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Below is a family biography included in History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott, published by Iola Register, 1901.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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FRANK W. BUTLER, who is engaged in the drug business in Yates Center, was born in Bloomington, Illinois, on the 31st of July, 1868. His father, Charles B. Butler, was for some years a very prominent and influential citizen of Kansas. His birth occurred in Martinsville, Indiana, and he pursued his preliminary education in the common schools, after which he became a student of the State University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in law. Subsequently he engaged in the practice of law in Bloomington, Illinois, for a time. In 1869 he came to Kansas and devoted the greater part of his attention to the livestock business, which he followed with success. For two years he resided in Leroy, where he engaged in merchandising. He served in both the house of representatives and the senate of the Kansas legislature and left the impress of his individuality upon the laws of the state. He was a recognized leader in public thought and action and his political labors were of benefit and value to the community which he represented. He married Ann C. Depew, and they became the parents of four children, but our subject is the only one now living. He has a half-sister, however, Mrs. Clara Mathews, of Yates Center. His mother died in Bloomington, Illinois in 1881, when only thirty-nine years of age, and his father passed away in Colorado in 1876, at the age of thirty-seven years.

Mr. Butler, of this review, spent the great part of his youth in his native city and in Leroy, Kansas. He was prepared for business life by the educational training of the public schools and a course in the Kansas State University, where he pursued a course in civil engineering. He came to Yates Center in 1883 and has since made his home in this city. He entered upon his business career as a salesman in the drug store owned by Mr. Waymire, where he remained for four years during which time he mastered the business, both in principle and detail. He then opened a store of his own and is now enjoying a good patronage.

Mr. Butler was married in Cameron, Missouri, March 3, 1893, to Miss Stella Ruggles, and they have a pleasant home in Yates Center. Mr. Butler’s father was a Democrat but he has never taken a prominent part in public affairs, other interests claiming his attention. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity and is now serving his third term as high priest of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 56. He is also a Knight of Pythias and belongs to Alpha Xi Chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity, a college fraternity. In military circles in Kansas he is quite prominent, being the captain of Company L, 1st Regiment of the Kansas National Guard, which was organized and mustered in November 17, 1899.

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This family biography is one of 204 biographies included in History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott, published by Iola Register, 1901, Iola, Kansas.  For the complete description, click here: Woodson County, Kansas History and Genealogy

View additional Woodson County, Kansas family biographies here: Woodson County, Kansas

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