My Genealogy Hound

NELSON BUTLER was a pioneer tailor and clothing dealer of Jamestown, and was identified with her earliest secret societies. He was a son of James and Nancy (Ward) Butler and was born at Laona, this county, August 2, 1818, and died in the city of Jamestown, February 12, 1857. His father, James Butler, was a native of Massachusetts and came from there to Laona, New York, and from there to Jamestown, where he died. He followed farming as a means of gaining a livelihood for himself and family, and in politics was a whig. While in the prime of life he married Nancy Ward, who joined the Baptist church and was a lifelong member. The result of this union was eight children — five sons and three daughters.

Nelson Butler was educated in the common schools and at the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to learn tailoring, which he followed for a number of years, and also conducted a clothing-house in this city. Politically he was a republican and was associated with the Methodist church until he joined the Masons, when, the popular feeling being opposed to secret societies, he relinquished his membership in the church. He was attached to the New York State Militia and belonged to Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 145, F. and A. M., in which he attained the degree of Master Mason. He was one of the incorporators of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Jamestown and attained some prominence in that order.

July 3, 1 839, he married Mary A. Story, a daughter of Elisha Story, and by this union became the father of seven daughters — Nancy A., dead; Adelaide N., married to Allan Smith, a miller, living at Boone, Iowa; Agnes M. is a florist and resides at home; Evelyn is the wife of Irving Ells, a professional book-keeper in the employ of Benjamin Moore & Co., wholesale dealers in paints and calcimining at Brooklyn, New York; Arabella, dead; Mary E., a compositor in the office of the Jamestown Journal; and Sophie D., also a florist, living at home.

Nelson Butler was a man of the strictest integrity and unquestionable morals. His reputation and private character were untarnished and he passed into that better world as unblemished as may be approached by man. He was a kind father and his memory is cherished with unabated love by his family still surviving.

One of his distinguishing characteristics was his kindness to the poor. No one asking him for help ever was turned away without a kind word and generous gifts.