not at war with anybody at the time and still officially a part of the union.
In August his command captured Forts Hatteras and Clark on the North Carolina coast. He then returned to Massachusetts and recruited troops for an expedition to the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River. The yankee forces eventually captured New Orleans, one of the largest cities in the South.
Benjamin then armed negro men and made them part of his forces. When an ardent Southerner hauled down the northern flag in the city, Benjamin had him hung. These and numerous other acts against the civilians of New Orleans were only part of his barbaric spree which culminated in his infamous "Order No. 28".
This order of Benjamin's automatically labeled any white woman as a common street prostitute if they dared shun the insulting advances of the northern occupation forces. One woman who had guests and was on her balcony overlooking the street was arrested for laughing -- without knowing that a group of union soldiers were passing below on the way to bury a dead soldier. She was imprisoned without trial. Other women who simply crossed the street rather than encounter the insults of the occupiers, were also arrested and thrown into jail as prostitutes or "women of the streets". White women were forced to flee the city by the hundreds.
Benjamin earned his name of "Beast Butler" which stuck. He also earned the hatred of all the South and many in the north and abroad. In Dec 1862, Confederate President Jefferson Davis issued a proclamation declaring him an outlaw. On 10 May 1862, Benjamin entered the Dutch Consulate and seized about $800,000 which had been deposited there -- in direct violation of international law. He claimed that the money was intended to buy arms. All the foreign consuls protested against this action. The union government in Washington, after an investigation, ordered the money returned.
Benjamin was finally recalled and he claimed it was at the instigation of French Emperor Louis Napoleon. In Oct 1864, he was placed in command of union troops which occupied New York City in a Republican effort to influence the national elections and prevent any disturbances. He was removed from his command soon after by General Grant and Benjamin returned to his home in Massachusetts.
In 1866, the Republicans elected him to the House of Representatives of the US Congress and he was reelected to three additional terms, serving 1867-1875. He lost races for governor in 1871 and 1872 and for reelection to Congress in 1874. He was elected again and served 1877-1879. He lost another race for governor as an independent in 1878 and as a Democrat in 1879. He was finally elected governor of Massachusetts in 1882 on the combined Greenback Party and Democratic Party tickets. He was an unsuccessful candidate of the Greenback and Anti-Monopolist ticket for president in 1884.
Benjamin died 11 Jan 1893 while attending court in Washington, DC. He was buried in Hildreth Cemetery, Lowell, Ma.
Chester Pierce Butler was born 21 Mar 1798 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a son of Lord Butler Sr. and Mary ("Polly") Pierce. He graduated from Princeton College (now University) in 1817. He became a trustee of Wilkes-Barre Academy, serving 1818-1838; he also served as secretary. He studied law at Litchfield Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1820. He set up practice in Wilkes-Barre. He served as register and recorder of Luzerne County, 1821-1824. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives in 1832, 1838, 1839 and 1843.
Chester was elected as a Whig Party candidate to the House of Representatives of the 30th US Congress and reelected to a second term, serving 1847 until his death 5 Oct 1850 at Philadelphia.
Ezra Butler was born 24 Sep 1763 in Lancaster, Massachusetts, a son of Asaph Butler Sr. and Jane McAllister. His parents moved to West Windsor, Vt. in 1770. He became a farmer at Claremont, NH. He served in the Militia for a brief period during the Revolutionary War. He moved to Waterbury, Vt. in 1785 and then studied law. He was admitted to the bar and set up practice there. He was named Town Clerk in 1790 and elected one of the three town Selectmen (city councilman).
He was elected to the Vermont State House of Representatives and served 1794-1797, 1799-1804 and 1808. He served on the Executive Council for 15 years. He was the first Judge of the Chittenden County Court and served 1803-1806 and as Chief Justice, 1806-1811.
When Jefferson County (now Washington County) was formed in 1812, he was elected Chief Justice of the County court and held the position continuously, except while he was in Congress, until 1825.
Ezra was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the House of Representatives of the 13th US Congress and served 1813-1815. He served as a member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1822.
Ezra was elected Governor of Vermont and served 1826-1828. He married Trephena Diggins and they had at least 11 children. He died 12 Jul 1838 at Waterbury and was buried in Waterbury Cemetery.
James Joseph Butler was born 29 Aug 1862 in St. Louis, Missouri, a son of Edward Butler and Ellen O'Neill. He served an apprenticeship as a blacksmith and worked in that trade for several years. He later graduated from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo. and then studied law at Washington University in the same city. He was admitted to the bar and set up practice there. He served as City Attorney 1886-1894.
James was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives of the 57th US Congress and served 1901 until Jun 1902, when the seat was declared vacant. He then presented credentials as a member-elect to fill the vacancy and then served from 4 Nov until 26 Feb 1903 when he was succeeded by George Wagoner, who contested his election.
James was later elected to the 58th Congress and served 1903 -- 1905.
He served as a delegate to the Democratic Party National Convensions of 1904 and 1908. After he left Congress, he resumed his law practice in St. Louis. He died there 31 May 1917 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery.
John Cornelius Butler was born 2 Jul 1887 in Buffalo, NY. He attended Old Central High School there. He worked in waterfront industries in the city from boyhood and held many offices in the Longshoremen's, Electrical Workers and Grain Elevator Employee's unions.
John was elected as a Republican to the House of Representatives of the 77th US Congress to fill a vacancy and was reelected to three additional terms, serving 1941-1949. He was defeated for reelection in 1948.
