Butler Township Cemetery
Clark County, Wisconsin
Provided by: Nancy Anderson – Reporter for The Thorp Courier
Transcriber: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.
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click to enlarge According to the Clark County land records, the land that eventually became the "Town of Butler Cemetery" was issued to a soldier for his service in the War of 1812. Back center is, Sarah Morrison is holding baby Evelyn (Morrison) Reineke. |
Town of Butler Cemetery
The Town of Butler Cemetery could be described much as one would its small township’s inhabitants of today: small, peaceful, quiet, and with a preference to keep to itself. Set off the road near a woods resided in by only the area’s wildlife, the cemetery remains small and is utilized as a final resting place primarily by families whose strains sift down to time the land was settled.
Clark County land records indicate that it was by an act of Congress in March of 1855 and subsequently by President James Buchanan on May 3, 1858, that land where the Town of Butler Cemetery now rests was turned over by the United States Government to private citizens. “Bounty land,” as it was called, was given “…to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the Military Service of the United States.” In this case, 120 acres was turned over to “Jonathan Palmer, a Private in Captain Cooker’s Company of the New York Militia – War of 1812.”
From Jonathan Palmer, the land transferred to John M. Levy, who added the name of his wife, Frederica Levy and Samuel McKinley in 1856. From there and into the 1870’s the land were the cemetery now is situated went to George and Sarah Green of Walworth County and the Eau Claire Lumber Company as part of a large parcel. On Au. 6, 1916, the land was donated to the Town of Butler Cemetery of the Town of Butler by its owner, Eden Morrison, and his wife Sarah.
The Town of Butler Cemetery is located on what is now the Emil Reineke farm. Butlerville residents began clearing the land for use as a burial site in 1917, using the “machinery” of the day, hand axes and horses. Beulah Taylor, who died in 1915 and had been buried near the old schoolhouse, was moved to the new cemetery as its first inhabitant.
Many of the Town of Butler’s residents originated from Vernon and Iowa Counties in Wisconsin, including several German families who remained close-knit. According to Lyle Kile, who now resides in Wenatchee, Washington, Butlerville was actually settled in 1879 by his great-grandparents, George A. Butler and Marcy (Marsh) Butler, who came from Nelson on the Mississippi. The Butler family eventually established a sawmill for the community.
Julie (Bergant) Kile, originally from Willard and now of Greenwood, Wisconsin, says that, according to family lore, four Butler brothers came from Valley, Wisconsin, to settle the forested area that eventually became Butlerville. One of her most significant memories, as is that of Lyle Kile, is of the Butler schoolhouse (now the Butler Town hall), that was run by Marjory (Morgan) Fallingstad Palmer. Julie Kile says that Mrs. Palmer lived just across the road from the school and just a stone’s throw from the Kile home. Her parents were Fred and Iva Morgan who ran the community’s grocery store. Mrs. Palmer’s stint as school mistress lasted for many years, as she not only taught Julie’s late husband David, but her son Dave, who currently resides in Thorp.
The Town of Butler proudly gave up its share of patriotic soldiers, many of whose gravesites in the cemetery mark their service. The likely oldest soldier’s grave is that of Sgt. John C. Audorff, who served as a member of Company E of the 54 New York Infantry. Born in 1819, Audorff died in 1913. Veteran’s symbols and recognition continue down through the various wars, from World War I to Vietnam. One such soldier was Friend M. Morrison, 1874 to 1925, brother to Eden Morrison. Relatives remember that Friend Morrison was middle-aged when he enlisted in the Canadian Expedition Force, serving in the 47th Battalion in France during World War I.
Although many of the town’s historians can no longer tell their stories of their community’s founding, they left behind a peaceful, quiet place that beckons few. With the Town of Butler today primarily comprise of county forest, the town’s population is still slim. Land is not prime for farming, and many have chosen to make their lives elsewhere. Yet, family ties remains, and those wishing for reflection will find their way back to the Town of Butler and the Town of Butler Cemetery.
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click to enlarge Eden and Sarah Morrison donated land to the Town of Butler for its community cemetery in 1916 and in 1917, residents began clearing the land for usage. Pictured above are the residents who worked on the project and the women who provided their meals. Pictured to the left back center, holding a baby, is Anna B. Daines, 1894-1983, holding baby Sadie (Daines) Powolowski Puvoluski. |
Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., Wis.) 01/04/2006
