Life History
Nov 1852 |
Born in Tennessee.4,5,6 (less likely) |
26th Dec 1852 |
Born in Mississippi.3 (less likely) |
26th Dec 1852 |
Born in Panola County, Mississippi.1,2,3 (most likely) |
23rd Jan 1886 |
Married Evie Lena BROWN in Shelby County, Tennessee.7 |
7th Jul 1887 |
Birth of son George Edward BUTLER in Shelby County, Tennessee.8,9 |
25th Aug 1889 |
Birth of daughter Nora Lee BUTLER in Shelby County, Tennessee.10,6,11 |
about 1892 |
Birth of daughter Johnanna BUTLER in Shelby County, Tennessee.5 |
28th May 1894 |
Birth of son Thomas Ethelbert BUTLER in Marion, Crittenden, Arkansas.12,13,14,15,16 |
7th Feb 1925 |
Died in Shelby County, Tennessee.3 Acute Nephritis |
8th Feb 1925 |
Buried in Mullins Chapel.3 |
Notes
- Some genealogies have Thomas' middle name as Ethelbert, after his maternal grandfather, Ethelbert Abernathy. I have not found a record substantiating the middle name directly, or a report from a specified family record. However, on his son Thomas' WWI draft registration, the son's full name is Thomas Ethelbert Butler. A direct descendant wrote with this personal information on Thomas Ethelbert.
"My dad was his grandson and he spoke often of him. He told about his middle name being Ethelbert and how his grandaddy wasn't very fond of the name. I think Thomas Ethelbert's son was Jr. but he went by Thomas Elton Butler."
-- Janice Burgess Lipford, Ancestry Messaging, 23 September 2011
Since he is referred to in at least one census as Thomas E Jr, I feel that substantiates his name as Ethelbert like his father. That makes three of them, according to some genealogies. The other one reported in some genealogies. including David Lee, was born in 1875, son of John Benjamin Butler and Malissa Davidson, according to family sources .
This is a common pattern. Where the name came from for the Thomas Ethelbert born 1875, a younger cousin of this one, I cannot find. I wonder if this is not an error in genealogy sources, based on analogy or confusion with the 1850 Thomas Ethelbert. I have found no documentation for Ethelbert as the middle name for the 1875 Thomas E.
1850 Federal Census, Panola County, Mississippi, 24 October, District 13, p 686 (344), Hse/Fam #533
Rufus A Butler 23 M Farmer $0 Real Estate b Tennessee [born abt 1827]
Mary Butler 18 Tennessee [born abt 1832]
Thomas E Butler 4mos M Mississippi [born abt March 1850]
Elbert S Abernatha 14 F b Tennessee [born abt 1836]
1860 Federal Census, Panola County, Mississippi, 11 August, Page 45, House/Fam #300
F M Wells 34 M Hotel Keeper $0 Personal Estate $2200 Personal b Miss [born abt 1826]
C C Pence 26 F b SC [born abt 1834]
E B Wells 60 F b Virginia Cannot read or write [born abt 1800]
W S Wells 23 M House Carpenter b Alabama [born abt 1837]
Thos Butler 10 M b Miss [born abt 1850]
John Butler 8 M b Miss [born abt 1852]
Robert Butler 17 M Merchant's Clerk b Miss [born abt 1843]
I have not found a census record for Thomas for 1870.
1880 Federal Census, Fayette County, Tennessee, 9 June, Civil District 7, Enumeration District 23, page 4, Hse/Fam #40
Butler, T E W M 27 Farmer MS TN TN [born abt 1853]
Body, Sanford B M 28 Servant Married Works on Farm Cannot read or write TN TN TN
Body, Caty B F 21 Married Works on Farm Cannot write TN TN TN
Body, Peyton B M 7 Son Single TN TN TN
Marriage Records, Shelby County, Tennessee
T E Butler and Miss Evalena [Evie Lena] Brown
Issued 22 Jan 1886
Bond of $1250 signed by T E Butler and G W Brown
Married Jan 23, 1886 by H J Turner, Minister of the Gospel
Family genealogies report the name of Thomas' wife as Evie Lena Brown. In the 1900 census, her name is reported as Evie.
1900 Federal Census, Shelby County, Tennessee, 4 June, Civil District 16, Enumeration District 53, page 10A, Hse/Fam #34
Butler, Thomas Head W M Nov 1852 48 Married 14 years MS TN TN Farmer Rent
Butler, Evie Wife W M Mar 1870 30 Married 14 years 4 children/4 living TN MS MS Farm Laborer
Butler, George Son W M Aug 1888 12 Single TN TN TN At School
Butler, Nora Dau W F Aug 1889 11 Single TN TN TN At School
Butler, John A Dau [sic] W F Feb 1892 9 Single AR TN TN At School
Butler, Tom Son W M Mar 1895 5 Single AR TN TN
Evie's parents are living two houses away.
1900 Federal Census, Shelby County, Tennessee, 4 June, Civil District 16, Enumeration District 53, page 10A, Hse/Fam #32
Brown, George W Head W M May 1847 53 Married 35 years MS TN TN Farmer Rent
Brown, Mary Wife W M Jun 1845 55 Married 35 years 11 children/6 living AL AL AL
Brown, Walter W Son W M Aug 1874 26 Single TN MS AL
Brown, Robert W Son W M Feb 1878 5 Single TN MS AL
Brown, Nolen I Son W M Jan 1885 15 Single TN MS AL At School
Between these two families appears to be Evie's sister Frances and her husband Frank Noe.
