J. D. Butler, farmer; P. O. Paris; was born May 18, 1827, in Hutchinson Precinct; son of Frank and Rachel (Wheat) Butler; Frank Butler emigrated to this State, with his father, from Maryland, and located in this county; he settled on the land now owned by J. W. Ferguson, in this Precinct. There were three sons: Frank, Dudley and Moses. Dudley settled in Ralls County, Missouri; Moses in Hutchinson Precinct. Rachel Wheat was a daughter of Zachariah Wheat. The parents of J. D. died as follows: father, 1838; his mother survived him until 1876; they had three children who came to maturity; J. D., Thomas Z. and Henry; Thomas Z. resides in Texas; the others in this Precinct. At the death of his father, he being the eldest of the family, the care of the family devolved upon him and his mother, and from that time he was thrown upon his own resources; he worked out and made the best use of his time and his limited opportunities; April, 1851, he married Miss Margaret Johnson, daughter of John and Helen (Kenney) Johnson; he was born in 1800, his wife four years later; eleven children were born to them, eight of whom grew to maturity; John Johnson died Oct. 1853, at Calhoun’s Mills, in the State of Carolina, while absent with a drove of mules. Mr. Butler located on the farm he now owns, in 1851; during the war he was engaged in purchasing mules for the government; he has 565 acres of land; he is engaged in farming and raising shorthorns, which are called the “Willow Dale herd” of good strains of blood, also pure Cotswold sheep. Young stock for sale. Correspondence solicited. He has been successful in his business from the commencement; he is a member of the Reformed Church, and elder of the same; he has six children: James H., Charles E., Birdie, Minnie M., Landon V. and Archie L.
Source: Perrin, William Henry. History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky. Chicago: O. L. Baskin & Co., 1882.