COL. WILIAM B. BUTLER AND FAMILY, Smith County, TX

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Submitted by Leroy Booker Butler, leroybutler@hotmail.com 16 May 2001
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COL. WILLIAM B. BUTLER AND FAMILY  "Some Biographies of Old Settlers."
Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I
By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas
Chapter LXIII - Pages 266-271
Picture of Jessie Wiley Butler on Page 269

   Col. Wm. B. Butler, Sr., known as Booker Butler, was born and raised 
in the state of Georgia, where he married Miss Elizabeth D. Hemphill, 
a young woman of many charms and accomplishments, who shared the 
pleasures and toils of a long life with that of her husband.

   Col. Booker Butler came to Texas in 1853, bringing his slaves and 
opening up a farm three and one=half miles south of Starrville, and 
returned to Alabama where he had previously moved from the state of 
Georgia, and in the spring of 1854, brought his family to the farm he 
had opened the year before.  He was a thrifty farmer and made that 
calling a success. Starrville was a thrifty little town with fine school 
advantages of the day, and Col. Butler aided greatly in building up the 
school, giving his children the advantages of a liberal education. 
Starrville community then was largely in advance of most of the 
neighboring communities.

   Col. Booker Butler and wife are buried in the family burying ground 
near Starrville,

   Col. Butler and wife had seven children and mention is made here of 
them.

   Mary E. Butler was married three times. Her first marriage was with 
Elias Ivey, who had four children-Will, Zeb, T.J. and Elias. Zeb Ivey-
he is now dead-married Miss Matilda Butler, The fruits of this marriage 
was three children-Pete, Ford and Zena, who resides in Kernes, Texas.

   Will Ivey lives in the panhandle of Texas, and has a pleasant family.

   T.J. Ivey married Miss Laura E. Abernathy, and resides in Tyler, and 
was City Marshall for a number of years, making a faithful and prompt 
official.  They have three children-Emmet, Clifford and Miss Ora. Emmet 
married Miss Birdie Allen and Miss Ora married Jeff Harris. Clifford is 
single. They all reside in Tyler.

   Elias Ivey married Miss Ora Butler and have three children. They 
reside in Kernes, Texas.

   Jesse Butler married Miss Mary E. Lott, the accomplished daughter of 
Col. Everett Lott. They are both dead and left three children-Jessie, 
Fannie L. and William )Sam) Everett. Miss Jessie married Maj. Gen. W. 
Finger, late state land commissioner. Fannie L. married L.C. Harrison, 
a prominent merchant of Pryor Creek, I.T. William Everett (Sam) Butler 
married Miss Erwin, of Mansfield, Texas.  He is now the popular county 
clerk of Tarrent county, Texas.

   William B. Butler married Miss Mary S. Black, who was one of the 
lovely and accomplished daughters of Col. Shimmy Black. They have three 
children, Levi A., J. A. and Claude. Levi Butler married Miss Emma 
Nicholson, and has two children.  He is a leading merchant at 
Starrville, Texas. J.A. Butler married Miss Cora Hitt, and they have 
two children. He is a farmer. Claude Butler is a clerk in the State
Comptroller's Office and recently married Miss Ola Dowell of Austin.

   Levi Butler, Sr. when a boy went into the Confederate army in the 
12th Mississippi Infantry from Copiah county Mississippi and after 
being wounded three times, he was killed by yankee soldiers at the 
Battle of Gettysburg. He had hardly reached the age of twenty-one years 
when he was killed. He was a bright young man who was brave beyond
understanding.

   J. Wiley Butler has been married twice. His first wife was the 
accomplished Miss Sally Holt, a daughter of Col. Thos. Holt, a 
prominent planter and citizen of Smith County up to his death. He had 
by marriage three boys and one girl-Thos. B., Leberta, Henry and Lee.

   Thos. B. Butler married Miss Sallie Cain, one of the pretty and 
lovely daughters Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Cain. Tom is a prominent lawyer of 
Tyler, and a member of the law firm of Butler and Lasseter. He has 
been county judge of Smith County and made an able and impartial 
presiding judge. He is quite a young man and has a bright professional
future before him. He already enjoys a good and paying practice; able 
to stand his hand in the courts with the best lawyers;. In addressing 
the court or jury, he is forcible and logical, at ease and ready, and 
he seems to be at home. His friends expect much of him. With a good 
mind, studious and good habits, his life is indeed a promising one.

   Miss Leberta resides with the family; possesing those rare traits of 
character that makes girlhood so attractive. She has many friends and 
admirers, and she justly deserves it.

   Henry Butler, who just started on a visit some years ago, never 
returned.  There is a deep mystery connected with his disappearance. He 
was employed in the Tyler postoffice
at the time.

   J. W. Butler's last marriage was with Mrs. Mary Deweese, the 
daughter of Col. Casey Askew of this city. She is a woman of 
intelligence and many womanly charms.  They have two children-Bessie 
and Clarence.

   Alfonzo F. Butler married Miss Carrie Dean, the intelligent daughter 
of Col. Calaway Dean, an old Texan and prominent citizen. They have six 
children-Bertha, Alfonzo S., Willie, Daisey, Nellie and Edna.

   Bertha married Frank McClung, a merchant at Starrville. Alfonzo S. 
Butler married Miss Tucker, of Starrville. Willie Butler is a clerk at 
Winsboro, Texas.  Miss Daisy Butler married Dr. J.C. Smith, of Winona. 
Misses  Nellie and Edna, lovely girls, live with their parents.

   Robert Henry Clay Butler married Miss Ella Gray, and they have four 
boys and one girl-William Ernest, Samuel Leroy, Wiley Carl, Henry Earl 
and Ella Mae. The live with their parents on the old Butler Plantation.

   The Butler's have been prominent people in Smith county from the 
early fifties to the present good hour.

   Wm. B. Butler is a prominent farmer near Browning and has made that 
business a success.
He is surrounded with a pleasant family and the comforts of life.

   J. W. Butler is a resident of this city; made Smith county an 
effiecient and honest sheriff and is now Deputy United States Marshal 
of this district. Wiley is a popular man and enjoys the implicit 
confidence of the people. He is a good man and worthy citizen.

   Alfonzo F. Butler is a leading farmer and made farming pay by his 
energy and good management. He is a distinguished citizen of Starrville.

   R. H. C. Butler is now farming. He was a leading lawyer at the Tyler 
bar but voluntarily retired for the peaceful pursuits of a farmer. He 
like all the Butler's has done well in life.

   The younger generation are lawyers, merchants and farmers, composing 
of a healthy community. he old stock is implanted in the offspring, 
giving them intelligence, force of character that builds wisely and 
forges to the front lines of business success.