SDA Obituary: Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 1952, May 29, 1952:
"BUTKA--James Butka was born March 25, 1863; died at Pomona, Calif., March 30, 1952. He has been an active church member and worker for 61 years. He was conference home missionary secretary for 3 years in Oklahoma. From 1906 to 1913 he was manager of the Keene Academy industries at Keene, Tex. For many years he was farm superintendent at Loma Linda. He is survived by 2 daughters: Mrs. Daisy Swartout and Mrs. Letha Hansen; 3 sons: the Doctors Leslie, Lawrence, and Hersel Butka; 11 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren."

SDA Obituary: Pacific Union Recorder 1952, June 2, 1952:
"BUTKA--James Butka was born March 25, 1863; and passed to his rest March 30, 1952, at Pomona, Calif. He accepted this blessed truth in 1891 and was an active, earnest church member and worker for 61 years. He was home missionary secretary in the Oklahoma Conference for 3 years; from 1906 to 1913 he was manager of the Keene Academy industries at Keene, Texas; and for many years was farm superintendent at Loma Linda. He leaves 2 daughters, Mrs. Daisy Swartout and Mrs. Letha Hansen; 3 sons, Doctors Leslie, Lawrence, and Hersel Butka; 11 grand-children and 18 great-grandchildren."

----------------------

James Butka: (1880/1885 NE/1900/1910/1920/1930/1940/1950 Census & 1893 Homestead & Marriage Cert. & Obit. & 1921 Polk's Dir. & 1923 U.S. Passport Appl. & 1890-1891 Nebraska State Gazetteer & Book - In All It's Fury - The Great Blizzard of 1888 & Book - Valleyview, Nunda, and Boiling Spring Too & Book - 2002 Loup County Historical Society Caravan Tour Book & Son Lawrence J. Butka's 1918 U.S. Army Transport Service Passenger List & Son Leslie Harrison Butka's 1916 NY Marriage Index & 1950 Article & Headstone).
Jas Butka: (1921/1922/1923/1924/1925/1926 Dir - CO).

b. 15 Mar 1863. (Obituary).
b. Mar 1863, IA. (1900 Census).
b. 9 Mar [1863]. (17 Mar 1950 Article - Age 87 - year calculated).
b. 1863. (Headstone).
b. Iowa, [USA]. (Born in Iowa per 1880/1885 IA/1900/1930 Census).
b. Probably in Jackson County, Iowa, maybe in Monmouth Township. (Family Source).
m. (1) 22 Feb 1888, Pavillion Hotel, Taylor, Loup Co., NE, Lucy Charlotte Fields. 5 issue. Divorce 15 Jan 1906, Garfield Co., OK & finalized 15 Jan 1907.
m. (2) Abt 1908, Keene, Johnston Co., TX, Charlotte "Lottie" E. Farrell. No issue.
d. 1952. (Headstone).
d. 31 Mar 1952, Mt. View Rest Home, Pomona, Los Angeles Co., CA. (Death Certificate).
COD: Arythmia (4 days) due to Generalized Arteriosclerosis (several years). Age 89. (Death Cert.).
Note: Arrhythmia is improper beating of the heart, whether irregular, too fast, or too slow.
Note: Arteriosclerosis or ASVD is a specific form of arteriosclerosis in which an artery wall thickens as a result of invasion and accumulation of white blood cells (WBCs).

Burial: San Jacinto Valley Cemetery, 2555 S. Santa Fe Avenue, San Jacinto, Riverside County, California 92583-5036. Phone (951) 658-4923. Fax: (951) 652-3643.
Plot S1/2-NW1/4 - 37 - K (next to his second wife, Charlotte "Lottie" E. Farrell Butka.

Headstone inscription, "HUSBAND - FATHER, JAMES BUTKA, 1863 - 1952."

---------------

He was short and had black hair. He was a Seventh-Day Adventist and a Farmer.

He was a very practical man who didn't care for frivolous things.
Gary Neal Butka provides: James Butka was a strict disciplinarian, cold, and not loving. He was known to line the children and start whipping them until one confessed.

He was very strict and was a religious fanatic according to Sam Coombs.

James Butka's son, Hersel, told his son, Gary, that James Butka immigrated from Bohemia to the USA when he was only two years old. [I wonder if it was really two years before he was born, but that was the story.]
Lawrence J. Butka who reported that his father James was born in Iowa and his grandfather was born in Bohemia (Death Certificate).
Granddaughter R. Jean Butka also thought James Butka was born in Iowa.
It appears his parents probably immigrated from Bohemia between 1851-1860 before James was born. Francis "Frank" B. Butka (see his brother's census) states 1851. However, because of the place of birth of the children in the 1860 Census it appears they immigrated between 1857-1860, or likely about 1857.

L. Aileen Butka provides:
Grandfather James Butka was a hardworking, serious farmer all his life, which was approximately 88 years. When he was 25 years old he married a pretty, curly-haired, blue-eyed, fun-loving 16-year-old, Lucy Fields. Within a few years five children were born, the oldest and youngest were girls, with three boys between.
James, nearly ten years older than Lucy, was a rather stern man without much of a sense of humor. His very young wife struggled along, but after around 17 years of marriage, all work and no play, could bear it no longer. She left her husband and family, taking Letha, still a baby, with her. My father, Hersel, the next youngest, was only nine years old. The eldest, Daisy, was around 15 or 16, and she did her best to care for her three brothers, until James remarried. The step-mother, Lottie, was a school teacher, a bit stern, but a good and kind woman who was faithful to James for the rest of their lives.
Being Adventists, with their great emphasis on education, all five children worked their way through academy and college. They lived in Enid, Oklahoma, where some of the children were born. This was near Keene, Texas where there was an Adventist school. At that time it wasn't a four-year college, but the girls earned teaching credentials, and the boys got enough pre-med to attend the now Adventist medical school in Loma Linda, California which was just opening.
Meanwhile, the children were struggling to get their education. All five were very bright, and hard workers. Mostly they earned their way through school by selling Bibles and Christian books--they became what we call colporteurs.
All three boys were accepted into medical school at Loma Linda, California, then called the College of Medical Evangelists (CME) (it became Loma Linda Univerity Medical School in early 1960). Because most young Adventist students were poor, they were permitted to work their way through medical school by an interesting arrangement: They went to school for a month and then worked for a month. This continued for five years.
All three Butka boys graduated and became "physicians and surgeons". The oldest, Leslie, and his brother Lawrence, both graduated in the second class of CME, in 1917. Hersel graduated in the third class, in 1918, and married a pretty brunette named Mabel Wirt, a fellow medical student, who graduated in the fourth class, in 1919.

1860 U. S. Federal Census (August 14): Monmouth, Jackson County, Iowa is where his family was living three years prior to his birth. Perhaps this could be where James was born.

1870 U. S. Federal Census: Can't find. Living elsewhere or forgotten as not with family and only Age 7?

1870 U. S. Federal Census (July 28): Monmouth, Jackson County, Iowa
Post Office: Mill Rock
Dwelling 187, Family 186

Frank Bureka, Age 40, Male, White, Occupation Farmer, Value of Real Property $800, Value of Personal Property $700, Birthplace Bohemia, Father of Foreign Birth Yes, Mother of Foreign Birth Yes, Male Citizen of U.S. of Age 21 and Upwards Yes.

Barbara Bureka, Age 37, Female, White, Occupation Keeping House, Birthplace Bohemia, Father of Foreign Birth Yes, Mother of Foreign Birth Yes.

Joseph Bureka, Age 14, Male, White, Occupation Farm Laborer, Birthplace Iowa, Father of Foreign Birth Yes, Mother of Foreign Birth Yes.

Henry Bureka, Age 12, Male, White, At Home, Birthplace Iowa, Father of Foreign Birth Yes, Mother of Foreign Birth Yes.

Wenzel Bureka, Male, White, Age 10, At Home, Birthplace Iowa, Father of Foreign Birth Yes, Mother of Foreign Birth Yes.

Anna Bureka, Female, White, Age 8, Attending School, Birthplace Iowa, Father of Foreign Birth Yes, Mother of Foreign Birth Yes.

1880 & 1885 Census: James is shown as living with his brother Frank in Jefferson & then in Loup County, Nebraska, respectively. See below:

My Uncle Gary Butka writes:
"I remember Uncle Lawrence saying that there was a town in Nebraska named Butka. However, I have found several references to the town (post office) in Nebraska by that name. Included are the mention of farmers from the surrounding area named Francis (Frank) and James Butka. This was in Loup County, Nebraska which is located in the middle of the state. Jefferson County was located in the southeast area of Nebraska. I would assume that Frank married and moved to Nebraska probably from Iowa. He needed some help and his younger brother James came along. Probably later on, the had the opportunity to obtain some land in the central part and moved there. They [Frank] founded a post office and named it after themselves! I'm trying to get information from the 1870 and 1890 census to see if Frank was still in Nebraska. Also, James would either not be recorded because Oklahoma was still a territory???? There are other families of Butkas mentioned in the 1880 census. Some of them come from Bohemia. More later, Uncle G." There is/was a town named Butka in Rock County, Nebraska. Two farmers, James Butka and Francis B. Butka, are listed as rural residents in an old census.

