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May 3,
1936 Middletown Journal, Middletown, Ohio
LEONIDAS H. BUTLER DIES AT DAUGHTER'S HOME IN WEST; WAS OLDEST NATIVE
Leonidas H. Butler, 94, who for
years held the honor of oldest living person born in Middletown, died
Saturday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. B. Palmer, of
Van Nuys, Cal., according to information received by Mrs. Gloria Palmer
of the Blue Ball Pike, another daughter.
Butler, who went west seven years ago with the Palmers, and had been
active physically and mentally until a few weeks ago. Despite his
advanced years he did not suffer infirmities of age until recently. When
he removed to California with the Palmers, he accompanied them by
automobile and apparently suffered none from the long journey.
Butler was born in a little cottage at First and Curtis Street,
January 9, 1842, the son of James and Naomi Butler. That house was
removed to make way for the Middletown Public Library which now stands
on that site and is shaded by the same trees that protected his
birthplace.
His grandfather came to this country with Lord Baltimore, a story
with which he was familiar and liked to narrate in the manner which it
was given to him by his parents. His parents were contemporaries of the
Vails and Deardorfs who made Middletown History.
Learning the trade of papermaker, their son worked in some of the
older paper concerns of Middletown, several of which are no longer in
existence.
He served in the Civil War with the 35th Ohio Regiment and was said
to be the last survivor of that outfit.
He was a member of the Middletown Odd Fellows Lodge and served as
steward in the Broadway M.E. Church for more than 50 years. Mrs. Butler,
the former Mary McAdams, died 25 years ago.
Surviving him are two daughters, Mrs. C. B. Palmer, Mrs. Gideon
Palmer, three sons, Harry and Fred Butler of Elma, Wash., Alfred A.
Butler, of Los Angelos, 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Arrangements for the funeral are incomplete. |
by
Carolyn Lacey
3 Feb 2008 |
