JUDGE T. B. BUTLER, Obituary, 10 April 1919, Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net 14 April 2001 ***************************************************************** Tyler Courier-Times, 10 April 1919 DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN OF TYLER DIED AT 12:15 THIS MORNING JUDGE T. B. BUTLER It is with hearta and minds strugling with burdens of grief and sorrow that we chronicle the passing away of our beloved friend and associate Judge T. B. Butler. His noble spirit was borne away to its eternal home in Heaven, Thursday morning at 12:15 o'clock from his home on South Fannie avenue, and verily the announcement has cast a shadow of gloom over our entire city. While Judge Butler had been in ill health for several months, he had been confined to his bed for only a few days. Death was quiet and peaceful. The nurse was administering a dose of medicine when he suddenly fell back on his pillow and expired almost instantly. He was a man of God, not afraid to die, and his soul is now basking in the smiles of the Redeemer. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock and will be conducted jointly by Dr. Sam H. Campbell, pastor of the First Baptist church and Dr. E. R. Barcus, pastor of Marvin church. Interment will be at Rose Hill Burial Park. Judge Butler was 52 years of age. He was born at Starrville, 20 miles northeast of Tyler, and spent his early boyhood days on the farm. Moving with the family to Tyler he entered the city schools and enjoyed such limited opportunities as the schools afforded at that time. Later he was a student for some months at Tyler Academy, Hon. Cone Johnson being a member of the faculty. Leaving school, he served as dupty sheriff under his father, the late Wiley Butler who was sheriff of Smith county for several years. Tom Butler was not satisfied to be a peace officer, and decided to become a lawyer. He entered the law office of the late Govenor Hogg and secured license while in Gov. Hogg's office. After securing license he formed a partnership with H. B. Marsh of this city and the late Judge N. W. Finley of Dallas. This partnership continued for several years. Leaving that firm Judge Butler associated himself with Elbert Lasseter. This partnership continued for sometime and was disolved, when Judge Butler, Judge J. W. Fitzgerald and Judge J. A. Bulloch entered the practice of law, which partnership continued over a long term of years. It was interrupted, however, for about two years, when Judge Butler went to Dallas and became the president and business manager of the Baptist Standard, the great denominational paper of the Baptist for Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana. Exercising the shrewd business judgment that always characterized Judge Butler's efforts, he placed this great paper on a sound financial basis and increased the subscriptions list from 20,000 to 30,000 readers. Returning to Tyler, Judge Butler resumed the practice of law with Judge Fitzgerald, which continued until the formation at the Guaranty State Bank, when he was elected president. Judge Butler filled that important position with great credit for himself and the stockholders until he was forced to retire, October 24, 1918, on account of ill health. He made an enviable record as a banker and his far seeing ability was recognized by being placed at different times on various enterprises of state-wide financial importance where his counsel was sought by leading bankers all over Texas and other states as well. Under his direction Guaranty State Bank has charged to the front until it is recognized as one of the leading banks in Texas operating under the State Banking law. Not only did Judge Butler receive distinction as a banker, but as a lawyer, he early ranked with the legal minds in Texas. He was a delegate to various state conventions and his voice was always heard in the convention halls. He served Smith County in a very acceptable manner as County Judge and was also District Judge for one term. It is st--ed that he was never reversed to the higher court, a record that has few equals in Texas legal circles. Judge Butler was a many sided man. Banker, lawyer, merchant, newspaper man and identified with dozens of strong, financial institutions, he always measured up to the fullest standard. He became identified with the Courier-Times some ten years ago and was always proud of the success the paper made under his direction. Judge Butler was of tremendous moral force in the community. Always found on the side of righteousness and justice, he was ever alert to take his stand for the things that go to make up the better things of life. He was the first county chairman of the prohibition party when local option was carried in Smith county, and those who went through that fight even now attribute the larger part of the success of the probitionists to his indefatigable efforts in that direction. Judge Butler was a life time member of the Baptist church. He was a deacon in the First Baptist church and gave liberally of both time and money to the church to which he belonged. No cause of the Master that came to his notice ever went unanswered and no demand for charity was unheeded. As a husband and father Judge Butler was tender, kind and true. He was distinctly a family man. He loved his family. He was never happier than when surrounded by wife and children. As a citizen no man has done more for Tyler and Smith county than Judge Butler. He was acitve in promoting any interest or enterprise that had for their purpose the development and furtherance of the city and section. Probably no other man had as many friends and probably no other man was more generously loved and esteemed than Judge Butler. His place will be hard to fill. Surviving Judge Butler are his wife and three daughters, Mrs. Sam Bothwell, Misses Sarah and Emma Butler, and one son, Tom Butler, Jr., one sister, Miss Bertha Butler, one brother, Lee Butler, his step mother, Mrs. Wiley Butler, and half sister, Mrs. Bessie Bischoff of St. Louis, one have brother, Clarence Butler of Palestine and step brother Neal Deweese of this city, in addition to many other relatives, to all of whom our community join us in extending tender sympathy. EDITORIAL Our Good Friend Called Home With the passing of Judge T. B. Butler, the Courier-Times editor and the Courier-Times force have lost a friend who has stood true to every test through many years agone. He bestowed his friendship without strings and no hope of reward in this life. It was his pleasure to serve and he served everyone else. We loved him for his many kind deeds and his true worth. We appreciated his efforts to build a greatter newspaper. Though himself not a newspaperman to the manner born, yet he identified himself with every interest of the Courier- Times. He associated himself with the paper some ten years ago, and he never lost enthusiasm when the welfare of the paper was concerned. We take this method of paying tribute to him who has gone from us. His memory will ever linger like the dew on a bright spring morning. His presence will abide continually, and his kind words of advice and admonition will remain until time shall be no more. We would weave chaplets of immortelles and place on the mound in the Silent City of the Dead, keeping it fresh with our tears. Farewell, dear friend, we loved you. May your sleep be sweetest and may the angels sing with sweetest accent your coming home song.