Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 400; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Frederick A. Butler is a native-born citizen of this
county and is now an important member of its farming community, owning
and ably managing a finely improved farm within the corporate limits of
Farmington. In this town of his birth he is a leader in social and
political circles, and he has here a very handsome residence on East
Fort Street.
Mr. Butler is the youngest son of one of Farmington's oldest
settlers. He was born on his father's homestead, January 9, 1850, and
was reared and educated here, completing his education in the High
School. He was bred to the life of a farmer, and having a natural taste
for the calling he adopted it for his life work when he arrived at
years of discretion. He owns a sixty-acre farm within the corporate
limits of Farmington, which is under excellent tillage and is amply
provided with neat and well-ordered buildings. Besides this farm he has
an interest in two hundred and ten acres of land, in partnership with
his brothers Charles C. and Cornelius B. His career as a farmer has
shown him to be sharp, practical and a good manager. He conducts his
work in a business-like manner, and so as to secure good returns, and
the income that he derives from the cultivation of his land is very
satisfactory. He is actively interested in all that pertains to the
welfare of his native township, and no one is more zealous in promoting
its interests than he. He is a keen politician, keeping himself well
informed in regard to party movements. In his views he is a decided
Republican, and in 1890 his political friends came within four votes of
electing him Mayor of Farmington.
Mr. Butler and Miss Lettie Butler were wedded in the month of
December, 1875, and the marriage has proved one of mutual happiness.
They have a fine family of five children living--Ford (or Rutherford),
Ivah, Bertha, Myrtle and Earl. One died unnamed.
Mrs. Butler is a daughter of Peter and Sarah Jane (White)
Butler. Her father was born in Allegheny, Pa., and her mother was also
a native of that State. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was
married in his native State. In 1868 he came to Illinois and settled in
Young Hickory Township. They are enjoying the declining years of
well-spent lives in the peace and comforts of a cozy home. They are the
parents of eight children--Rachel, Mary, Jane, Minerva, Charlotte,
Lettie, Peter and Eva. Rachael became the wife of Mr. Van Spence, a
farmer of Farmington; Mary is a dressmaker in Farmington; Jane married
B. Berry, of Canton; Minerva is the wife of John McCoy, of
Independence, Pa.; Charlotte married I. N. Hayslip, a barber in
Farmington; Peter, who is a farmer, resides near London Mills; Eva is
the wife of Jerry White, of London Mills. Mrs. Butler was born in
Allegheny County, Pa., and came to Illinois in 1868 with her father.
She is a woman of fine character and good Christian principles, and is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Butler is prominently
connected with the Odd Fellows, and is serving at present as Noble
Grand of Memento Lodge, No. 44. He has served in all the chairs of the
order.
