William Newton Butler, 1864-1934

The Seymour Herald – 5 July 1934

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W. N. BUTLER, DIES JUNE 26 IN AMES 
AT AGE OF 70

BORN IN APPANOOSE CO. AND 
WAS REARED NEAR SEYMOUR

  The following is the obituary of W. N. Butler, who died Tuesday in Ames.

  William Newton Butler was born in Appanoose county, Iowa, May 27, 1864, the son of two hardy pioneers, Pascal T. Butler and Jane Morlan Butler.  He grew to manhood at the family homestead northeast of Seymour.

  On the 21^st of September, 1887, he was married to Etta B. Wright, who was the daughter of pioneer parents in the same community.  To this marriage were born six children, all of who survive their father, and their mother, who preceded father in death five years ago.  The children are:  Will, who is engaged in he practice of law at Mason City, Iowa; Carl, who is in business at Caldwell, Idaho; Lee of the faculty of Iowa State college at Ames, Iowa; Ralph, who is with the auditing department of the Equitable Life Insurance company of Des Moines; Alice, Girl Reserve Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. at Harrisburg, Penn.; and Oma, who is a teacher of music in the public schools of Boise, Idaho.

Goes to Indianola

  Mr. Butler engaged in farming until 1908, when the family moved to Indianola, Iowa, in order that the children might have the advantages of a college education.  At Indianola Mr. Butler engaged in the feed and grain business until the death of the wife and mother in July 1929.  Since that time he has resided in Caldwell, Idaho and at Ames, and has also spent much time in the companionship of his brothers and sisters who reside in the vicinity of the old home.  He is survived by five brothers and three sisters, Elmer Butler, Lafe Butler, Charles Butler, and Asa Butler, of Seymour, Iowa; Jesse Butler, Des Moines; Mrs Belinda Willis of Seymour; Mrs. Emma Hiatt of Centerville, and Mrs. Verna Johnson of Silvis, Ill.; also other relatives and a host of friends, for he was a man who made friends wherever he went.

Ill For 5 Weeks

  He joined the Methodist church early in life, was for many years a member of the church at Seymour and at the time of his death he was a member of First Church at Ames.

  To his children father was kind, unpretentious, sincere and a constant living example of the principles which he strove to instill into their lives.  To his friends he was true, a good man, always recognized as a trustworthy citizen and of Chistian character.

  During the past few years he has been in failing health, but he always remained courageous and uncomplaining.  He was seriously ill for five weeks at the home of his son Lee at Ames, where he received the kindly ministration of the members of the family and many friends who had known of his illness.  On Tuesday evening June 26, he slipped quietly to the great beyond, to meet mother who was waiting him there, and in turn to await those who today pause to remember and pay their respects to a loving father, a faithful brother and a true friend.

  Services were held from the Seymour Methodist church, Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock conducted by the Rev. W. A. Morgan pastor of First Church, Ames, and the Rev. R. C. Buchanan pastor of the local Methodist church.  Burial was in the Southlawn cemetery.

Gravestone for William N. Butler

in Southlawn Cemetery, Seymour, Iowa

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  The Editor thanks Jocelyn Faris for sharing this obituary through the findagrave.com site.