1880 U. S. Federal Census (June 3): Newton, Jefferson County, Nebraska
Twp. 1 Range 3 East, West Half Newton Precinct
Roll: T9_750; Family History Film: 1254750; Page: 621A;
Enumeration District: 289; Image: 0690.
Dwelling 8, Family 9

Frank Butka, White, Male, Age 37, (Head), If Born within the Census Year give Month 1 (?), Married, Occupation Farmer, Birthplace Bohemia, Father's Birthplace Bohemia, Mother's Birthplace Bohemia.

Henrietta Butka, White, Female, Age 23, Wife, Married, Occupation Keeping house, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Pennsylvania, Mother's Birthplace Indiana.

Alman Butka, White, Male, Age 3, Son, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Bohemia, Mother's Birthplace Iowa.

Leonard Butka, White Male, Age 10/12, Son, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Bohemia, Mother's Birthplace Iowa.

James Butka, White, Male, Age18, Brother, Single, Occupation Works on Farm, # Months Unemployed During Census Year X, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Bohemia, Mother's Birthplace Bohemia.

1885 Nebraska State Census (June 20): Little York Precinct, Loup County, Nebraska
Enumerator: J. L. Wisely
Enumeration District: 513, Page: 23
Locality: Midway Borough

Dwelling 15, Family 15:

Frank Butka, White, Male, Age 43, Head, Married, Occupation Farmer, Birthplace Bohemia, Father's Birthplace Bohemia, Mother's Birthplace Bohemia.

Jane Butka, White, Female, Age 28, Wife, Married, Occupation Keeps House, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Pennsylvania, Mother's Birthplace Indiana.

Almon Butka, White, Male, Age 8, Son, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Bohemia, Mother's Birthplace Iowa.

Leonard Butka, White, Age 5, Son, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Bohemia, Mother's Birthplace Iowa.

Nora Butka, White, Age 3, Daughter, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Bohemia, Mother's Birthplace Iowa.

Dwelling 16, Family 16:

James Butka, White, Age 22, Head, Single, Occupation Farmer, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Bohemia, Mother's Birthplace Bohemia.

[NOTE: Little York Precinct was in existence until about 1970 when Little York and Kent Precincts were combined into Kent Precinct. However, after the Butkas left Loup County, that area in northwest Loup County became part of Bloody Precinct (named for Bloody Creek), which was dissolved in 1960. Now there is just one voting precinct for the entire county: SAWYER. Our entire county's population is about 800 and Taylor's population is just under 200 (in year 2005).]

2-10-1886: James' brother (with whom he was probably living), Frank Butka founded the Butka Post Office out of his home and was the first postmaster for that post office for a little over a year.
It was started in Loup County near Ovitt until 1894 when it moved to Rock County, Nebraska.
Post offices in Loup County between 1870 and 1990 include Butka (Internet Historic Info. on Loup Co., NE).
In 1894, the Butka Post Office was moved from northern Loup County to a home in Rock County quite a few miles away where it operated until it was closed in 1933. So the "Butka Post Office" operated from 1886 to 1933 all together.
The Settlement of Loup & Blaine Counties, 1977, By Colleen Switzer: Early Day Post Offices * Towns:
BUTKA.* Organized February 10, 1886 in the home of Frank Butka with Mr. Butka as postmaster. Located in northwest Loup County. Papers moved to Rock County April 3, 1894.
*The name "Butka" sometime found spelled: "Bulka".
Nebraska Place-Names, 1925, by Linda Fitzpatrick: ROCK COUNTY:
Butka. Butka was named for its first postmaster, Frank Butka. The town was originally located, about forty years ago, on the Calamus river, eleven miles southwest of its present site. Since then it has been moved three times, each time retaining its original name.

m. 22 Feb 1888, at the Pavillion Hotel, Taylor, Loup Co., NE, Lucy Charlotte Fields.

On 2-22-1888, in front of a judge at the Pavillion/Carter Hotel, Taylor, Loup County, Nebraska, James Butka married Lucy E./Lucille C./Lucy Charlotte Fields who was about eight years his junior with the marriage taking place on her 17th birthday.

Lucy was: "Married with the consent of her father, he being present.
James Butka, Groom, Age 25, White, Place of Birth Iowa, Residence Loup Co., Father's Name Francis Butka, Mother's Maiden Name Barbary Cobate.
Lucy E. Fields, Bride, Age 17, White, Place of Birth Iowa, Residence Loup Co., Father's Name Charles Fields, Mother's Maiden Name Pheabe Myers."
The witnesses to the marriage were Lucy's Father, Charles Harrison Fields, and the owner of the Pavillion Hotel, Herman E. Carter, and the location on the Certificate of Marriage is the Carter Hotel, now known simply as the Pavillion Hotel.

"AFFIDAVIT ON APPLICATION FOR MARRIAGE LICENSE
I, James Butka of Loup County, State of Nebraska, aged 25
years, do solemnly swear that I am acquainted with Mr. James Butka
and Miss Lucy E. Fields, who are parties for the marriage of whom a LICENSE
is applied for; that said James Butka is of the age of 25 years and upwards,
of sound contracting mind, and unmarried,
that said Lucy E. Fields is of the age of 17 years and upwards, of sound
contracting mind, and unmarried, & has the consent of her father he being present
and may lawfully contract and be joined in marriage.
I furthermore do solemnly swear that the following schedule, containing the names of the aforesaid parties, their age, color, place of birth, residence and parents'
names, is correct in every particular, to the best of my knowledge, information and belief, to wit:
NAMES OF THE PARTIES
James Butka Groom.
Lucy E Fields Bride.
AGE
25
17
COLOR
White
"
PLACE OF BIRTH
Iowa
Iowa
RESIDENCE
Loup Co
" "
FATHER'S NAME
Francis Butka
Charles Fields
MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME
Barbary Cobate
Pheabe Myers
James Butka, Applicant.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, 22nd Feb. 1882
AMGurnsey
A Judge"

"MARRIAGE LICENSE.
The State of Nebraska, }
Loup County. } ss.
Office of the County Judge
License is hereby granted to any person authorized to solemnize marriages according to the laws
of said State, to join in marriage Mr James Butka
and Miss Lucy E. Fields of the County aforesaid, whose ages, resi-
dence, etc., are as follows:
NAMES OF THE PARTIES.
James Butka Groom.
Lucy E Fields Bride.
If blood relation, in what degree? [blank]
AGE.
25
17
COLOR.
White
"
PLACE OF BIRTH.
Iowa
Iowa
RESIDENCE.
Loup Co
" "
FATHER'S NAME.
Francis Butka
Charles Fields
MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME.
Barbary Cobate
Pheabe Myers
And the person joining them in marriage is required to make due return of the annexed certificate to the County Judge of said County, within
ninety days, of the names of the parties, time and place of marriage, and by whom solemnized.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said court at me
office in Taylor in said County, the 22nd day
of February A.D. 1888
/s/ AM Gurnsey C._____ Judge.
CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE.
To the County Judge of Loup County, Nebraska:
This Certifies, That on the 22 day of Feb A.D. 1888, at
the Carter Hotel in said County, according to law and by authority, i duly JOINED IN MARRIAGE
Mr James Butka and Miss Lucy E Fields
And these were present as witnesses H E Carter & Charles Fields
Given under my hand the 22 day of Feb A. D. 1888
/s/ AMGurnsey
A Judge"

Loup County Records (Judge's Office) Book 1:
CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE. To the County Judge of Loup County, Nebraska: This certifies, That on the 22 day of Feb. A.D. 1888, at the Carter Hotel in said County, according to the law and by authority, I duly JOINED IN MARRIAGE Mr. James Butka and Mrs. Lucy E. Fields. And these were present as witnesses H. E. Carter & E. Charles Fields. Given under my hand the 22 day of Feb. A.D. 1888. AMGurnsey, A Judge.

[Note: The Pavillion Hotel on Main St. Square in Taylor, Nebraska is a historic building that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
It was built by Herman Carter in 1887 in anticipation of arrival of the railroad, which was just 13 miles east in Burwell, Nebraska. However, the railroad never came.
The site has also been designated NEHBS #LP03-1." -Wikipedia.]

[NOTE: We have a photo of the Pavillion Hotel, then and now (2005). "By the way, the correct spelling for the hotel DOES indeed include a double "ell", why I'm not sure, but that is the correct spelling. The hotel in Taylor was built in 1887 by a couple originally from Vermont, and they named the building after the famous "Pavilion" in Montpelier, VT, where the Vermont State Historical Society is located. We have enjoyed correspondence with employees from the Pavilion in Vermont, and they loved receiving a ceramic replica of our Pavillion! Marah Sandoz of Taylor, who owns the old hotel with her husband Loren, makes the replicas." -Kevin Brown, Taylor, Nebraska 68879, President, Loup County Historical Society.

The wedding took place in the Pavillion Hotel in Taylor (picture at right--due north of Kearny on hwy 183).
They both appear in the Wedding Index for Loup County Vol 1, p 65.

They had five children: Daisy Maude, Leslie Harrison, Lawrence James, Hersel Eugene, and Letha Luella.

There is only one family photo that I have run across that has everybody in it and an additional unknown sister who looks maybe a year younger (or possibly the older child) than little Letha. It would seem unusual to have a non-family member posing for what is obviously a family photo--my guess is that a younger sister died prior to 1906 when Lucy left James and they divorced. I do not have any birth or death record for this child. One would need to look between 1900 - 1902 in Columbia, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma or Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma for the birth and death records (which probably do not exist). Maybe their is a grave out there.

