JUSTUS C. BUTTERFIELD FAMILY
Justus C. Butterfield, who was born in Monroe County, New York, on
November 15, 1819, found his way to Knox County, Nebraska, in the
late 1870s. It was a long journey. On June 16, 1839, he married Elsy
Mariah Erwin at Ross in Monroe County, Michigan.
To Justus and Elsy the following children were born: William, who
died in infancy; Willard Edger, Charles Andrew, Lydia Ann, and
Edwin.
Willard was born August 2, 1843, and married Mary L. Hamm on April
26, 1865, at Buchanan County, Iowa. He served in the Civil War from
March 12, 1862 to March 11, 1865, entering the service at Dubuque,
Iowa, and being discharged at Nashville, Tennessee. Willard died
June 7, 1922, and is buried at Walker, Iowa.
Charles Andrew was born March 14, 1844, at Ross and married Cynthia
Walton on October 6, 1862, in Iowa. He served in the Civil War,
enlisting February 25, 1862, in the 13th Regiment Co. H. for Iowa.
He died March 22, 1933, at Spring Grove Township, Iowa, and is
buried at Troy Mills, Buchanan, County, Iowa.
Lydia Ann was born September 8, 1847, at Richland, Kalamazoo County,
Michigan. She married Jim Walton in Iowa on July 4, 1870. Lydia died
May 12, 1881, in Knox County, Nebraska, and is buried at Cedar Hill
Cemetery in Bazile Mills, Knox County, Nebraska.
Edwin was born December 7, 1851, in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, and
married Sarah J. Castile in Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa, on
July 4, 1871. He died Febryary 9, 1930, at Walnut Grove, Knox
County, Nebraska, and is buried at the Enterprise Cemetery, Walnut
Grove Township, Knox County, Nebraska.
[pg213 PHOTO Justus C. Butterfield with six of his sons. Back
row: Edwin, Franklin, Fredrick, Thomas Auten; front: Willard Edgar,
Justus C. [father] and Charles]
Justus’ wife, Elsy, died June 9, 1852. On August 7, 1852, with four
small children, Justus married Jane Elizabeth Auten (Aten, Aton,
Anten are other spellings of her name). The daughter of Thomas and
Rizpah (Irvin Auten), she was born June 13, 1929, in Hector
Township, Tompkins County, New York.
After leaving Michigan about 1861, the Butterfields lived at
Independence, Iowa for awhile. About 1878 they left Iowa for
homesteads in the Walnut Grove community in Knox County, Nebraska.
The 300-mile journey was made in covered wagons. They crossed the
Missouri River at Sioux City, Iowa, on flat boats.
Their original homestead was the West Half of the Northwest Quarter
of Section 8. Township 29, Range 7 West, Logan Township, in the
Walnut Grove community. The
[pg213 PHOTO Jane Elizabeth Auten Butterfield with six of her
children. Back row: Sarah [Moody], Blanche [Roberge], Mary Ella
[Montgomery], Cora [Montgomery]; front: Justus, Jr. [Jet], Jane E.
Auten Butterfield [mother], and Estella [Foreman]
Butterfield’s first frame house was built in the 1880s with lumber
hauled from Niobrara. (The Fritz Rokahr’s moved this house about a
quarter of a mile and remodeled it in 1942, and it still proves to
be a good home.)
Emily Auten, a sister of Jane Butterfield homesteaded the North Half
of the Southwest Quarter and South Half of the Northwest Quarter in
Section 1, Township 29, Range 8 West in Walnut Grove Township. This
still remains in the family and is now owned by the Arden Laursen
family, a great-grandnephew. A few acres of this farm were used for
the United Brethren Church and parsonage from about 1890 to 1944.
Thomas Auten Butterfield, who obtained this farm from Emil Auten,
was a very good carpenter. He built a good set of buildings on this
farm and helped members of the family and neighbors in their
building.
