A Frankfort, Kentucky, Newspaper
February, 2005
Marian Rankin Butler
Retired social worker
----------
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Marian E. Rankin Butler, 78, of Frankfort, formerly of Jonesboro, died Tuesday, Feb. 22, at Frankfort Regional Medical Center.
A Tampa, Fla., native, she was a social worker for the Arkansas Department of Social Services and a graduate of Jonesboro High School and Arkansas State University.
She was a member of the Genealogy Society of Craighead County and First Presbyterian Church of Jonesboro.
Survivors include a daughter, Gail Butler Hiley  of Frankfort; a sister, Louise Rankin May  of Southaven, Miss.; and two brothers, Thomas L. Rankin  and  Charles N. Rankin  of Jonesboro.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John W. Butler Jr., and her parents, Nathan Lewis  and  Mary Gladys Davis Rankin.
Jonesboro services will be announced at a later date.  LeCompte Johnson Taylor Funeral Home of Frankfort is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be sent to the Genealogy Society of Craighead County, PO Box 844, Jonesboro, AR 72403.
Contributed by Bob Gordon
Notes from Bob:  Marian is the great-great-granddaughter of  Samuel Carson & Martha Woodward  and  Abraham Cosler & Elizabeth Wolf.


The  Shelbyville  Republican
Monday, January 12, 1931
page 2, column 5
-----------
MRS.  NINA  BUTLER  DIES
Widow of Former Shelby County Sheriff Succumbs Today
------------
         Mrs. Nina Butler, about seventy-seven years old, widow of  John Butler, former Shelby County sheriff, died at her home 409 South Tompkins street shortly after noon today following a long illness.
          Her husband preceded her in death several years ago.  They had no children.  Mrs. Butler is survived by sisters and brothers.  The funeral arrangements, in charge of Morris H. Sleeth, will be announced with the complete obituary tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 13, 1931
page 4, column 3
------------
BUTLER  FUNERAL  TOMORROW
------------
          Funeral services for Mrs. Nina Butler, whose death occurred shortly afternoon Monday at her home in South Tompkins street, will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the Pleasant Grove Christian Church.  The Rev. Clay Brown will officiate.  Burial will be in the Lewis Creek Baptist cemetery.  The body was moved today to the Morris H. Sleeth funeral home in South Harrison street where friends may call.

Thursday, January 15, 1931
page 1, column 3
------------
PROBATE  BUTLER  WILL
          The will of  Mrs. Eda A. Butler has been probated in the Shelby circuit court.  It directs that the real estate be converted into cash, and after expenses are paid, the residue be given-to a nephew, Ottie Ash.  The will was dated May 17, 1915, and was witnessed by Marie Coleman and  A. Guy Miller.
Submitted by Barb Huff for Olive Lee


The  Shelbyville  Republican
Monday, October 19, 1914
page 1, column 5
---------------
JOHN  H.  BUTLER  DIED  SUNDAY  A.M.
Well Known Resident Of The City Succumbed
After Long Illness Funeral Services Will Be Held
Tuesday Afternoon
----------
          John H. Butler, a life long resident of Shelby County, a prominent Democrat and a man with a wide acquaintance, died Sunday at his home, 313 South Tompkins street.  His death was caused by lung trouble which he had suffered for the last two years.  He contracted the disease in August, 1912, being afflicted at that time with a heavy cold which weakened his system to such an extent that tuberculosis set in.  Mr. Butler fought hard to overcome the ravages of the disease which had afflicted him.  Three months of last year he spent in Colorado.  He secured some benefit there, but later returned home.  Some time afterward he went to Alabama.  There he was forced to undergo an operation.  After returning to this county he lived in a tent for a time, but for the last few months, realizing that death was hovering near, he was at his home.  During the last several weeks his condition was such that he was delirious a part of the time.
          During all his illness he maintained a cheerful and jovial demeanor.  Lying on a bed by a large window he would wave to his friends as they passed during the day.  And when one would stop to converse with him for a few moments, Mr. Butler was the John of old.
          Mr. Butler was the son of the late Joseph and Rhoda Butler.  He was born on a farm in Shelby township, October 4, 1852, and at the time of his death was aged sixty-two years and fourteen days.  He had lived in the county all of his life and in Shelbyville for fifteen years.  When he moved to this city he erected a barn on a lot in South Tompkins street and run a livery there for a number of years. Later he turned the barn into a garage which he owned at the time of his death.  Mr. Butler was married October 5, 1876, to Miss Eda Harrell.  One son was born to them but died in infancy.
          Besides the widow, Mr. Butler is survived by a half brother, James Butler, of Kokomo.
          Always a Democrat and a hard worker, Mr. Butler was rewarded by his party which gave him the office of township assessor, which he held for five years.  He was also sheriff of the county for two terms, holding this office from 1906 to 1910.
          He was a member of the lodge of Odd Fellows at Smithland, the Daughters of Rebekah, the Red Men and Kiowa Council, Degree of Pocahontas.  He had been a member of the Odd Fellows for thirty-four years.
          Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock in the Lewis Creek Baptist church.  Short funeral services will also be held at the late home at twelve-forty-five o'clock.  The Rev. George W. Winfrey of Anderson will officiate.  Burial will be made in the Lewis Creek cemetery in charge of Stewart & Fix.
          Following are the names of the men who will act as pall bearers at the funeral service:  John Hogue,  Cecil Collins,  Frank Fagel,  James Courtney,  James H. Williams  and  William Fix.
Submitted by Barb Huff for Olive Lee