1888: James Butka wrote in article which is in a book called, "In All It's Fury - The Great Blizzard of 1888", by W. H. O'Gara, in Loup County, Nebraska, page 192-193. We have a copy of James Butka's account of the Great Blizzard of 1888. It tells how he lived across the river from his brother Frank, each on ten acres. When the blizzard hit James was on his way home and he describes how impossible it was to tell direction by sight and that his horses nostrils were frozen closed with ice and needed it removed several times. His brother had lots of cattle and got lost out in the storm and eventually crossed the river to James' house following the fence and cornfield rows. He arrived more dead than alive and had to be worked on the rest of the night after his clothes and shoes were cut off. "He lost some toes, but otherwise recovered all right." [Note: This article was written later when James Butka was living in Hemet, California, and submitted for the book.]

In All Its Fury
The Great Blizzard of
1888
By W. H. O'Gara

"James Butka, Hemet, California:

I was living on the bend of the Calamus River, about thirty miles
from Burwell. My homestead was on the south bank and my
brother Frank was on the north side, about three miles from
the river.
The morning of the storm I went into the sandhills for wood
for fencing, about 9 o'clock. I left my team and wagon on a
knoll and went into a depression not far away. Suddenly it was
deathly still. Then it turned dark and I hurried to my horses. By
the time I reached them it was quite dark and the wind was blowing
in gusts. It was impossible to determine direction by sight. The
only way I could tell which way was to look at the tufts
of dried grass which were bent in the direction of the prevailing
winds. So frequently would dig the tufts from the snow to get
my directions.
The horses behaved strangely, putting their noses down to the
snow where the tufts of grass showed through, I examined and found
their nostrils frozen closed with ice. This I removed many times
in the next few hours.
It took me three hours to reach the edge of the sandhills. Here
I struck a fire-break or hedge which was about a mile long. From
this I took bearings and tried to reach my place which had about
ten acres fenced in. It was impossible to drive straight in one direction
and I missed the fence. I was passing the end of the fence when I
thought I saw a shadow in the swirling, snow. I investigated and
found that it was my own house. Then I located the fence and made
my way to the shed where I cared for my horses and the other
livestock which had returned to the sheds when the storm came up.
Frank, on the other side of the river, had many cattle and several
Hired hands. He, too, had about ten acres fenced in. They were busy
That day stringing wires from the shed to the barn and from barn to
house, so that they could find their way from one building to another.
In the evening Frank went to the barn again, to look after some cows
that were calving. When he started for the house he could not find
the wires so he supposed they had been broken. He thought he could
find the house, or, at least, find the fenced area which would guide
him to the house.
He missed it entirely. When he knew he was lost, he turned
toward the river, where he had a small sod shack. He thought he could
find that and hole up for the night. He missed that, and stumbling
along the river bank he stepped into a spring and got both feet wet.
Then he thought he would cross the river and find my place.
He knew when he reached a cornfield, and from the corn rows
he got his directions, and figured how far he would have to go to reach
the fenced area.
Stumbling on, he came to a fence post-it was the very last post.
-192-
He followed the fence, counting the posts and estimating distances,
but finally fell. He felt that fatal desire to rest, and almost went to
sleep, then roused himself and struggled on.
Soon he located the house and barn. The wind had swept the icy
path bare and Frank crawled on his hands and knees to reach the
house.
I had just finished saying to a young man who was with me: "I'm
surely glad that I'm not out in this storm tonight" when we heard a
pounding at the door. We opened it and my brother Frank stumbled
in, more dead than alive.
We cut off his shoes and clothing and worked over him the rest
of the night. He lost some of his toes, but otherwise recovered all right.
….
-193-"

NOTE: We have land records of the Butkas, post office records, and more from Taylor, Loup County, Nebraska. We even have "Intention to Become a U.S. Citizen" document copy for Frank Butka who is James Butka's brother.
There is a picture of a postcard displaying an automobile with the caption, "You auto be in Butka Neb." in the Rock County Centennial Book, p. 32, and a note stating: "The Butka post office was named for its 1st postmaster, Frank Butka. There were 2 Butka brothers and in the blizzard of 1888, 1 of the brothers frozed to death and the other nearly lost his life. [This last part is erroneous.]
The Butka post office was 1st located in Loup Co., then moved to Rock Co. 4-3-1894 to the William B. Good place & William was postmaster. It was discontinued 9-15-1933 & the mail went to Rose."

NOTE: "A friend of mine, Margaret Hughes Dunne, who is past 90, told me her mother Anna Schubert Johnson Hughes boarded with the Butkas and herded cattle in exchange for the privilege of attending school at District #18 Loup County.
At that time the school was known as "Butka School", and the Butkas were prominent school board members. Later, the school became known as "Fox" and still later as "Ovitt".
My mother taught 3 terms at the Ovitt School from 1938 to 1941. It was her favorite school of all those she taught in.
You can't imagine how isolated this country is where the Butkas homesteaded--and yet how beautiful!"
-Kevin Brown, Taylor, Nebraska 68879, President, Loup County Historical Society (6-1-2005).

1891: Religion: Switched to Seventh-day Adventist: "He accepted this blessed truth...and was an active, earnest church member and worker for 61 years." (1952 SDA Obituary).

Land Records: 2002 Loup County Historical Society Caravan Tour Book:
Ovitt Dist. 18, R 19, Rock County, Nebraska:
5-24-19
"Section 5
NE 1/4, SE 1/4 of SW Qtr., NW 1/4 SW 1/4 of SE Qtr. - US to James Butka Apr. 24, 1893. - H&R Broll."
9-24-19
"Section 9
SE 1/4 SW 1/4 of SE Qtr. - US to Francis C. Butka - June 5, 1889 - Buell"
Township 24, Range 19
"Section 10
SE 1/4 SW 1/4 of SW Qtr. US to Francis C. Butka - June 5, 1889. Satterfield, Vaughn & Brent Meeks."
Section 15, Township 24, Range 19
"SE 1/4 of SW Qtr., SE 1/4 SW 1/4 of SE Qtr. US to James Butka - Aug. 3, 1885. -DeLashmutt-Satterfield-North of River."
23-24-19
"Section 23 Con't
NW Qtr. US to James Butka - July 24, 1893 - E of River."

Book: Valleyview, Nunda, and Boiling Spring Too (1990), by Kevin Brown:
"DISTRICT #18 OVITT:
District 18 was commonly known as Ovitt. It was organized August 26, 1886, and was originally called Butka because at that time the Butka family was living in the area. The Butka Post Office originally opened in Loup County in 1886 with Frank Butka the postmaster. In 1894 this office moved to Rock County where it remained in operation until about 1935. Frank Butka was the petitioner for the new school district which would become #18. On September 10, 1886, Frank Butka was elected director, Peter Peterson the moderator, and Charles E. Whiting the treasurer of this school. County superintendent records show these three were reelected in July 1887; and in 1888, James Butka and a Carlisle were named to the board of education."
1889 Board: Frank Butka, Director, Butka, Nebraska.
1890: Frank Butka.
1891: Frank Butka / James Butka (appointed).
1893: Jane H. Butka, Director, Butka. [Note: This is Henrietta Jane Butka, nee Fisher, Mrs. Francis B. Butka.]
Notes by author: Butkas may've moved to Boyd County, Nebraska about 1894. Dist. #18 during Kinkaid Era was known as Fox School. Fox family had most children in school at that time.
"The first teacher listed for District 18 was Lucy Fields. She taught a 3-month term at $20 per month and listed a third grade teaching certificate."

Lucy C. Fields was teaching in District #18 Butka about the time she was married to James Butka.
She taught a 3-month term at $20 per month and listed a third grade teaching certificate.
Lucy C. Fields also taught a term in District #17 Loup County.

C.H. Fields (James Butka's father-in-law) was the Loup County Treasurer in Taylor, Loup County, Nebraska, from approximately 1889 to 1892.

C.H. Fields' wife is listed as Phebe Myers Fields and they were listed as married in 1869.
I show their children and birth dates listed as S.B., 1866; M.C., 1879; and L.A., 1883.
We show Lucy's name as Lucy Charlotte Fields.

Phoebe Lucille Myers (Fields) was also listed in the Business Directory for 1890-1891 in Taylor, Loup County, Nebraska: "Mrs. C. H. Fields Millinery."

James and Francis B. Butka were listed in the Farmers list for 1890-1891. (The Farmers List is on-line for 1890-1891on our Loup County website and that's where that information came from.)

Frank Butka was a member of the first Board of Education, and James Butka was added later.
1889: Frank Butka was a member of the first Board of Education, Taylor, Loup County, Nebraska.
He served in 1890, as well as in 1891 with his brother James Butka being appointed that year.
In 1893 Jane H. Butka was Director.
(Book: Valleyview, Nunda, and Boiling Spring Too (1990) by Kevin Brown).

1889: Butka - Seen on Map: Railway map of Nebraska issued by State Board of Transportation:
Library of Congress:
https://www.loc.gov/item/98688510/

1890-1891 info.: Butka, a post office in the extreme northern part of Loup County, 20 miles north of Taylor, Nebraska.

1890-1891: Nebraska State Gazetteer
Business Directory and Farmer list for 1890-1891,
Omaha: J. M. Wolfe & Co., Publishers, 509-510 Paxton Block, 1890
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year of 1890, by J. M. Wolfe & Co, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.:
Farmer List:
Butka Francis B, Butka
Butka James, Butka

1891: James was active in the Seventh-Day Adventist church since 1891 when he became an SDA.

