Lawrence County KyArchives Obituaries.....Butler, Thomas Chilton February 9, 1898
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Deanna Meeks http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00018.html#0004285 January 8, 2024, 7:55 pm

Big Sandy News March 4th 1898
Thomas Chilton Butler, after an illness of two years with consumption, passed 
into the lengthening shadows of the valley of death with the calmness and rest 
of a tired child seeking repose in sleep. His death was beautiful with the 
serenity of of a soul from which the sting of death had been expelled, and he 
met his God without a tremor, with no forebodings that ill from that benign hand 
betided him. In these days when some are continually applying their-atheistic 
snuffer to the bright tapers of a Christian faith, it were well for these dismal 
pessimists to witness a triumphant death like that of Brother Toms’. The writer 
is sure that their sophistries would have been swept aways like the mists before 
the bright evidence that shone resplendent from this young man’s face white the 
sun of his mortality was setting. The marks of the supernatural celled the new 
birth were plainly visible- love, joy, peace, gentleness, meekness, humility- 
the soul takes on no such graces naturally, such rare exotics do not grow from 
the barren soil of the natural heart, these are purely and simply fruits of the 
spirit whose life and nature are implanted in the soul, and the come ‘from 
above.” Oh, infinite miracles of grace- the birth of a soul from the chrysalis 
of sin and self into the life where every faculty has its appropriate latitude, 
and breathes a diviner breath.

Experiences such as these aside from the sanction of the Word of God, bring us 
again and again to the insistence of sudden conversions, and any one who may 
read these lines who doesn’t know joy and peace of this experience, we urge you 
to think of the example of this sketch, whom God ordered in this community as a 
monument to His truth. You dare not close your eyes to this modern miracle. Dear 
friend, believe God, and let him witness this truth to your heart.

I calling on Bro. Tom at Catlettsburg some weeks before his death, and 
instructed him in the way of God as expressed in the Word. He was an eager and 
attentive listener to these things of weighty concern, and made the definite 
promise that he would give himself to sincere thought upon the subject. This was 
not the first serious attention that he gave the matter, however, for I learn 
from one near of his kin that he wrote a letter two years ago during his illness 
in Pike, to his brother, in which, commenting on the bereavement of their 
sister’s death, he made the sentiment that he would be next, and intended to 
prepare himself for the summons, So that, when he came to Louisa from 
Catlettsburg a few weeks ago, he had made some advances in understanding what he 
“must do to be saved.” His decline was rapid, and, as his physical strength gave 
way, the lips moved in earnest prayer, and on Monday February 7th, 1898, while 
talking to friends about heaven, the spirit flooded his soul with joy, and he 
shouted God’s praises until he was exhausted. The glad news came over the wires 
to the writer who was at Ashland, “Tom is saved and wishes to see you.” Glorious 
message- it was known in heaven before it came to me! Prayers had been answered, 
burdens had been removed, and we could lay away the dust without regret.

On Wednesday, while the sun was setting in the west, I was hastily summoned to 
his bedside, and he requested baptism. I performed the solemn ordinance, and 
gave him the emblems of Christ’s body and blood in the sacrament. “Thank God,” 
sad he, “all is now ready, and I shall go in peace.” I shall never be called 
upon to perform a service of this kind under more touching circumstances. The 
natural sun flooded the room, the Sun of Righteousness shone in Tom’s face and 
family and friends were gathered at the bedside to bid a tearful farewell. “Draw 
back the curtains,” said the sufferer, “I want to see the sun set- my last 
evening on earth! But thank God, my sun is rising!”. God spoke through these 
lips to every friend and relative a note of warning-“ Prepare to meet God. Don’t 
delay repentance for a death-bed!” We hope to see the fruits of many promises 
made.

A word or so by way of biography might appropriately bring this tribute to a 
close. Tom was born Dec.3rd 1865 at what is know as Old Peach Orchard, in 
Lawrence County, Ky., and died Feb. 9th, 1989 10:30 p.m. at Louisa KY, aged 32 
years, 2 months, and 6 days. He left the home place about the age of 20 years 
for Paris IL, and spend much of his childhood in the West. After several years 
in Western Kansas and Colorado, he returned about five years ago, to 
Catlessburg, and made that place his headquarters. He was well and favorably 
know the Big Sandy Valley as a young man of genial spirit, fond of his friends. 
Two years ago at Pikeville he was taken ill with typhoid fever, which left his 
system debilitated and consumption soon marked him as a a victim. His unusual 
robust strength stood off the hour of death for many a day, and he kept the 
genial glow of a warm hear and uncomplaining spirit throughout his extreme 
suffering. I have not been fulsome in my eulogy. I desired to express for the 
consolation of the family and tough some responses in the hearts of living young 
men who knew and loved Tom, some things that will keep his memory green and 
testify to the glory of God.

“ Nothing in his life, Became him like the leaving it”. ( Author DHR.)

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