Edwin Butterfield (1851-1930), youngest son of Justus and Elsy
Butterfield, married Sarah Casteel and homesteaded in Section 35,
Township 30, Range 8 West. The Walnut telephone switchboard,
patented in 1895, was located in their home for eleven years and on
this farm most of the 80 years it was in operation. The Walnut store
and post office were 1 ½ miles further north. Edwin and Sarah are
buried in Hope (Enterprise) Cemetery near Venus. Their homestead is
now owned by the Gerald Ickler family, a great-grandnephew.
Justus and Jane Butterfield had nine children: Franklin, Justus F.
Sarah, Estella, Fredrick, Thomas, Ellen (Mary Ella), Cora, Blanche.
Franklin Butterfield (March 5, 1854-March 4, 1937) married Alice
Gilliam on May 7, 1873, and they were the parents of six sons and
six daughters. They had a timber claim in the Northeast Quarter of
Section 15, Township 29 North, Range 8 West. Their homestead, the
Southwest Quarter of Section 35-30-8, is now owned by their youngest
son, Lloyd’s family. They are buried in Hope (Enterprise) Cemetery.
Justus F. Butterfield, also known as “Jet,” was born October 2,
1856, in Michigan, and married Quinne Canning, a native of
Wisconsin. In 1874 they homesteaded the Southeast Quarter of Section
35-30-8. They had eleven children: Heny, Hiley, Laurence, Eva,
Elmer, Willard, Marvel, Merle, Clarence, Mabel, and Claude. Merle,
Mabel and Claude died of diphtheria as youngsters. Mrs. Butterfield
died May 2, 1906, and Justus, Jr., died January 16, 1936. Both are
buried in Enterprise Cemetery, Venus, Nebraska.
Sara, born at Kalamazoo County, Michigan, in 1858, married John
Moody in Iowa. She died in Sac City, Iowa, where she was buried.
Estella was born February 5, 1860, and married Ira Foreman February
22, 1879. They were the parents of eight children. They homesteaded
the Northwest Quarter of Section 18-29-7. Estella died January 8,
1935, and both she and Ira are buried in the Enterprise Cemetery.
Their infant son, Wesley is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Bazile
Mills
Fredrick Butterfield, born April 4, 1862, married Belle Vorce in
1884. They were the parents of eleven daughters and one stillborn
son. Fredrick died March 26, 1939, and both are buried at Enterprise
Cemetery near Venus. Their timber claim was on the Southeast Quarter
of Sec. 28-30-8.
Thomas Auten Butterfield was born August 9, 1864, and on July 20,
1887, he married Katie Cobb. They had two sons and two daughters.
One son died in infancy. Thomas died January 31, 1945, and he and
his wife are buried at the Enterprise Cemetery.
Ellen (or Mary Ella) was born October 16, 1867, and was the first
teacher of the Verdigris Bridge School in 1881. She married Harvey
Montgomery on August 3, 1886, and they had one son, Lee. They
homesteaded the North Half of the Northeast Quarter of Section 18
and the North Half of the Northwest Quarter of Section ;17-29-7.
Ellen died at the age of 27 years (June 20, 1889) and is buried in
Cedar Hill Cemetery, Bazile Mills.
Cora, born January 26, 1869, married her sister’s widower, Harvey
Montgomery, on August 6, 1891. They were parents of three children.
Cora died September 6, 1943, and both are buried in the Enterprise
Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Montgomery, a grandson, own their
homestead.
Blanche Phelena was born May 22, 1871, and married George Roberge on
January 10, 1899. They had a dry goods store at Page. A son, Lyle,
was born to them. Blanche died April 21, 1929, in Norfolk. They are
buried in Enterprise Cemetery.
Justus C. Butterfield died October 28, 1892, and Mrs. Butterfield
died January 5, 1904. Both are buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Bazile
Mills, Nebraska.
Archie “Wren” Butterfield, born November 8, 1895, died October 13,
1918, while in the service. He was 23 years old and the son of James
Franklin and Anna Catherine (Groeling) Butterfield; the grandson of
Franklin and Alice (Gilliam) Butterfield and great-grandson of
Justus and Jane (Auten) Butterfield.
-Submitted by Mrs. Wm. A. Butterfield and Mrs. Lola Foreman Green
Pages
213, 214