24 Apr 1893: Land Homestead:
U.S., Homestead Records, 1861-1936
Name: James Butka
Final Certificate Date: 24 Apr 1893
Homestead Place: Nebraska, USA
Land Office: Omaha; West Point; Norfolk; Neligh
Final Certificate Number: 6287
Section: 23
Township: 24 North
Range: 19 West
Note: Page 10, Homestead Affidavit:
"Said settlement was commenced on January 1, 1887,
that my improvements consist of a house, 2 wells, stable, cattle sheds,
Hog yard, pasture of about 140 acres 15 acres grasing & about
6000 trees
and that the value of the same is $500.00; that owing to distance
I am unable to appear at the District Land Office to make this affidavit, and that I have never before made
a homestead entry, my post office address is Butka
Loup County Nebraska
/s/ James Butka
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of July 1889"
Note: Page 13. Homestead Proof - Testimony of Witness: Josephus Harter
"Quest. 4.--State Specifically the character of this land...Ans. Prairie Grazing & Farming"
"Quest. 6.--Have claimant and family resided continuously on the homestead since first establishing residence thereon? (If settler is unmarried, state the fact.) Ans. Yes was unmarried at time of settlement has a family now"
"Quest. 8.--How much of the homestead has the settler cultivated and for how many seasons did he raise crops thereon? Ans. about 15 acres six seasons"
"Ques. 9.--What improvements are on the land and what is their value? Ans. Sod house shingle roof 4 rooms board floor sod stable frame grassing ou[t]side cellar grassing chicken house 3 wells 1500 trees overall value $250.00"
Note: Page 13. 17 Apr 1893: Homestead Proof - Testimony of Witness: Charles [All but C. then crossed out] H. Fields:
"Question 1.--What is your name, age, and post-office address? Answer. C H Fields age 52 Taylor Loop Co Neb"
"Quest. 4.--State Specifically the character of this land...Ans. Prairie Grazing & Farming"
"Quest. 5.--When did claimant settle upon the homestead and at what date did he establish actual residence thereon? Ans. he was on the claim when I came here six years ago"
"Quest. 6.--Have claimant and family resided continuously on the homestead since first establishing residence thereon? (If settler is unmarried, state the fact.) Ans. he has and his family has since he was married five years ago"
"Quest. 8.--How much of the homestead has the settler cultivated and for how many seasons did he raise crops thereon? Ans. about 12 acres 5 seasons"
"Ques. 9.--What improvements are on the land and what is their value? Ans. Sod house shingle roof board floor 4 rooms sod stable frame grassing 3 wells hen house overall value $350.00"
Note: Page 15: Homestead Proof - Testimony of Claimant. James Butka:
"James Butka, being called as a witness in his own behalf in support of homestead entry, No. 11030, for NW 1/4 section 23 24 19 testifies as follows:
Question 1.--What is your name, age, and post-office address? Answer. James Butka age 30 Butka Neb
Ques. 2.--Are you a native born citizen of the United States, and if so, in what State of Territory were you born? Ans. I am born in Iowa....
Ques. 4.--When was your house built on the land and when did you establish actual residence therein? (Describe said house and other improvements which you have placed on the land, giving total value thereof.) Ans. My first was built 7 years ago this spring present house was built 2 years ago 12x36 4 rooms floor and ceiled shingle roof sod stable cow stable hen house Hog yard cattle cewall 3 wells cewall 2000 trees value $500.00"
"Ques. 7.--How much of the land have you cultivated each season and for how many seasons have your raised crops thereon? Ans. 15 acres part of it 6 seasons"
"Quest. 9.--What is the character of the land? Is it timber, mountainous, prairie, grazing, or ordinary agricultural land? State its kind and quality, and for what purpose it is most valuable. Ans. hay land part farming land prairie most valuable for agricultural purposes"
"/s/ James Butka
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing testimony was read to the claimant before being subscribed, and was sworn to before me this 17 day of April 1893. /s/ F. H. Smith Clerk of District Court"
Note: Page 16 - Findings:
"No. of acres, 160
Erros in description, X
Date of Settlement, 1885
" " Entry (in Hds.), Aug. 12, 1889
" " Residence, Feb. 3, 1886
" " Proof, April 17, 1893
" Advertised, " " "
" of Certificate, April 24, 1893
Officer taking proof, Clk. Dist. Co.
...
Value of $500.00
Acres broken, 15
" in crop, "; No. of seasons, 6
Kind of crops, --
Residence claimed, 7 Yrs. __ Mos. __ Days.
...
Claimant's family, Wife - 3 chldn [children]
Examined 3 day of July, 1893
..."
Note: Page 19: Certificate: April 24, 1893.

1894 the Butkas and the Fields moved from Loup County, Nebraska, and never returned.
This is probably why the Butka Post Office moved 4-3-1894 to Rock County, Nebraska.

NOTE: "Nebraska did not formally require birth certificate registration until 1904 in the rural areas, so I am almost positive you won't find any for the Butkas. The only exception is the metropolitan area (Omaha and Lincoln). 1893 was a U.S. depression, and in 1894, a drought hit Nebraska hard. [However, my maternal grandmother's family, the Scherbarths, moved here in 1894 from Merrick County Nebraska because they "dried out" down there and] the Sandhills usually has some pasture for cattle when no where else does. Same thing happened in the drought of 1934. But the times weren't easy. The Sandhills somehow become more appealing to folks in the hard times.
It is a rugged, sometimes harsh area. The Midwest winters can be brutal, but frankly, we have not had a "bad" winter since the early 1980s. The weather patterns have changed greatly in the past 25 years!" -Kevin Brown, President of Loup County Historical Society.

Brother Frank moved his family about 120 miles North-Easterly to Gross, Boyd County, Nebraska, near the South Dakota border.

James Butka and his father-in-law's families both traveled south through Kansas for about 535 miles to settle in Oklahoma, Charles in Columbia, Kingfisher County, and James in the adjacent County of Garfield, in the County Seat of Enid.
It should be noted that Garfield County was established on September 16, 1893 from the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, with Enid as County Seat.
[See Wikipedia and https://www.genealogyinc.com/oklahoma/garfield-county/#sthash.4ANdKmRM.dpuf].
I surmise that the Butkas and Fields moved here to again homestead some land.

In 1894 (Hersel Eugene) and 1901 (Letha Luella) were born, both in Columbia, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma.
I suspect that Lucy went to stay with her parents in Columbia during her final weeks of pregnancy to help her with the deliveries and care for her and the infant children for a time.

In 1900, James Butka and his family appear in Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma (1900 Census).

1900 U. S. Federal Census (June 18): Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma
Roll: T623 1336; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 53.
Dwelling 175, Family 175

James Butka, Head, White, Male, Born Mar. 1863, Age 37, Married, # Years Married 12, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Bohemia, Mother's Birthplace Bohemia, Occupation Farmer, Months Not Employed 0, Read/Write/Speak English Yes, 0wn Home, Free of Mortgage, Farm, # of farm 173.

Lucy C. Butka, Wife, White, Female, Born Feb. 1871, Age 29, Married, # Years Married 12, # of Children 4, # of Children Still Living 4, Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace New York, Father's Birthplace Canada, Can Read/Write/Speak English Yes.

Daisy M. Butka, White, Female, Born Dec. 1888, Age 11, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Occupation At-school, Attended School (in months) 7, Can Read/Write/Speak English Yes.

Leslie Butka, Son, White, Male, Born May 1890, Age 10, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Occupation At-school, Attended School (in months) 7, Can Read/Write/Speak English Yes.

Lawrence Butka, Son, White, Male, Born Nov. 1891, Age 8, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Occupation At-school, Attended School (in months) 7, Can Read/Write/Speak English Yes.

Hersel Butka, Son, White, Male, Born Dec. 1894, Age 5, Single, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa.

15 Feb 1901: James was still in Oklahoma, where his daughter Letha Luella was born.

1904: SDA: Yearbook:
p. 47: OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE: Organized 1894: Territory: Oklahoma and Indian Territories:
p. 48: SOUTHWESTERN UNION CONFERENCE: OFFICERS: Conference: James Butka"
p. 48: MISSIONARY LICENTIATES: "James Butka, Enid, Okla. T."
p. 118: CANVASSING MISSIONARY AGENTS: UNION CONFERENCE:
p. 119: CANVASSING AGENTS: Oklahoma: "James Butka, Enid, Okla. T."

1905: SDA: Yearbook:
p. 54: SOUTHWESTERN UNION CONFERENCE: OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE: Organized 1894: Territory: Oklahoma and Indian Territories: OFFICERS: State Missionary: "James Butka, Enid, Okla, T."
p. 55: MISSIONARY LICENTIATES: "James Butka, Enid, Okla. T."

1904-1906: James' wife Lucy left him and the children remained behind (at James' insistence except for little Letha for a while for a short while) and she married another (younger) man. Their oldest daughter, Daisy, then helped her father rear the children until he remarried about 1908.

