Biographies: Henry W. Butler, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co. WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: "Duane David" ==================================================================== Henry W. Butler, farmer, P.O. Eau Claire, was born in the state of New York, October 19, 1826, and is the son of Augustus Butler, a native of Connecticut, of English descent. Henry was fourth in a family of seven children. He attended the district school until the age of seventeen, when he started out in life for himself, working on a farm, and has followed that occupation up to the present time (1892 when the book was published). In 1843 he came with his parents to Wisconsin, settling in Dodge County, and in the spring of 1856 he moved to Eau Claire, where he purchased 245 acres of land in section five, township twenty-six, range nine, town of Washington, and has carried on general farming there ever since." Information taken from the Civil War files held at the National Archives in Washington DC: Henry W. Butler was 37 years old when he enlisted as a private for Company K, 36th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry on February 29, 1864 in Oak Grove (Eau Claire County), Wisconsin. He was mustered in March 23rd, 1864 at Madison, Wisconsin. He was 5' 5" tall, light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was appointed a Corporal in April of 1864. A musket ball wounded his lefthand through the palm and emerged at the junction of the meta-carpal bone of his middle finger on June 3rd, 1864 at Cold (Coal) Harbor, Virginia. My grnadmother mentioned once that he had injured his hand in the war and they used to laugh at him because he couldn't milk a cow properly! The Infantry had just arrived at Cold Harbor at 8:00 in the morning the previous day. Henry was hospitalized at Harwood Hospital in Washington DC. He appears on muster-out rolls in Washington DC on June 24, 1865 and Jeffersonville, Indiana on July 12, 1865. Henry was married to Adeline Louise Fairchild on July 4, 1850 in Rubicon (Dodge Co), Wisconsin, by Francis S. Bunker, Justice of Peace. It was the first and only marriage for both of them. Adeline was born April 27, 1831 in Butternuts (Otsego Co), New York. She was the daughter of William Fairchild and Abigail Weston. She died on January 6, 1905 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Henry and Adoline's children were: 1. Christabell Butler was born March 8, 1857 and she died on May 29, 1893. 2. Cora E. Butler born May 10, 1859 and died June 20, 1859 3. Mortimer E. Butler born September 18, 1868 and died February 1, 1882. These dates can be confirmed with notations made in my grandmother's bible and the records that I have received from the National Archives concerning Henry's Civil War service. They match what I had already. Christabell Butler married Charles Bigelow on May 27, 1878. Their children were: 1. Pearl Bigelow, born June 26, 1883 in Eau Claire. She married Charles Whitcher, and moved to North Dakota. According to a Seattle Times newspaper article dated October 11, 1953, Pearl had two daughters: Mrs. John Naekel of North Dakota and Mrs. H.E. Keene of Puyallup, Washington. 2. Gussie Mae Bigelow, my grandmother was born November 4, 1885 and died January 21, 1987 in Seattle (King Co), Washington. She was 101 years old and died of old age; no medical problems. She married Harry Francis David in Williston, North Dakota on June 13, 1904. 3. Leslie Bigelow, born June 30, 1887 in Eau Claire, and died September 22, 1887. Charles Bigelow remarried after the death of Christabell Butler to Jennie Stearns (born November 24, 1871 in Vermont) on September 23, 1896, and their children were: William Glen born June 19, 1897 in Eau Claire Charles Vernon born July 1, 1899 in Eau Claire Alice Adeline born February 2, 1902 in Towner, North Dakota. She married a man named McNutt. Margaret (I’m guessing at this point that since Gussie didn't record this birth date in her bible, Charles and Jennie had moved to California by then. Gussie was married in 1904, so maybe it was she that had moved away instead. I'll figure it out eventually!). I have a married name of Magnuson for Margaret. Emily (again, no birth date) and married a man with the surname Hickey. Cora Butler, daughter of Henry and Adeline Fairchild, married J.J. Cliff. They were wed on May 13, 1879, in Eau Claire. From notations in Gussie's bible, I can safely say their children were: Newton Cliff, born December 14, 1881 Russell Cliff, born June 14, 1883 There is an Earl Cliff that fits in here somewhere too, but I haven't figured him out yet. There's nothing in Gussie's bible about him. I have a photograph that says on the back "Earl Cliff - cousin," and it looks like Gussie's handwriting, but at this point I haven't been able to fit him into the puzzle. (maybe J.J.'s younger brother, because he looks like a teenager, maybe about 13 or 14. I'm purely speculating.) Cora (Butler) Cliff died on June 20, 1895 and her widower, J.J. was re- married to a woman named Ida on December 31, 1896. This gets interesting. We're going back to Henry Butler's Civil War files now... Henry's pension files from the National Archives state that he applied for an invalids pension in 1865. I'm not sure yet if he got it. I'll need to study these forms some more. They are hard to read sometimes. In an affidavit to The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions dated January 15, 1898, it asks his wife's full name and if he has any living children. The answer is "no, three died." (Christabell, Cora, and Mortimer) Copies of "The Act of May 11, 1912" state that he is entitled to a pension at the rate of $24 a month to commence May 22, 1912. A form dated 1915 required him to answer the same questions about his wife and children and they had all died by then. A form that requires him to fill out still some more of the same information in December 1921 about his wife and children with dates and all is signed "Henry W. Butler, By: Jessie Cliff !" (J.J.?) State of Wisconsin, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, has a copy of his death certificate. He died at 2:00 am on December 28, 1921. He was 95 years old! Cause of death was Eultis Colitis and contributory cause; general arleuosderosis (I'll have to look that up too!) The informant listed was Russell Cliff. Department of Interior, Bureau of Pensions dropped him from the roll as of December 28, 1921 because of death and his last paid rate was $50 a month as of October 4. 1921. Now on October 26, 1921, Ida Cliff was a secondary signature to Austin Chrisler stating that Henry required regular personal aid and attendance of another person on account of "cardis vascular (something ?), heart affliction and the infirmaties of old age." She stated in another affidavit that "this old man was cared for very capable in a comfortable home," and that she had known him for 23 years. He left no land or possessions, but for the sum of $100 to take care of his burial expenses. Ida filed a claim for reimbursement to the pension fund in the sum of $441.50 for expenses that she claims she paid out of pocket, for physician, funeral home and burial. --Taken from the book, "Historical & Biographical Album of Chippewa Valley Wisconsin," R977.54 F77H. Henry Butler was the gggrandfather of the submitter of this item, Duane David .