Delos G. Butts Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 854

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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DELOS G. BUTTS, one of the pioneers of Rockdale township, Hand county, 
and who has witnessed its development from the first, is a prosperous 
farmer and land owner, residing on section 5 of the above named 
township. 

Mr. Butts was born in Delaware county, New York, April 16, 1838. His 
parents, Jacob S. and Lucinda (Johnson) Butts, were natives of New York 
and were farming people. They went to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, in 
1848, where the father died in 1859. The mother has since died in the 
same county. They were the parents of eleven children, eight sons and 
three daughters, two of the sons besides our subject now residing in 
South Dakota. The grandfather, Martin Butts, was a New Yorker. 

Delos G. Butts was reared and educated in Wisconsin, where he followed 
farming until 1861. In April of that year he enlisted in Company D, 
Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. This regiment was attached to the 
Army of the Potomac, and our subject was stationed at Harper's Ferry at 
the time the first battle of Bull Run was fought. He was later at the 
battle of Cedar Mountain, and participated in considerable skirmishing 
and many small engagements. He was discharged for disability and 
returned to Wisconsin after about one year's service. He engaged in 
farming there, and in 1865 removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where 
he resided until his removal to Hand county, Dakota, in 1882. He took 
land in section 5, Rockdale township, built a substantial house and has 
continued to reside there ever since. He-made a success of farming and 
stock raising almost from the first and has a valuable property, well 
improved and provided with conveniences for carrying on a successful 
business. 

Mr. Butts was married in 1865 to Miss Anna L. Conan, a native of the 
province of Prince Edwards, Dominion of Canada, and a daughter of 
Dennis and Mary (Armstrong) Conan. Her parents were natives of Ireland. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Butts have been born six children, upon whom they have 
bestowed the following names: William, Claude, Frank, Clearmont, Luane 
and Bernice, all of whom are now living. Mrs. Butts is a communicant of 
the Catholic church. Mr. Butts holds membership in the Grand Army of 
the Republic and in political sentiment is a Republican. He has taken 
much interest in local political matters and has from time to time 
filled most of the township offices. He has been one of the county's 
most substantial and worthy citizens since the earliest days, and is 
well known throughout the county and is held in highest respect by all 
who know him. After his many years of labor and careful management he 
now contemplates taking up his residence in the city of Miller, where 
he may live in retirement.