15 Jun 1906: Journal Entry ("Divorce Judgment") In the District Court within and for Garfield County, Territory of Oklahoma: James Butka, Plaintiff, vs. Lucy C. Butka, Defendant: Summary: Both had attorneys present, James Butka was present, but Lucy was not present in court and failed to introduce evidence. The court found the Plaintiff [Father] to be the proper person to be awarded the care and custody of the minor children, to wit; Daisy age 17, Leslie age 16, Laurence (sic) age 14, Hersel age 11 and Letha age 5. The court also made into an order the parties' written agreement and contract regarding property rights that Defendant received $550.00 in lieu of any interest in any real or personal property. The Plaintiff, James Butka, was granted and decreed an absolute divorce, which shall not take effect and be in full force until the expiration of six month

15 Jan 1907: Divorce from Lucy became final.

Lucy married fun preacher and farmer, nine years her junior, on March 25, 1907, just two months after her divorce was final.

------------

James Butka was a hardworking, serious farmer all his life. He was rather stern, practical, and without much of a sense of humor. Lucy was a pretty, curly-haired, blue-eyed, fun-loving lady. His very young wife struggled along, but after around 17 years of marriage, all work and no play, could bear it no longer. She left her husband and family, taking Letha, still a baby [age 4], with her. Hersel, the next youngest, was only nine [or ten] years old. The eldest, Daisy, was around 15 or 16, and she did her best to care for her three brothers, until James remarried. The step-mother, Lottie, was a school teacher, a bit stern, but a good and kind woman who was faithful to James for the rest of their lives. (L. Aileen Butka).

Between 1904 - 1906, James' wife Lucy left him for another (younger) man and the children remained behind (at James' insistence except for little Letha who accompanied her mother for a short while). Their oldest daughter, Daisy, then helped her father rear the children until he remarried about 1908.

In their Divorce Judgment on January 15, 1906, in Garfield County, Oklahoma, James was awarded custody of the children. While both parties had attorneys present, only James Butka appeared to present evidence. The court found the Plaintiff [Father] to be the proper person to be awarded the care and custody of the minor children, to wit; Daisy age 17, Leslie age 16, Laurence [sic] age 14, Hersel age 11 and Letha age 5. The court also made into an order the parties' written agreement and contract regarding property rights that Defendant received $550.00 in lieu of any interest in any real or personal property. The Plaintiff, James Butka, was granted and decreed an absolute divorce, which shall not take effect and be in full force until the expiration of six months. On January 15, 1907, their divorce became final.

On March 25, 1907, just two months after her divorce was final, Lucy married William "Bill" Charles Menefee, a fun preacher and farmer, who was nine years her junior, in Woodward, Woodward County, Oklahoma.

However, by this time James had already taken their children away, having moved in 1906 about 323 miles from Enid, Garfield County, OK to Keene, Johnson County, Texas, where the Butka children would attend Keene Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist school, and where he obtained employment.

----------------

From 1906 to 1913, James Butka was the manager of the Broom Shop at Keene Industrial Academy, Keene, Johnson County, Texas (SDA Yearbook & Obituary). His children attended school there and Leslie and Hersel also worked in the broom factory with their father. James also had some milk cows and Hersel collected empty bottles on his way home after school. His oldest child Daisy graduated from Keene Academy at age 19 in 1907, and the family has her graduation photo where she is holding flowers to commemorate the occasion. Daisy then moved away from her family to attend Union College, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, from 1908 - 1909. (Family Source).

We have an old photo that must have been taken about 1907 - 1909, but Hersel is real small, where Letha is missing in the photo and the woman appears to be Lottie (would not expect Lucy to be the woman--hard to tell for certain). We have another photo that may be about 1904 where the woman is Lucy and there appear to be two little girls who look like Letha, one perhaps a year younger. There is no information about this other little girl.

1908: SDA Yearbook:
p. 146: ACADEMIES: KEENE INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY: Keene, Tex.: Established 1894:
P. 147: Industrial Departments: James Butka, Manager of Broom Shop"

Abt 1908, in Keene, Johnson County, Texas, Charlotte E. Farrell married James Butka (she was his second wife).
He had custody of his children from his first marriage.
Married in Keene, Johnson County, Texas, where they met and Charlotte had been working as a teacher. (Charlotte's SDA Obituary).
1906 - 1907: Married. (Charlotte's SDA Obituary).
1907-8 (approx.): Married. (1930 Census said she was Age 42)
1909 (aprox.): (1910 Census).
NOTE: They were not married in Garfield County, Oklahoma (per County records.)

They did not have any children together, but she helped with his children from his first marriage, leading with a very firm hand. This was her only marriage ever. (Family Sources.)

1909: SDA Yearbook:
p. 87: SOUTHWESTERN UNION CONFERENCE: TEXAS CONFERENCE: Organized 1878: CHURCH-SCHOOL TEACHERS: "Mrs. Lottie Butka, Keene, Tex."
p. 149: EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: KEENE INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY: Keene, Tex.: Established 1894:
Faculty:
p. 150: "Mrs. James Butka, Pedagogy"
p. 150: Normal Department: "Principal, Mrs. James Butka"
p. 150: Industrial Department: "James Butka, Manager Broom Factory"

1910: SDA Yearbook:
p. 149: EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: KEENE INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY: Keene, Tex.: Established 1894:
p. 150 Industrial Department: "James Butka, Manager Broom Factory"

Apparently, around 1910, after James Butka's children finished school in Texas, they moved to Michigan briefly. However, James and Lottie continue to appear in records as living in Keene, Texas from 1911 - 1914. His youngest child Letha's school records show her attendance at Keene Academy in 1913.

In the 1910 Census, James, his second wife Lottie, and his five children from his first marriage, are shown to have moved, again. They were residing in Oronoko Township, Berrien County, Michigan, where they had moved for the benefit of his children's continuing their SDA education. His son Hersel finished school in Texas in 1911, and joined them here from 1911 - 1912 to take coursework in Pre-Med at Emmanuel Missionary College, Berrien Springs, Berrien County, Michigan.

1910 U. S. Fedeal Census (May 13): Oronoko Township, Berrien County, Michigan
Series: T624, Roll: 638, Part: 2, Page: 105B
Dwelling 241, Family 246

James Butka, Head, Male, White, Age 47, Marriage #2, # of years of present marriage 1, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Rust.-Bohemian, Mother's Birthplace Rust.-Bohemia, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Farmer - General Farm, Working O.A. (Own Account), Can Read & Write Yes, Own Home, Mortgaged, Farm, # of farm schedule 194.

Lottie E. Butka, Wife H, Female, White, Age 44, Marriage #1, # of years of present marriage 1, Birthplace New York, Father's Birthplace New York, Mother's Birthplace New York, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None, Can Read & Write Yes.

Daisy Butka, Daughter, Female, White, Age 21, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Student - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.

Leslie Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 20, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - Home Farm, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.

Lawrence Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 18, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.

Hersel Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 15, Single, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.

Letha Butka, Daughter, Female, White, Age 9, Single, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None, Attend School Yes.

1911: SDA Yearbook:
p. 150: EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: KEENE INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY: Keene, Tex.: Established 1894:
Industrial Department: "James Butka, Manager Broom Factory"

1912: SDA Yearbook:
p. 85: SOUTHWESTERN UNION CONFERENCE: NORTH TEXAS CONFERENCE: Organized 1878: Territory: That part of the State of Texas lying east and north of the following counties: East of Wichita, Archer, Young, Stephens, Eastland, Comanche, Mills, San Saba; and north of Burnet, Williamson, Lee, Burleson, Washington, Waller, Harris, and Chambers. Office: Keene, Texas.
p. 86: CHURCH-SCHOOL TEACHERS: "Mrs. Jas. Butka, Keene, Tex."
p. 165: EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: KEENE INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY: Keene, Tex.: Established 1894: Normal Department: "Mrs. Lottie E. Butka"
p. 165: Industrial Department: "James Butka, Manager Broom Factory"

1913: SDA: Yearbook:
p. 76: NORTH TEXAS CONFERENCE: Organized 1878:
p. 77: SOUTHWESTERN UNION CONFERENCE: CHURCH-SCHOOL TEACHERS: "Mrs. Lottie Butka, Keene, Tex."
p. 158: EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: KEENE INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY: Keene, Tex.: Established 1894:
p. 158: Board of Managers: "James Butka"
p. 159: Preparatory School: "Mrs. Lottie E. Butka"

1914: SDA Yearbook:
p. 85: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE: NORTH TEXAS CONFERENCE: Organized 1878: Office: Keene, Tex.
p. 86: CHURCH-SCHOOL TEACHERS: "Mrs. Lottie Butka, Keene, Tex."
p. 166: EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: KEENE INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY: Keene, Tex.: Established 1894:
p. 166: Board of Managers: "James Butka"
p. 166: Preparatory School: "Mrs. Lottie E. Butka"

1915: SDA Yearbook:
p. 70: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE: Organized 1901:
p. 72: CHURCH-SCHOOL TEACHERS:
p. 73: PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE: "Mrs. Lottie E. Butka, 807 East Central Ave., Redlands, Cal."
p. 168: EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: KEENE INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY: Keene, Tex.: Established 1894: Faculty: "James Butka, Foreman Farm and Broom Factory"

Letha Luella Butka told Brenda Jo Butka this story: [Abt 1915] "She told me a story about when she was an eighth-grader (I think) and was chosen to lead in the high school graduates at graduation, which was an immense honor. She was trilled, but crushed when James Butka, her father, forbade her to have the white shoes which were required for the ceremony. He thought white shoes were frivolous and evil. Aunt Daisy, her older sister, basically said he was not going to ruin Letha's big event, and bought the shoes anyway. They dyed them brown afterward.
She told me once that he thought silk shirts were evil, but, in her words, "sure enjoyed the ones that Leslie gave him." I still have a strong memory of how her voice still shook with emotion as she remembered his rigid and unforgiving ways.

