Timothy A. Butler, a successful farmer residing on Section 6, Palmyra Towship, is numbered among the pioneer settlers of the ocunty of 1838. He is a native of Long Island and was born March 2, 1814. The family is of Scotch origin,b ut hte father, John Butler was born in the North of Ireland, His parents spending their last days on the Emerald Isle. They were members of the Presbyterian Church and John Butler was reared in that faith.
When a young lad and accompanied by his brother William, stillyounger than himself, John Butler started for America, leaving parents and home, to seek a country in which liberty prevailed. The two brothers settled on Lon Island and turned their attention to agricultural pursuits. John Butler was there married to Nancy Abbott, who was born and reared on Long Island, where her parents lived and died. The children of the Butler family also opened their eyes to the light of day there and in 1831 accompanied their parents to Delawre County NY, where, amidst the hills, they were reared. Several years later both parents passed away, the father at the age of 64, whilte the mother reached the alloted age of three-score years and ten. They were both members of the Christian Church, and in politics Mr. Butler was a supporter of Democratic principles.
With one exception our subject is the youngest in a family of four sons and one daughter. The latter grew to womanhood, was married and at her death left a family of children. The oldest son, Steven Wright, after long years spent in the ministry of the Christian Church is now living a retired life near Binghamton, Greene County NY; Charles, also a Christian minister, is now living retired in the Empire State; Timothy A. is the next younger and William, also a preacher of the Christian Church, is a resident of Greene County NY.
The days of his boyhood and youth Timothy Butler passed largely on Long Island and in Delaware County, and since 1838 he has been a citizen of Lee County. After arriving at years of maturity he led to the marriage altar Roxanna Stewart, who was born in this county, December 15, 1834 and is a daughter of Benjamin and Marjorie (Morgan) Stewart, both of whom were natives of the Empire State. They came to IL when young and were married in Sangamon County, whence they removed to Lee County, becoming pioneer settlers of Palmyra township Locating on government land at Gap Grove, Mr. Stewart developed a farm. His wife died while on a visit in Sangamon County, and he passed away in Southern MO in 1881, having attained the age of 70. They were both members of the Baptist church and Mr. Stewart exercised his right of franchise in the Republican party. In their family were five daughters and one son. Mrs. Butler was quite young when she lost her mother, and was reared in Palmyra Twp. where she made her home since her marriage.
Of this union have been born seven children but two died in early childhood. Lillian is now the wife of Anson Brauer, a resident farmer of Sterling Twp, Whiteside County, Perditta is the wife of John Small who is engaged agriculture in Palmyra Twp; Otho J. married Sarah Goushart and is living in Powesheik, IA; Catherine and Nona are still at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Butler began their domestic life on the farm which is still their home and upon which the husband has resided since 1839. It comprises 136 acres of arable land that yields a golden tribute to his care and cultivation, and in addition to this he also has another hundred acres elsewhere in the twp. In politics he is a Democrat. In the truest sense of the word he is a self-made man. He is now numbered among the substantial farmers of the community.
Portrait and Biographical Record - Lee County Pg 556
