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Lydia <I>Story</I> Butler

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Lydia Story Butler

Birth
Annapolis, Jefferson County, Ohio, USA
Death
3 Aug 1918 (aged 80)
Pawnee City, Pawnee County, Nebraska, USA
Burial
Pawnee City, Pawnee County, Nebraska, USA Add to Map
Plot
Orig. 75- 4
Memorial ID
View Source
Daughter of Harrison & Elizabeth (McClave) Story, she was from Madison, Indiana. Wife of Gov. David Christy Butler. Married Jan. 25, 1860. The Butler family moved to Pawnee City and entered the mercantile business with W.B Raper. The family lived in Lincoln from 1868 to 1874 when David was Governor. In 1874 he moved his family to the farm home 3 miles west of Pawnee City (320 acres) known as the "Upland Stock Farm".

They had eight children, Four of them lived to adulthood, and two died at an early age of typhoid fever. They were: Twins born 1863 and died of typhoid fever. Violet was born in 1864. Ozias and Olive, twins, were born in 1865. Ozias lived to be 16 years and Olive died at birth. Seth was born in 1869. Darius was born in 1873 and Paul in 1877.
(Note: This paragraph was from a pamplet from the Historical Site telling about the Butler family, the dates don't all match what the cemetery records have.)

Lydia died August 3, 1918 at her home in Pawnee City at the age of 81.



Obituary:
PIONEER PASSES TO HER FINAL REWARD
(Pawnee City Republican Newspaper, 8/3/1918)

Lydia Story Butler, the oldest child of Harrison and Elizabeth McClay [McClave] Story, was born November 23, 1837, in Jefferson County, Ohio, where she lived until sixteen years of age when she removed with her parents to Bloomington, Indiana. She was educated in the common schools, and in a Presbyterian academy for young women at Bloomington. She desired a university education, but women at that time were not admitted to those institutions. She taught a country school for one year, and while so engaged, met David Butler, whom she married in Monroe County, Indiana, January 25, 1860. She was a handsome bride and well fitted by nature and education to fill the place of responsibility which she later so well graced.

Her father and mother reared eight children, of whom two brothers, John C. and James M. Story, and two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Minzer [Miser], and Miss Alice Story are living. Her father died in 1885, and her mother in 1914; two brothers, Albert S. and R.W. died last year.

In June after her marriage she came with her husband to Pawnee City, at that time a hamlet of half a dozen houses on the raw prairie of the Great American Desert, as the geographies of that day named it. They came by railroad to St. Joseph and from that city by wagon to their new home. She performed her full share as a helpmate in those pioneering days, and struggles with the inconveniences and hardships in the same philosophic spirit and energy that characterized her in joys and troubles throughout her whole life. Among those who lived in Pawnee City when she came were Joseph Woods, W.H. Curtis, J.J. Fry (Grandma Manning's son-in-law), Grandma Manning (Idella Manning's grandmother), W.B. Raper (her husband's business partner), F.F.Lining, J.P. Morton and J. L. Turner.

Her husband, a leader of men, soon became interested in civic affairs and during the important period of Nebraska's early history Mr.and Mrs. Butler took an active and prominent place, and both of them even at that early date were strong advocates of woman suffrage, and of measures to insure better recognition of the legal rights of married women.

In 1863, she returned to Indiana with her two children for a visit, and while there both children died. She often said that the death of those little ones and her lonely return home was one of the hardest trials of her life.

In 1866, David butler was elected the first governor of Nebraska, and early in 1867, they went to the city of Lincoln, the new capitol, to reside and remained there until 1874. These years were a stormy and eventful political period for the state, and for governor and Mrs. Butler. During the gubernatorial years, Mrs. Butler filled her station with ability and grace. She was prepossessing, calm, dignified, and a brilliant, charming conversationalist. She spent much time in charitable work; throughout her whole life she has been generous both with her time and means in charitable helpfulness.

When reverses both financial and political came, and they were disastrous enough to overwhelm and except the strongest, she was unruffled and undiscouraged, still maintaining her calm dignity and loftiness of mind and purpose. They left their home in Lincoln, (the present club house of the Lincoln Country club) and moved to their farm west of Pawnee city. In the years succeeding this, ex-governor Butler maintained his active interest and work in civic and political affairs, in which she still occupied her full share. It was here on the farm that they reared their family of 6 children. Her husband died there in 1891, and one son, Ozias, died at the age of sixteen. After her husband's death she continued to reside on and manage the farm until about eight years ago, when she came to Pawnee City to pass her remain days.

