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Obituaries 1962
| Butts, Jake C. |
Funeral
services for pioneer newspaperman J. C. Butts, 86, were scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Monday in Hillsboro. The former editor of the Hillsboro Evening Mirror and
numerous other papers throughout the state died Sunday morning in a local
hospital. Services were planned for the Marshall and Marshall Chapel with
Rev. J. W. Bruner and Rev. Alvin Swindell officiating. Burial was set for Ridge
Park Cemetery. Mr. Butts was born in Gainesville GA in August, 1874, and
had his first newspaper job before he was 10 years old. He served as carrier boy
for the Atlanta Journal in Gainesville before coming to Texas with his mother
and sister at age 13. After settling at Honey Grove, Mr. Butts later moved
to Tulia where he was a 16 year old reporter on The Tulia Herald. Later becoming
editor, Mr. Butts remained on the Herald staff until 1894 when he moved to
Mesquite as owner of the Texas Mesquiter. While living in Mesquite Mr.
Butts married KATE KIMBALL on Aug. 4, 1899. They later moved to Waxahachie where
Mr. Butts was a member of the Waxahachie Morning Star news staff. A 10
year stay with the West Times was next in line for the hard‑working journalist.
Leaving West Times he moved to Itasca where he was editor of the Itasca Item
until 1916 when he came to Hillsboro as editor of the Evening Mirror and Weekly
Mirror. Mr. Butts remained with the papers until going into semi‑retirement in
1943. Since then he has served as a correspondent for newspapers in Dallas, Fort
Worth and Waco. His last contribution to the Mirror appeared only two days
before his death ‑ a Letter to the Editor congratulating the staff on their
recent Chamber of Commerce edition. As always, Mr. Butts' journalistic
efforts contained praise of Hillsboro and the people who live here: "Then when
we turn the cover page (of the C of C edition) we meet face to face men who are
giving their energy and their time to make Hillsboro the king of little city
they want it to be." An outstanding Civic worker himself, Mr. Butts was a
former secretary of Itasca's Board of Trade, was a member of the Itasca Fire
Dept. And organized clubs for farm youth in this area. Mr. Butts was a
member of the Hillsboro Club and was affiliated with the First Baptist Church
where he taught Sunday School class for many years. His survivors include his
wife, two nephews and a niece. Hillsboro Mirror, 29 January 1962. |
Special thanks
to Zoe Smith for her many
contributions and to Elaine Stone
for her many submissions. Ladies, without you, this page
would be blank.
Swisher
County Obituary Index
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