M. A. Butterfield Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1571-1572 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	M. A. BUTTERFIELD, attorney and counsellor at law, Montrose, South 
Dakota, was born April 20, 1847, in Chautauqua county, New York, the son 
of Orville K. and Nancy J. (Bemus) Butterfield, both natives of the 
Empire state. When about six years of age he was taken by these parents 
to Spring Creek, Pennsylvania, at which place he grew to young manhood, 
receiving the meanwhile a public-school education, and as soon as old 
enough assisting his father by working at different pursuits. When the 
great Rebellion war broke out, he was one of the first in his community 
to tender his services to the government, although but ~a mere youth at 
the time, being not quite fourteen years and four months old when he 
entered the army, and experienced in full the vicissitudes and terrible 
realities of warfare. Mr. Butterfield enlisted August 7, 1861, in 
Company I, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with which he 
served until 1864, when he re-enlisted, joining on January 4th of that 
year the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry and remaining with the same 
until honorably discharged, on the 17th day of August, 1865. Shortly 
after re-enlisting he was promoted quartermaster sergeant and 
subsequently was made first sergeant of his company, filling the latter 
office while in the cavalry service. During the four years in which he 
upheld the honor of the flag in the southland, Mr. Butterfield took part 
in a number of the most noted campaigns of the war, principally in 
Virginia, where his command was frequently engaged in battles, which 
made that state truly historic ground. Among the more important actions 
in which he participated were the seven days' fight in front of 
Richmond, second Bull Run, battle of the Wilderness, Sheridan's great 
raid through the Shenandoah valley, and others, sixteen in all, in each 
of which he bore himself bravely and gallantly, shirked no 
responsibility and never hesitated at danger or death, while in the 
discharge of his duty. He was three times wounded, at Bull Run very 
severely, and his escape under many trying circumstances was little less 
than marvelous. 

	For some time after Lee's surrender Mr. Butterfield served 
on provost marshal duty, but on leaving the army he returned to 
Pennsylvania and for a number of years thereafter taught school in that 
state. Later he took up the study of law and in August, 1880, came to 
Montrose, South Dakota, where he opened an office and soon won a 
lucrative practice in the courts of McCook and neighboring counties. Mr. 
Butterfield's professional experience includes a wide range, and for a 
number of years his name has appeared in connection with the majority of 
important cases in the city and county in which he resides, besides 
commanding a lucrative office business, to say nothing of extensive 
litigation in other parts of the state and before higher courts. He is 
well-grounded in the principles of the law, being not only recognized as 
one of the most successful attorneys of the McCook county bar, but also 
as one of the most honorable and trustworthy practitioners in his part 
of the state. 

	Mr. Butterfield was formerly a Republican, but of recent years he 
has acted with the Peoples' party and is now one of its leaders in 
Montrose and McCook county. He served two terms as state's attorney, was 
at one time superintendent of the public schools of the above county, 
and his interest in matters educational led him some years ago to accept 
the secretaryship of the Montrose school board, which position he still 
holds. He is an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic, 
and has held several important offices in the organizations. He served 
two years as aid with the rank of captain on the staff of General Free, 
took an active interest in organizing the Union Veterans' Union of Sioux 
Falls, and was honored by being made major of John A. Logan Regiment, 
No. 2, in Sioux Falls. He also served six years as adjutant of the 
McCook County Veterans' Association, was commander. of the same in 1903, 
and in 1904 was appointed on the Union Veterans' Union department 
executive committee, with rank as colonel. Mr. Butterfield stands high 
in military circles, is a loyal friend of the old soldiers and spares no 
pains in looking after their interests and if necessary spends his means 
freely for their comfort and support, realizing that the country is 
under a debt of gratitude to the veterans which it can never 
sufficiently repay. 

	Mr. Butterfield, on October 14, 1882, entered the marriage 
relation with Miss Edith A. Fowler, of Olmsted county, Minnesota, the 
union being blessed with four children, whose names are as follows: 
Jennie E., Ethel M., Irl M. and Claude E.