He became sales manager of a fire equipment sales company and then an estimator for an electrical engineering and construction company. He was once again elected to the House in 1950 and served 1951-1953. He lost a bid for renomination in 1952. He died 13 Aug 1953 at Buffalo and was buried there in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Josiah Butler was born 4 Dec 1779 in Pelham, Hillsboro County, New Hampshire, a son of Nehemiah Butler and Lydia Wood. He attended academies at Londonderry and Atkinson and received private tutoring. He graduated from Harvard University in 1803. He then taught sahool in Virginia for three years. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in Virginia in 1807 and then returned to Pelham, NH and set up practice there. He moved to Deerfield in 1809. He was elected Sheriff of Rockingham Couty and served 1810-1813. He was elected Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas. He lost a race for Congress in 1812.
He was elected to the New Hampshire State House of Representatives in 1815 and 1816.
Josiah was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the House of Representatives of the 15th US Congress and reelected to two more terms, serving 1817-1823. During his tenure, he served as Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.
After he left Congress, he was elected an Associate Justice of the New Hampshire State Court of Common Pleas and served 1825-1835. Josiah died 27 Oct 1854 at Deerfield and was buried at Granite Cemetery, South Deerfield.
Manley Caldwell Butler was born 2 Jun 1925 in Roanoke, Va. He served as an ensign in the US Navy from 1942-1946 during World War II. He graduated from the University of Richmond, Va. in 1948 and received a degree in law from the University of Virginia Law School in 1950 and was admitted to the bar the same year. He set up practice in Roanoke. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from Roanoke and served 1962-1971. During his stint in the House, he served as chairman of the joint Republican caucus, 1964-1966 and as minority leader, 1966-1971.
Manley was elected as a Republican to the House of Representatives of the 92nd US Congress to fill a vacancy and at the same time for a full term in the 93rd Congress and to four additional terms,serving 1972-1983. He did not seek reelection in 1982. He returned to his law practice in Roanoke.
Mounce Gore Butler was born 11 may 1849 in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee, a son of Thomas Harvey Butler Sr. and Mary Gore. He was named for his mother's father, Mounce Gore, a relation of future Vice President Al Gore. Mounce attended Old Philomath Academy and Cumberland University law department. He was admitted to the bar in 1871 and set up practice in Gainesboro.
He served as a delegate to every one of the Tennessee Democratic Party State Conventions from 1872 to 1916.
Mounce served as Attorney General for the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Tennessee, 1894-1902.
He was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives of the 59th US Congress and served 1905-1907. He was defeated for reelection in 1906 and resumed his law practice at Gainesboro. He died there 13 Feb 1917 and was buried in Gainesboro Cemetery.
Roderick Randum Butler was born 9 Apr 1827 in Wytheville, Virginia. He was bound as an apprentice and learned the tailor's tdrade. He later moved to Taylorsville (now Mountain City), Tn. He studied at night and later studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1853. He set up practice in Taylorsville. President Millard Fillmore appointed him as Postmaster of Taylorsville. He served as a Major in the First Battalion of Tennessee Militia.
He was elected to the Tennessee State Senate and served 1859-1863.
During the War for Southern Independence, he enlised in the northern army as a lieutenant colonel from 1863 to 1864. He served as a delegate to the Republican Party national conventions of 1864, 1872 and 1876. He was a delegate to the Tennessee constitutional convention in 1865. He was elected as a county judge and later judge of the First Judicial Circuit in 1865. He served as chairman of the first Tennessee state Republican Party executive committee. He also served as a delegate to the Baltimore Border State Convention.
Roderick was elected as a Republican to the House of Representatives of the 40th US Congress and to three more terms, serving 1867-1875. This was during the "reconstruction" era in the South when most Southerners, especially Democrats, were not allowed to vote. Northern troops occupied all the former Confederate states, including Tennessee and the region fell into a deep economic depression that lasted until World War II. He lost a bid for reelection in 1874 when "reconstruction" ended. He was elected to the Tennessee State House of Representatives and served 1879-1885. He won reelection to Congress and served 1887-1889 and did not seek reelection in 1888. He was elected to the State Senate again and served 1893-1901. He died 18 Aug 1902 at Mountain City and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery. He had at least one son.
Robert Reyburn Butler was born 24 Sep 1881 in Butler, Johnson County, Tennessee, a son of William Roderick Butler and Rebecca Caroline Grayson. He attended Holly Springs College and graduated from Cumberland University's law department in 1903. He was admitted to the bar and set up practice in Mountain City, Tn. He moved to Condon, Or. In 1906 and set up practice there. He was elected Mayor of Condon. He was later appointed circuit Judge of the 11th Judicial District of Oregon, serving from 1909 until he retired in 1911. He moved to The Dalles, Or. In 1911 and resumed his law practice there.
He was elected to the Oregon State Senate and served 1913-1917 and again 1925-1929.
Robert was elected as a Republican to the House of Representatives of the 70th US Congress to fill a vacancy and at the same time to a full term for the 71st Congress; he was reelected to an additional term, serving from 1928 until his death 7 Jan 1933 at Washington, DC. He lost a race for reelection in 1932. He was buried at the Odd Fellows Cemetery, The Dalles.
Sampson Hale Butler was born 3 Jan 1803 near Ninety Six, Edgefield District, South Carolina. He attended South Carolina College (now University of South Carolina), Columbia, SC. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1825. He set up practice in Edgefield. He later moved to Barnwell, SC and set up practice there. He was elected Sheriff of Barnwell County and served 1832-1835.
Sampson was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives of the 26th US Congress and reelected for a second term, serving 1839 until he resigned on 27 Sep 1842. He returned to his law practice in South Carolina briefly and then moved to Tallahassee, Florida. He died there 16 mar 1848 and was buried in the old City Cemetery.
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