For many months, a lingering, wasting illness brought her much pain and distress, and although suffering with great anguish and confined to her bed for many long and wearing months, she still retained her wonderful fortitude, her uncomplaining serenity, and exalted, unconquerable spirit.

She leaves four children surviving, three sons; Seth, Darius and Paul, and one daughter, Mrs. Violet McCoy; whose faithful ministrations and devoted care have given all that loving hearts and willing hands could do to soothe the lingering pain and the long days of distress, until death came to her relief on August 3rd.

She has been a devout and active member of the Christian church for more than fifty years. The joys and sorrows, the triumphs and defeats, the trials and successes of such a life can not be told in words. This good woman whose span of life we assured great an epoch in the history of our state; whose abilities, energetic and efficient work reached so wide an element and in such varied ways, has lived a life so unusual that it is impossible to satisfactorily compress its history in any brief statement; but as a leader, Christian worker, neighbor, friend, wife and mother, her character merits a recognition which cannot be here fully expressed. Which is most deeply felt by all who knew her best.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, August 5, 1918, at 4:00 o'clock, at her late home in this city, conducted by Rev. A. G. Hastings, pastor of the United Presbyterian church. Interment was made by the side of her husband in the Pawnee City Cemetery.

Parents:
Harrison Story (1813-1885)
Elizabeth (McClave) Story (1819-1914)

Siblings:
William Wallace Story (1839-1863)
Sarah (Story) Miser (1843-1929)
Alice Story (1847-1929)
John Calvin Story (1850-1922)
James Mason Story (1853-1936)
Albert Smith Story (1855-1917)
Ralph Walter Story (1861-1917)

Spouse:
David Christy Butler (1 Feb 1873-15 Aug 1935)
25 Jan 1860
Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana

Children:
Infant Butler (Twin) (1863)
Infant Butler (Twin) (1863)
Violet (Butler) McCoy Bradley (1864-1935)
Olive Butler (Twin) (1867-1868)
Ozias Butler (Twin) (1867-1883)
David Seth Butler (1869-1937)
Darius Dee Butler (1873-1935)
Paul Butler (1878-1963)


Daughter of Harrison & Elizabeth (McClave) Story, she was from Madison, Indiana. Wife of Gov. David Christy Butler. Married Jan. 25, 1860. The Butler family moved to Pawnee City and entered the mercantile business with W.B Raper. The family lived in Lincoln from 1868 to 1874 when David was Governor. In 1874 he moved his family to the farm home 3 miles west of Pawnee City (320 acres) known as the "Upland Stock Farm".

They had eight children, Four of them lived to adulthood, and two died at an early age of typhoid fever. They were: Twins born 1863 and died of typhoid fever. Violet was born in 1864. Ozias and Olive, twins, were born in 1865. Ozias lived to be 16 years and Olive died at birth. Seth was born in 1869. Darius was born in 1873 and Paul in 1877.
(Note: This paragraph was from a pamplet from the Historical Site telling about the Butler family, the dates don't all match what the cemetery records have.)

Lydia died August 3, 1918 at her home in Pawnee City at the age of 81.



Obituary:
PIONEER PASSES TO HER FINAL REWARD
(Pawnee City Republican Newspaper, 8/3/1918)

Lydia Story Butler, the oldest child of Harrison and Elizabeth McClay [McClave] Story, was born November 23, 1837, in Jefferson County, Ohio, where she lived until sixteen years of age when she removed with her parents to Bloomington, Indiana. She was educated in the common schools, and in a Presbyterian academy for young women at Bloomington. She desired a university education, but women at that time were not admitted to those institutions. She taught a country school for one year, and while so engaged, met David Butler, whom she married in Monroe County, Indiana, January 25, 1860. She was a handsome bride and well fitted by nature and education to fill the place of responsibility which she later so well graced.

Her father and mother reared eight children, of whom two brothers, John C. and James M. Story, and two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Minzer [Miser], and Miss Alice Story are living. Her father died in 1885, and her mother in 1914; two brothers, Albert S. and R.W. died last year.