About 1912, James again moved, with Lottie and some children, to Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California, to enable his sons to continue their education and obtain medical doctor degrees. Between 1912 - 1917, his son Hersel attended The College of Medical Evangelists [now Loma Linda University Medical Center], Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California and White Memorial Hospital, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, and earned his degree as a Medical Doctor (M.D.). Both his older brothers, Leslie and Lawrence, had graduated in the second graduating class from The College of Medical Evangelists as M.D.'s in 1916.

In the 1915 city directory, James and three sons (Leslie, Lawrence, and Hersel) were living in Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California (1915 Dir.). Lawrence and Leslie were listed in Loma Linda in the 1914 directory also. Lottie was listed as Lotta Butka in the 1916 and 1918 SDA Yearbooks in Loma Linda.

1915 - 1916: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: James Butka
Residence Year: 1915
Residence Place: Redlands, California, USA
Occupation: Ranchhd [Ranchhand]
Publication Title: Redlands, California, City Directory, 1915
Page: 42
"Butka Hersel student P O Loma Linda
Butka Jas ranchhd P O Loma Linda
Butka Laurence student P O Loma Linda
Butka Leslie student P O Loma Linda"

1915: U.S. City Directories (Beta), California, p. 42: Father James and three sons in Loma Linda, CA:
Publication Title: Moore's Directory of Redlands Mentone, Crafton and Mission Valley Containing a Record of all Business Houses and Private Citizens, a List of all Trades and Professions, Pursuits, City Officials, Churches, Schools, Secret and Benevolent Societies, Clubs, Parks, Drives and Street Directory
"Butka Hersel student P O Loma Linda
Butka Jas ranchhd P O Loma Linda
Butka Laurence student P O Loma Linda
Butka Leslie student P O Loma Linda"

1916: SDA Yearbook:
p. 74: SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE: Organized 1915. Territory: The following-named counties in the State of California: Orange, San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino:
p. 75: CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS: "Mrs. Lotta Butka, Loma Linda, Cal."

1918: PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE: Yearbook:
p. 81: CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS: "Mrs. Lotta Butka, Loma Linda, Cal."

13 Aug 1918: James Butka is listed as Father - residence: Loma Linda, Calif.
on son Lawrence J. Butka's 1918 U.S. Army Transport Service Passenger List.

James and his second wife Charlotte "Lottie" E. Farrell took care of her mother in their home for many years and she is enumerated in their household in both the 1920 and 1930 U.S. Federal Census.

Sometime between 1918 and 1920, James and Lottie left California and their grown children and moved to Colorado live with and care for Lottie's mother, which they did for many years. In the 1920 Census, James, Lottie, and her mother lived together in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. James worked at a bakery called "Mother's Favorite Home Made Cookies" while they lived in Colorado. They are listed in Colorado Springs city directories from 1921 until 1926, when they returned to southern California.

1920 U. S. Federal Census (January 2): Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado
Roll: T625_163, Page: 1 A, ED: 102, Image: 0614
South 17th Street, House 118, Dwelling 15, Family 17

James Butka, Head, Rent Home, Male, White, Age 57, Married, Can Read & Write Yes, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Bohemia - Bohemian, Mother's Birthplace Bohemia - Bohemian, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Bakery, Class of Worker O.A. [Own Account], 134.

Lottie Butka, Wife, Female, White, Age 55, Married, Can Read & Write Yes, Birthplace New York, Father's Birthplace New York, Mother's Birthplace New York, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None.

Sarah Farrell, Mother, Female, White, Age 77, Widow, Can Read & Write Yes, Birthplace New York, Father's Birthplace New York, Mother's Birthplace Pennsylvania, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None.

1921: The R.L. Polk Directory Co.'s Colorado Springs and Manitou city directory, p. 76: James Butka, Vol. 17, Pages 76 & 493. (Source - Family and Local Histories)
Ad at top: Patron of Tiddings & Kirkwood store. The Street and Householders Guide.
"Butka, Jas. (Lottie E) (Home Made Cookie Shop) h 118 S 17th".

1921: R. L. Polk Directory Co.'s Colorado Springs and Manitou city directory, p. 493:
Ad at top: Elite Laundry & Dry Cleaning Co., 117 North Tejon Street, Colorado. (Source - Family and Local Histories)
"SEVENTH SOUTH -- runs s from W Pikes Peak av to D & R G; Ist st w of Chestnut. 118 Jas. Butka".

1921: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: James Butka
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1921
Residence Place: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Lottie E Butka
Publication Title: Colorado Springs, Colorado, City Directory, 1921
"Butka Jas (Lottie E) (Home Made Cookie Shop) h 118 S 17th"

1922: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: James Butka
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1922
Residence Place: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Lottie Butka
Publication Title: Colorado Springs, Colorado, City Directory, 1922
"Butka Jas (Lottie) (Mothers Favorite Home Made Cookies) h 2325 W Colorado av"

1922: SDA Yearbook: PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE:
p. 25: COLORADO CONFERENCE: Organized 1908: Territory: The State of Colorado east of the Continental Divide.
p. 26: CENTRAL UNION CONFERENCE: CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS: "Lottie Butka"

1923: SDA Yearbook:
p. 25: CENTRAL UNION CONFERENCE: COLORADO CONFERENCE: Organized 1908: Territory: The State of Colorado east of the Continental Divide: Office: Denver, Colo.:
p. 26: Church School Teachers: "Mrs. Lottie Butka"

3-19-1923: U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925:
Name: Hersel E. Butka
Birth Date: 9 Dec 1894
Birth Place: Columbus, Okla.
Residence: Los Angeles, Calif.
Passport Issue Date: 27 Mar 1923
Father Name: James Butka
Father's Birth Location: Iowa
Father's Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Passport Includes a Photo: Y
Source: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 (M1490)
"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
STATE OF CALIFORNIA } ss.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES }
I, HERSEL E. BUTKA, a NATIVE AND LOYAL CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, hereby apply to the Department of State, at Washington, for a passport,
for myself and my wife, MABEL, age 27 yrs., born in Ill., married Dec. 1916.
I solomnly swear that I was born at COLUMBUS, in the State of OKLA, on or about the 9 day of Dec. 1894, that my father James Butka, was born in Iowa, and is now residing at Colorado Springs Colo. ...."

1923: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: James Butka
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1923
Street address: 2231 Grand av
Residence Place: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Lottie E Butka
Publication Title: Colorado Springs, Colorado, City Directory, 1923
"Butka Jas (Lottie E) Mothers Favorite Home Made Cookies) h 2231 Grand av"

1924: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: James Butka
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1924
Street address: 2231 Grand av
Residence Place: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Lottie E Butka
Publication Title: Colorado Springs, Colorado, City Directory, 1924
"Butka Jas (Lottie E) h 2231 Grand av"

1925: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: James Butka
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1925
Street address: 2231 Grand av
Residence Place: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Charlotte E Butka
Publication Title: Colorado Springs, Colorado, City Directory, 1925
"Butka Jas (Charlotte E) h22331 Grand av"

1926: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: James Butka
Gender: Male
Residence Year: 1926
Street address: 2231 W Vermijo av
Residence Place: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Occupation: Baker
Spouse: Lottie E Butka
Publication Title: Colorado Springs, Colorado, City Directory, 1926
"Butka Jas (Lottie E) baker h2231 W Vermijo av"

1926: SDA Yearbook:
p. 28: CENTRAL UNION CONFERENCE: COLORADO CONFERENCE:
p. 29: Church School Teachers: "Mrs. Lottie Butka"

1926: Moved to California. (See wife's obituary).

1926: Between March 19, 1923 - 1930 James Butka and his wife Charlotte "Lottie" E. Farrell moved to southern California.

1929: SDA Yearbook:
p. 11: GENERAL CONFERENCE: MEDICAL MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT: OTHER MEMBERS:
p. 12: "L. H. Butka, M. D., Lowaho, Yencheng, Honan, China."
p. 79: PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE: SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE: Organized 1915:
p. 80: Church School Teachers: "Mrs. Lottie Butka"

1930: SDA Yearbook:
p. 78: PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE: SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE: Organized 1915:
p. 79: Church School Teachers: "Mrs. Lottie Butka"

In the 1930 Census, James and Lottie, along with her mother, were living in District 71, San Jacinto, Riverside County, California. He had a 40-acre farm there in Hemet, and may have grown alfalfa and hay.

1930 U. S. Federal Census (April 2 on page 1 of census): Dist. 71, San Jacinto, Riverside County, California:
Roll: 184; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 71; Image: 455.0.
Family 14a

James Butka, Head, Rent Home, Monthly Rent $25, Radio, Does this family live on a Farm Yes, Male, White 67, Married, Age at first marriage 25, Attended School No, Able to Read and Write Yes, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Bohemia, Mother's Birthplace Bohemia, Code State 65, 15, 0, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Rancher, Code VVV, O, 74.

Lottie Butka, Wife, Female, White, Age 63, Married, Age at first marriage 42, Attended School No, Able to Read and Write Yes, Birthplace New York, Father's Birthplace New York, Mother's Birthplace New York, Code State 56, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Teacher - Adventist, Code 4494, W, Actually at Work Yesterday Yes.

