A. S. BUTLER

BUTLER

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/22/2020 at 18:49:50

A. S. BUTLER, a retired farmer of Adams county, was born in Rush county, Indiana, May 12, 1832. He is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Shannon) Butler, natives of Fleming and Shelby counties, Kentucky, respectively. The paternal grandfather came from London, England, and died in Kentucky during the war of 1812. In 1830 the parents of Mr. Butler removed from their Kentucky home to Rush county, Indiana, and settled on a tract of wild land which was cleared and improved through their efforts, aided by their children. There were seven children in the family, two of whom died in youth.

Mr. Butler was the second born, and his younger days were spent in assisting his father in the clearing and improving of the farm. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, and then began teaching school in his native State. In 1860 he went to Adams county, Illinois, where he taught for two years, returning at the end of that time to Indiana. August 13, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Thirty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and started for the South to take a part in putting down the Rebellion. He joined the company at Cowan, Tennessee, the regiment being a part of the army of the Cumberland, then stationed at Nashville, Tennessee. He was in many severe engagements, was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and witnessed the grand review which was held in Washington, District of Columbia, at the close of the war. He was honorably discharged June 22, 1865, and returned to his former home in Rush county, Indiana. After a short stay there he went to Adams county, Illinois, again, and resumed his profession, that of teaching, which he followed until he came to this county in 1871.

April 17, 1872, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Shelby, a native of Athens county Ohio, and a daughter of Wilson and Margaret (Shields) Shelby. On coming to this county he purchased 240 acres of land, which was still in the wild state in which Nature had left it. This he improved and cultivated, until it is one of the best farms in the county. In 1890 he sold this land, and is in circumstances to live comfortably the remainder of his days, and enjoy the accumulations of his
many years of labor.

Mrs. Butler departed this life May 19, 1888. She and her husband were consistent members of the United Presbyterian Church. In his political opinion Mr. Butler is an uncompromising Republican, and he is also an ardent worker in the temperance cause.