In June after her marriage she came with her husband to Pawnee City, at that time a hamlet of half a dozen houses on the raw prairie of the Great American Desert, as the geographies of that day named it. They came by railroad to St. Joseph and from that city by wagon to their new home. She performed her full share as a helpmate in those pioneering days, and struggles with the inconveniences and hardships in the same philosophic spirit and energy that characterized her in joys and troubles throughout her whole life. Among those who lived in Pawnee City when she came were Joseph Woods, W.H. Curtis, J.J. Fry (Grandma Manning's son-in-law), Grandma Manning (Idella Manning's grandmother), W.B. Raper (her husband's business partner), F.F.Lining, J.P. Morton and J. L. Turner.

Her husband, a leader of men, soon became interested in civic affairs and during the important period of Nebraska's early history Mr.and Mrs. Butler took an active and prominent place, and both of them even at that early date were strong advocates of woman suffrage, and of measures to insure better recognition of the legal rights of married women.

In 1863, she returned to Indiana with her two children for a visit, and while there both children died. She often said that the death of those little ones and her lonely return home was one of the hardest trials of her life.

In 1866, David butler was elected the first governor of Nebraska, and early in 1867, they went to the city of Lincoln, the new capitol, to reside and remained there until 1874. These years were a stormy and eventful political period for the state, and for governor and Mrs. Butler. During the gubernatorial years, Mrs. Butler filled her station with ability and grace. She was prepossessing, calm, dignified, and a brilliant, charming conversationalist. She spent much time in charitable work; throughout her whole life she has been generous both with her time and means in charitable helpfulness.

When reverses both financial and political came, and they were disastrous enough to overwhelm and except the strongest, she was unruffled and undiscouraged, still maintaining her calm dignity and loftiness of mind and purpose. They left their home in Lincoln, (the present club house of the Lincoln Country club) and moved to their farm west of Pawnee city. In the years succeeding this, ex-governor Butler maintained his active interest and work in civic and political affairs, in which she still occupied her full share. It was here on the farm that they reared their family of 6 children. Her husband died there in 1891, and one son, Ozias, died at the age of sixteen. After her husband's death she continued to reside on and manage the farm until about eight years ago, when she came to Pawnee City to pass her remain days.

For many months, a lingering, wasting illness brought her much pain and distress, and although suffering with great anguish and confined to her bed for many long and wearing months, she still retained her wonderful fortitude, her uncomplaining serenity, and exalted, unconquerable spirit.

She leaves four children surviving, three sons; Seth, Darius and Paul, and one daughter, Mrs. Violet McCoy; whose faithful ministrations and devoted care have given all that loving hearts and willing hands could do to soothe the lingering pain and the long days of distress, until death came to her relief on August 3rd.

She has been a devout and active member of the Christian church for more than fifty years. The joys and sorrows, the triumphs and defeats, the trials and successes of such a life can not be told in words. This good woman whose span of life we assured great an epoch in the history of our state; whose abilities, energetic and efficient work reached so wide an element and in such varied ways, has lived a life so unusual that it is impossible to satisfactorily compress its history in any brief statement; but as a leader, Christian worker, neighbor, friend, wife and mother, her character merits a recognition which cannot be here fully expressed. Which is most deeply felt by all who knew her best.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon, August 5, 1918, at 4:00 o'clock, at her late home in this city, conducted by Rev. A. G. Hastings, pastor of the United Presbyterian church. Interment was made by the side of her husband in the Pawnee City Cemetery.

Parents:
Harrison Story (1813-1885)
Elizabeth (McClave) Story (1819-1914)

Siblings:
William Wallace Story (1839-1863)
Sarah (Story) Miser (1843-1929)
Alice Story (1847-1929)
John Calvin Story (1850-1922)
James Mason Story (1853-1936)
Albert Smith Story (1855-1917)
Ralph Walter Story (1861-1917)

Spouse:
David Christy Butler (1 Feb 1873-15 Aug 1935)
25 Jan 1860
Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana

Children:
Infant Butler (Twin) (1863)
Infant Butler (Twin) (1863)
Violet (Butler) McCoy Bradley (1864-1935)
Olive Butler (Twin) (1867-1868)
Ozias Butler (Twin) (1867-1883)
David Seth Butler (1869-1937)
Darius Dee Butler (1873-1935)
Paul Butler (1878-1963)




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