The  Shelbyville  Democrat
Shelbyville, Ind., November 9, 1911
Page 1
----------
PROMINENT  WOMAN  IS  VICTIM  OF  PARALYSIS
--------------
MRS.  ALBERT  BUTLER  DEAD  AT  MORRISTOWN
FOLLOWING  A  BRIEF  ILLNESS.
---------
          Paralysis caused the death yesterday evening at 5 o'clock of  Mrs. Henrietta C. Butler,  wife of  Albert  C.  Butler,  at their home in Morristown after she had suffered for twelve hours.  She was fatally stricken shortly after five o'clock yesterday morning and was unconscious the greater part of the time from then till her death.  Mrs. Butler was sixty-five years old and is survived by her husband, one son, George, of Indianapolis, and three daughters.  One of the daughters is  Mrs.  Faye  Coleman,  of Indianapolis, and the other two live at Chicago.
          Mrs. Butler was one of the most highly esteemed of the older residents of Morristown and she had many firends who will be saddened by the news of her sudden and unexpected death.
         The funeral services will be held at the house at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon and the Rev. Webber, pastor of the Morristown Christian church, will probably officiate.  The interment will be made in Concord cemetery in charge of Clyde Lewis.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming


The  Springfield  Republican
Oct. 2, 1906
Page 5, column 4
----------
          Jeremiah Butler  of 1415 East Florida street died Sunday Morning after a short illness and was buried Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Brick church cemetery.
Notes:  Jeremiah W. Butler was born December 9, 1832 in Scott county, Kentucky, the son of  Preston and Eleanor Weakley Butler . He died September 30, 1906 in Greene county, Missouri.  He married Mary Elizabeth Wilson, January 1, 1853 in Owen county, Kentucky.  Mary Wilson was the daughter of  William and Mary Alexander Wilson.  Jeremiah "Jerry" Butler and family are in the 1860 and 1870 census living in Addison township, Shelby county, Indiana.
Contributed by Judi Pegg


The  Shelby  Republican
Thursday, May 6, 1877
Page 2
----------
O B I T U A R Y.
----------
CHANCY BUTLER.
---------
          Died at his home, In Hanover township, Shelby county, Indiana, on the morning of the 1st.,  Chancy Butler, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.  One by one, in quiet succession the pioneers of the State are passing away.
          He came to this state in the year 1817, when but a boy, with his father, from Madison county, New York, first settled in Jennings county, afterwards in Shelby county, where he married the daughter of the late  Judge Cole, who still survives him.  Mr. Butler's life was a singular quiet and unobtrusive one for a man of his intelligence and popular address.  He never filed a public position of any kind, yet his loss will be most keenly felt and sincerely mourned by the community in which he lived so long and in which his character and influence were so well known and appreciated.
          We cannot forbear paying this tribute to his memory, which will be recognized of just and true by all who knew him.  We never met a man who better illustrated what an admirable thing is human nature when constantly under the guidance of a kind heart and an intelligent and earnest Christian life.  His very presence was sunshine.  His voice had an intonation as kind and gentle as his heart.  His manners had the ease and grace that indicated he was born a gentleman.  He won your confidence and esteem at the instant, which never abated, but increased with a longer intimacy and acquaintance.  He was a living example of "that highest style of manhood -- a Christian."
          Words cannot express the grief that comes at the loss of such a husband, father, brother, friend.  We tender the family our sincerest sympathy, with the certain assurance that such a life on earth must be crowned with endless happiness in that better world to which the grave is but entrance way.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming


The  Shelby  Volunteer
September 10, 1863
Page 2
---------
 Death of Preston Butler.
          It is with feelings of unaloyed[sic] regret that we are called upon to announce the death of  Preston Butler,  who died on the morning of the 7th inst. of wounds received at the hands of  Daniel Louden  on the 19th of August last.
          Mr. Butler was fifty-eight years of age.  He was born in Kentucky and removed to this State in the fall of 1852.  He was an honest, industrious and peaceable man and an exemplary citizen.  He leaves quite a large family of children, a widow and a large circle of friends to mourn his departure to the born from which no traveler returns.  His children fortunately are all grown and capable of taking care of themselves, with the exception of one daughter, who was afflicted with fits during her infancy, and although capable of performing considerable labor under competent directions, is not competent to look out or manage for herself.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

Obituary Index       Main Page

To contact researchers listed above, please use the  Surname Index