1900 Federal Census, Shelby County, Tennessee, 4 June, Civil District 16, Enumeration District 53, page 10A, Hse/Fam #33
Noe, Frank Head W M Dec 1867 33 [should be 32] Married 14 years MS TN TN Farmer Rent
Noe, Frances Wife W M Aug 1867 32 Married 14 years 6 children/4 living MS MS MS
Noe, Bula Dau W F Jun 1884 16 Single MS TN MS At School
Noe, Malica Son W M Oct 1891 9 Single TN TN MS At School
Noe, Earl Son W M Jun 1892 8 Single TN TN MS At School
Noe, Gerdie Dau W F Jun 1898 2 Single TN TN MS
Frank's birth date is reported as later than Frances' yet he is reported as older!
By 1910, Thomas owns his farm. Here Evie Lena is recorded as Evalinaa, but with the added middle initial L.
1910 Federal Census, Shelby County, Tennessee, 4 May, Civil District 16, Enumeration District 88, Page 10A, Hse/Fam #181
Butler, Thomas E Head W M 57 Married 24 years MS TN TN Farmer Owns
Butler, Evalina L Head W F 39 Married 24 years 4 children/4 living TN MS MS Own Income
Butler, Johanna Dau W F 18 AR MS MS
Butler, Thomas E Jr Son W M 15 AR MS TN Farm Job
Brown, Cora Sister-in-law W F 3 TN MS TN
I have not found Thomas and Evie Lena in the 1920 census. I have found the record for their son Thomas E Jr.
1920 Federal Census, Shelby County, Tennessee, 6 February, Civil District 9, Enumeration District 32, page 19A, Hse #422, Fam #437
Butler, Thomas E Head Rents M W 25 Married TN TN TN General Laborer
Butler, Clara M Wife F W 30 Married TN PA KY
Butler, Alleen Dau F W 4 TN TN TN
Butler, Eugene Son M W 1ye7mos TN TN TN
Stauffer, Benj F Father-in-law M W 73 PA PA PA
Benjamin Stauffer is described as Thomas' Father-in-Law. His step-father was also named Stauffer. His father died in 1925, and Eva Lena married a Stauffer. Janice Burgess Lipford helps us here.
"About Evie Lena Brown Butler marrying a Stauffer. He was her daughter-in-law's brother. Evie Lena married him after Thomas E. died. I think the Stauffer guy was younger than my great grandmother. I couldn't find my great grandmother's death certificate because I was searching for Butler instead of Stauffer. I found a marriage record for her and Mr. Stauffer making it easier to find her death cert."
-- Janice Burgess Lipford, Ancestry Messaging, 23 September 2011
Thomas' birth certificate reports his birth date as 26 Dec 1852, which cannot be, since he was already 4 months old in the 1850 census. In the 1880 census, his age makes his birth about 1853, and in 1900 it is Nov 1852. Somewhere along the way, Thomas adjusted his age, or remembered wrong, or someone incorrectly reported his birth date. Since he reported was in the 1850 census, we know he was born before that date.
Tennessee Death Certificate
Certificate #004513
Thomas E Butler, Occupation Farmer
Birth 26 Dec 1852, Mississippi
Death 7 Feb 1925 at residence 3530 Forrest Avenue (City, Memphis?), Shelby County, Tennessee
Cause of Death Acute Nephritis
Father Rufus Butler, born Mississippi
Mother's maiden name Abernathy, born Dk [sic, no indication what this means, today it would be Denmark, but Mary was born in Tennessee]
Informant Mrs Euline [wife Evaline?] Butler, 3530 Forrest Avenue (No City)
Burial 8 Feb 1925 Mullins Chapel, by Thompson Brothers
Certificate filed 8 Feb 1925
Sources
- 1. 1860 Federal Census, Panola County, Mississippi
- 11 August, Page 45, House/Fam #300
- 2. 1850 Federal Census, Panola County, Mississippi
- 24 October, District 13, p 686 (344), Hse/Fam #533
- 3. Tennessee Death Certificates
- Certificate #004513
- 4. 1880 Federal Census, Fayette County, Tennessee
- 9 June, Civil District 7, Enumeration District 23, page 4, Hse/Fam #40
- 5. 1910 Federal Census, Shelby County, Tennessee
- 4 May, Civil District 16, Enumeration District 88, Page 10A, Hse/Fam #181
- 6. 1900 Federal Census, Shelby County, Tennessee
- 4 June, Civil District 16, Enumeration District 53, page 10A, Hse/Fam #34
- 7. Marriage Records, Shelby County, Tennessee
- 8. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- 9. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
- 10. 1920 Federal Census, Shelby County, Tennessee
- 13 January, District 65, page 6B, No Incorporated Place, Holmes Street, Hse #125, Fam #135
- 11. Tennessee Death Certificates
- #3338
- 12. 1930 Federal Census, Marshall County, Mississippi
- 13 April, District 7, page 14B, Hse #268, Fam #278
- 13. Social Security Death Index
- 14. 1920 Federal Census, Shelby County, Tennessee
- 6 February, Civil District 9, Enumeration District 32, page 19A, Hse #422, Fam #437
- 15. 1910 Federal Census, Shelby County, Tennessee
- 4 May, Civilo District 16, Enumeration District 88, Page 10A, Hse/Fam #181
- 16. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918