**************************************************************************** File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net. **************************************************************************** Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890 **************************************************************************** The Biography of Cornelius B. BUTLER Pages 727-728, transcribed in full by Karen CRANE Goggin [Surnames: BUTLER, LAURENCE, LEEPER, LOOMIS, WILLIAMS] CORNELIUS B. BUTLER, a brief sketch of whose life now claims attention from the reader, is a son of Abel Butler, one of Farmington's earliest and best known pioneers, who came to this place as early as 1842, while yet the surrounding country was in reality "a forest primeval." His coming was prior to the time of any railroads; in fact, everything was in a thoroughly uncultivated state, but he followed teaming as an occupation and succeeded admirably from a financial point of view. He was born and reared in New York and married Miss Eliza Loomis from the same State, and brought his wife and two children West with him even at that early day. After the steam horse ran through this section of the country he commenced to farm, and became the owner of one hundred and seventy acres of valuable land. At the age of seventy-eight he is still living at Farmington, and his wife is in her seventy-fifth year. To them were born four children, viz: Mary, who died when fifteen years old; Charles C., Cornelius Brown, and Frederick A., all of whom reside in Farmington. The subject of this sketch was born September 21, 1846, at Farmington, where he spent his youth and attended the High School. Upon reaching his sixteenth year he commenced teaming, hauling many ties and other material for the building of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. He was married in the year 1872 to Miss Frances Leeper, daughter of Charles and Rachel Ann (Williams) Leeper, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively, and married in the latter named State, both having been previously married. Of this union there were born four children, viz: Thomas J., Mary M., John and Fannie Z. Mrs. Butler's father was first married in Pennsylvania, and by that wife had six children, two of whom are now living, viz: Allen, a resident of Kansas; and William, who makes his home in Missouri. His mother was first married to Robert Laurence, of Ohio, and to them were born four children, three of whom are living; Thomas, who lives in Ohio; Benjamin, a resident of Trenton, N. J.; and Robert, who lives in England. The father lived to be seventy-seven years old and the mother sixty-six years. They came West, settling in Bloomington, Ill., where Mrs. Butler was born. Her parents removed to Iowa when she was three years old, and in this journey she was led across the Mississippi river, which was covered with thick ice. She grew to maidenhood at DeWitt and Burlington, attending the High Schools at the former place, and the Baptist University in the latter. In 1868 her parents removed to Farmington, Ill., and for one term she taught school there. Mr. and Mrs. Butler became the parents of four children, viz: Blanche, Adella A.; Charles E., who died when four years old; and Harry E. All of these children are noted for brightness, and their parents are justly proud of them, because of their intellectuality and musical talent. Their home is indeed a charming one, the interior being filled with books, music, works of art, and all that pertains to culture and elegance. Both Mr. and Mrs. Butler are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of this city, and they delight to do deeds of charity to those less fortunate than themselves, having won thus a warm personal regard throughout the entire community. He is an ardent Republican, true at all times to the interests of his party.