Sarah H. Farrell, Mother in law, Female, White, Age 87, Widowed, Age at first marriage 20, Attended School No, Able to Read and Write Yes, Birthplace New York, Father's Birthplace Pennsylvania, Mother's Birthplace New York, Code State 56, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None.

Around the 1930s he had a farm in Hemet, Riverside County, California which was 40 acres, where his grandchildren Aileen and Jean would play on the hay in the barn. He may have grown alfalfa and hay on his farm. Juanita Hansen (Ritland) believes he worked on the farm until he retired. (R. Jean Butka).

James later moved to the city, in Hemet (or San Jacinto area), and had an old railroad box car in the back of his home where he entertained in the summer where it stayed cooler because of the good insulation. He lived across the street from a race track.

For many years James was farm superintendent at Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California. This farm was just west of Anderson and on the north side of the railroad tracks. (R. Jean Butka & SDA obituary).

Aileen Butka remembers non-relatives they played with there and one was named Blossom. His home was very simple, basic, and severe. He was nice, but not very talkative. She was about 7 years old at the time.

1935: Residence: 429 Devonshire Avenue, Hemet, Riverside County, California. (1940 Census).

1940 U. S. Federal Census (April 2): S. D. No. 19, E. D. No. 33-11, Hemet City, Hemet Township, Riverside County, California
District 33-11 HEMET JUDICIAL TOWNSHIP, HEMET CITY W OF STATE (Page 1)
429 Devonshire Avenue, Household No. 8, Own Home, Value of Home $1,200, Live on a Farm No:

James Butka, Head, 0, Male, White, Age 77, Married, Attended School No, Highest Year of School Completed 8, Code 8, Birthplace Iowa, Code 65, Residence on 4-1-1935 Same Place, On a Farm No, Code X0X0, At Work March 24-30 No, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - [blank], Code [blank], # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - Yes.

Charlotte Butka, Wife, 1, Female, White, Age 74, Married, Attended School No, Highest Year of School Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace New York, Code 56, Residence on 4-1-1935 Same Place, On a Farm No, Code X0X0, At Work March 24-30 No, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - Housework, Code 5, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - Yes.

13 Jan 1946: Residence: 429 W. Devonshire St., Hemet, Riverside County, California. (Wife's Death Certificate).

17 Mar 1950: The Pomona Progress Bulletin, CA, Friday, Page 8:
"BUTKA FAMILY REUNION SLATED
Home on a short leave from Montemorelos, Mexico, where they are medical missionaries, Dr. and Mrs. H. E. Butka will be honored guests Saturday at a Butka family reunion at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Leslie H. Butka, 325 Base Line road, La Verne. The two men are brothers.
Joining in the event will be the doctors' Father, James Butka of Hemet, who was 87 years old March 9, and Mrs. Lucy Butka; Dr. and Mrs. H. O. Swartout (Daisy Butka), Arroyo Grande; Dr. and Mrs. L. J. Butka, Alhambra; Mr. and Mrs. Victor Hansen (Letha Butka) and grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Butka household."

---------------

1950 United States Federal Census (April 6): Hemet, Riverside County, California
Enumeration District: 33-19
Ted's Courts, Housekeeping Units
Line Number: 3
Address: 429 W. Devonshire Stret
Street Name: W. Latham
Apartment: 8
House Number: 315
Dwelling Number: 117
Farm: No
Acres: No

James Butka, Head, White, Male, Age 87 [Birth Date: abt 1863], Widowed, Birthplace Iowa, Code 042,
Occupation Category (last week) - Other, Worked Last Week No, Seeking Work No, Employment Status No.

---------------
Juanita Aileen Hansen (Ritland) remembered James Butka had arthritis in his hands and would shake them out a little in the morning. (5-9-2017).
Lelia Aileen Butka (Ludington) recalled that he used to talk and laugh with his grandchildren. (5-9-2017).

-----------------
Gary Neal Butka talked to Catherine Iva Butka (Stotts): She related that the four girls were sick and Vernon [Butka] took care of them. They decided to move from CA to MT and they went through San Bernardino to see James Butka. Catherine and Josephine went to pick up Jim's wife Lottie. When they returned Josephine exclaimed that James Butka was the worst driver she had ever ridden with and she would never ride with him again.
_______
Gary Neal Butka spoke to a clerk at a bookstore who saw his name on his credit card and asked if he had a relative who lived in Banning, Ca many years earlier. When you said yes, she told the following story:
They were putting in an underground fuel tank at a service station and Jim Butka tried to tell them how to do it. They didn't want to listen and so they blew him off. A couple days later they were still working on it so he came back out. He said if you had listened to me you would have been done already. This time they did listen and they finished installation within a couple hours.
----------------

1952: Residence: 329 Baseline, La Verne, Los Angeles County, California. (Death Cert.).

Feb - Mar 1952: Residence: Mt. View Rest Home, 1334 W. Orange Grove, Pomona, CA 91768. (Death Cert.).

[Note: The could be the Mountain View Center State Licensed Facility, 715 WEST BASELINE ROAD, CLAREMONT CA, 91711.]

He did not have a Social Security Number. (Death Cert.).

d. 31 Mar 1952: Jame Butka died in Pomona, Los Angeles County, California, at 8:50 p.m., at age 89. (Death Cert.).

California Death Index, 1940-1997:
Name: BUTKA, JAMES
Social Security #: 0
Sex: MALE
Birth Date: 25 Mar 1863
Birthplace: IOWA
Death Date: 31 Mar 1952
Death Place: LOS ANGELES
Mother's Maiden Name:
Father's Surname: BUTKA

Certificate of Death:
State File No.: State of California--Department of Public Health
Registration District No. 1905
Registrar's Number 124
Decedent Personal Data:
1.A.B.C. Name of Deceased: James Butka
2.A. Date of Death: March 31, 1952
2.B. Hour: 8:50 PM
3. Sex: Male
4. Color or Race: White,
5. Specity Married, Never Married, Widowed, or Divorced: Widowed
6. Date of Birth: Born March 25, 1863
7. Age: 89 Years
8.A. Usual Occupation: Farmer
8.B. Kind of Business or Industry: General farming
9. Birthplace: Iowa
10. Citizen of What Country: U.S.A.
11. Name and Birthplace of Father: (Unknown) Butka, Bohemia
12. Maiden Name and Birthplace of Mother: (Unknown), Bohemia.
13. Name of Present Spouse: [blank]
14. Was Deceased Ever in U.S. Armed Forces? [blank]
15. Social Security Number: None
16. Informant: Lawrence J. Butka [son]
Place of Death:
17.A. County: Los Angeles
17.B. City or Town: Pomona 1-08-05 X Inside Corporate Limits
17.C. Length of Stay in City or Town: 2 months
17.D. Full Name of Hospital or Institution: Mt. View Rest Home
17.E. Address: 1334 W. Orange Grove
Last Usual Residence:
18.A. State: California
18.B. County: Los Angeles
18.C. City or Town: La Verne 08-71 X Outside Corporate Limits
18.D. Street: 329 Baseline
Physician's Certification:
19.A. Coroner: [blank]
19.B. Physician: I hearby certify that death occurred at the time, hour, date, and place stated above, from the causes stated below, and that I attended the deceased from Nov. 1951 to March 31, 1952, and that I last saw the deceased alive on March 30, 1952.
19.C. Signature: V. T. Ritocco M.D. [Ritacca?]
19.D. Address: Pomona, California
19.E. Date Signed: 4-1-52
Funeral Director and Registrar:
22. Funeral Director: Harford Funeral Home
23. Date Received by Local Registrar: Apr 2 1952
24. Signature of Local Registrar: /s/ Janette H. Mahoney
Cause of Death:
25. Disease or Condition Directly Leading to Death: Arythmia,
Approximate Interval Between Onset and Death: 4 days
Antecedent Cause: Due to: Generalized arteriosclerosis
Approximate Interval Between Onset and Death: Several years.

Burial: San Jacinto Valley Cemetery, San Jacinto, Riverside County, California in Plot N1/2-NW1/4 - 37 - K next to his second wife, Charlotte Butka.

Headstone inscription, "HUSBAND - FATHER, JAMES BUTKA, 1863 - 1952."

San Jacinto Valley Cemetery
San Jacinto, Riverside County, California
P.O. Box 505, San Jacinto, Riverside County, California 92581
2555 S. Santa Fe Avenue
San Jacinto, Riverside County, California 92583
(951) 658-4923
Email: [email protected]
Lat: 33° 45' 34"N, Lon: 116° 57' 36"W

Cemetery Records: Updated 2012:
"BUTKA, James
Age: 89
Male
S1/2-NW1/4 - 37 - K
Place of Death: Pomona, CA.
Date of Birth: 00/00/1863
Date of Death: 03/31/1952
Date Interred: 04/02/1952
Marker: 00/00/0000
Harford Funeral Home
For: BUTKA, James
Date Sold: 12/23/1946
Sold To: BUTKA, James
Deed To: BUTKA, James"

James Butka purchased three plots (3 Deeds) at San Jacinto Valley Cemetery District:
9-10-1930: $15.00 - Plot N ½, SE ¼, Lot No. 12, Block F. (Mother-in-Law, Sarah E. Head Farrell).
1-28-1946: $40.00-Plot N ½, NW ¼, Lot No. 37, Block K. (Wife, Charlotte E. Farrell Butka).
1-27-1947: $40.00-Plot S ½, NW ¼, Lot No. 37, Block K. (Himself).

SDA Obituary: "BUTKA--James Butka was born March 25, 1863; died at Pomona, Calif., March 30, 1952. He has been an active church member and worker for 61 years. He was conference home missionary secretary for 3 years in Oklahoma. From 1906 to 1913 he was manager of the Keene Academy industries at Keene, Tex. For many years he was farm superintendent at Loma Linda. He is survived by 2 daughters: Mrs. Daisy Swartout and Mrs. Letha Hansen; 3 sons: the Doctors Leslie, Lawrence, and Hersel Butka; 11 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren."

Butka, James
Appears in Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 1952, May 29, 1952
1863 03 25
1952 03 30
Note SDA OBIT

SDA Obituary: "BUTKA--James Butka was born March 25, 1863; and passed to his rest March 30, 1952, at Pomona, Calif. He accepted this blessed truth in 1891 and was an active, earnest church member and worker for 61 years. He was home missionary secretary in the Oklahoma Conference for 3 years; from 1906 to 1913 he was manager of the Keene Academy industries at Keene, Texas; and for many years was farm superintendent at Loma Linda. He leaves 2 daughters, Mrs. Daisy Swartout and Mrs. Letha Hansen; 3 sons, Doctors Leslie, Lawrence, and Hersel Butka; 11 grand-children and 18 great-grandchildren."

Butka, James
Appears in Pacific Union Recorder 1952, June 2, 1952
Birth date 1863 03 25
Death date 1952 03 30
Note SDA OBIT

Find A Grave Memorial# 73509449
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73509449/james-butka

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Note: Eye color
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==========================

James Butka - Story Style Biography
By Julie Rozanne Krohne Evans, his great granddaughter (2016)

James Butka, the youngest child of Francis Butka and Francisca Babary Kubat, was born on March 15, 1863, during the middle of the American Civil War (1861-1865) when Abraham Lincoln was our 16th president, in Monmouth, Jackson County, Iowa, a free state.

[An interesting fact is that Monmouth is about 165 miles away from where the Tobias Krohne family would settle almost a decade later when the Krohnes immigrate to America from Norway. These families would unite in 1953 in California with the marriage of Rozella Jean Butka and Kenneth Duane Krohne.]

James Butka's parents were immigrants from Bohemia during a time when their Industrial Revolution caused high unemployment levels for small craftsmen like his father who was a wagon and coach builder. Even though Francis had such a high level of skill and notable reputation that he received a medal from the King of Denmark for his work, a small business owner just could not keep up with the effectively- and quickly-produced goods of a large factory.

So, while his parents' family home had been firmly established in Bohemia (now the westernmost region of the Czech Republic), where they were born, married and started having children, his father Francis could no longer make a living and, like so many others, took his family and left, never to return.

It was a costly and harsh experience traveling in those days, and many families had to travel separately, after additional funds could be earned and sent back.
"Most of the people went through the seaports of Hamburg and Bremen during their journey to the U.S. The fare ranged from 80 to 100 guldens per person and was paid in silver, as the Austrian money was not accepted abroad."
"For the voyage, which lasted 30 days by steamer but up to 3 months by sailboat, people had to be well equipped and supplied with food, dishes, straw mattresses and blankets, as most of them traveled below deck in dingy and unhygenic conditions."
[http://www.bridgebetweennations.com/emigration.htm]

About 1857 the Butkas arrived at the Port of New York (which predates Ellis Island), and then travelled about 1,000 miles west to live in Monmouth, Jackson County, Iowa (which had become the 29th state in the union in 1846). Their son Henry was the first child born in America on May 3, 1857.
[It is curious to note that their oldest child Frank claims he immigrated to USA in 1851 at age 10 according to his 1910/1920 Census records.]

James grew up in Monmouth, a tiny township (about a half a mile square) established in 1843. Only 153 people lived there in 2010 per Census records. "The township was named in commemoration of the 1778 Battle of Monmouth during the American Revolutionary War, where the Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the British Army." [Wikipedia.]

His oldest brother Francis "Frank" B. Butka, 20-years his senior, had moved away from Iowa, then married, and started a family in Jefferson County, Nebraska.

As a capable, hardworking teenager, James, was probably easily encouraged to join his brother Frank to help him build a home, farm, and raise cattle. James would have travelled approximately 435 miles to Fairbury and Newton, Jefferson County, Nebraska, to join his brother's family and work on the farm where we find him at age 18 (1880 Census - Newton).

Census records in 1880 reported only 452,402 people living in Nebraska, with only 1,251 in Fairbury (a railroad community since 1873) which, in 1886, became the Western Division Headquarters for the Rock Island Railroad, a growing grain and lumber shipping center located about 14 miles from Fairbury where brother Frank's three oldest children were born.

"During the 1870s to the 1880s, Nebraska experienced a large growth in population. Several factors contributed to attracting new residents. The first was that the vast prairie land was perfect for cattle grazing. This helped settlers to learn the unfamiliar geography of the area. The second factor was the invention of several farming technologies. Agricultural inventions such as barbed wire, wind mills, and the steel plow, combined with good weather, enabled settlers to make use of Nebraska as prime farming land. By the 1880s, Nebraska's population had soared to more than 450,000 people." [Wikipedia - Nebraska.]

"The Homestead Acts had few qualifying requirements. A homesteader had to be the head of the household or at least twenty-one years old. They had to live on the designated land, build a home, make improvements, and farm it for a minimum of five years. The filing fee was eighteen dollars (or ten to temporarily hold a claim to the land)." [Wikipedia - Homestead Act.]

In May 1884 Frank Butka had the opportunity under the Homestead Act to obtain some land in the central part of Nebraska and moved to Little York Precinct, Loup County, Nebraska (May 3, 1884 Homestead Affidavit). His brother James probably went with him and the next year James appears in his own dwelling next to his brother's family home (1885 NE Census). He had probably helped his brother Frank build a home for his family, while continuing to work to earn a little money, before James, at age 24, started building a bachelor's home on his own land on January 1, 1887 (Homestead Affidavit).

In August1885 and April/August 1893, James Butka acquired land in Ovitt District 18, Loup County, Nebraska (Land Records - 2002 Loup County Historical Society Caravan Tour Book).

On February 10, 1886, his brother Frank founded the Butka Post Office out of his home [naming it after themselves!] and was the first Postmaster in northwest Loup County, Nebraska, on the Calamus River. Thereafter, on September 16, 1887, Frank declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States. James was a natural born citizen, having been born in Iowa.

James began to improve his own property in 1887, and his Homestead Affidavit declared: "Said settlement was commenced on January 1, 1887, that my improvements consist of a house, 2 wells, stable, cattle sheds, Hog yard, pasture of about 140 acres 15 acres grasing [sic - grazing] & about 6000 trees and that the value of the same is $500.00."
[April 1893, Homestead Affidavit of James Butka.]

On January 1, 1887, James commenced his own homestead settlement for prairie grazing and farming, building his first house in the Spring neighboring his brother Frank's homestead. James Butka had 12 acres to grow crops, which he had done for five seasons. (1893 Land Homestead Affidavit).

Concurrently in 1887, and shortly before she was married, Lucy was a young school teacher by today's standards at age 16. In fact, "[t]he first teacher listed for District 18 was Lucy Fields. She taught a 3-month term at $20 per month and listed a third grade teaching certificate." "Lucy C. Fields also taught a term in District #17 Loup County."
(Book: Valleyview, Nunda, and Boiling Spring Too (1990) by Kevin Brown).

A year later, on February 22, 1888, in front of a judge, James Butka and Lucy Charlotte Fields were married on her 17th birthday in Taylor, Loup County, Nebraska at the Pavillion/Carter Hotel (built one year earlier in anticipation of the railroad which never came and yet this hotel is still in existence today [2016] and was designated a historic building in 1989). She was about eight years his junior and was married with the consent of her father who was present. (See Marriage Certificate & See 1893 Land Homestead & See Wikipedia re hotel).

Notably, the tiny (about a quarter square mile) village of Taylor where they were married was established about 1881 and is the county seat of Loup County, Nebraska.

Without modern amenities and only a simple home, life on the farm must have been difficult. One can gain a little insight into a most trying winter from an article written by James Butka himself. According to his article in a book, "In All It's Fury-The Great Blizzard of 1888", by W. H. O'Gara, in Loup County, Nebraska, pages 192-193, in 1888:

"I was living on the bend of the Calamus River, about thirty miles from Burwell. My homestead was on the south bank and my brother Frank was on the north side, about three miles from the river…."

His story further detailed that he and his brother Frank's homesteads were each on ten acres across the river from each other. When the "Great Blizzard" hit on January 12, 1888, James was on his way home and he described how impossible it was to tell direction by sight. He bemoaned that his horse's nostrils were frozen closed, sealed with ice, which needed to be removed several times on the journey home. His brother Frank had lots of cattle he was attending and he got lost out in the sudden storm. Frank eventually crossed the river to James' house following the fence and cornfield rows. He arrived more dead than alive and had to be worked on the rest of the night after his clothes and shoes were cut off. "He lost some toes, but otherwise recovered all right."

In 1889, his brother Frank Butka was a member of the first Board of Education in Taylor, Loup County, Nebraska, serving in 1889, 1890, and 1891. James Butka was appointed in 1891.
In 1893 Jane H. Butka was Director. [Her relationship is currently unknown.]
And his father-in-law, Charles Harrison Fields [C.H. Fields] was the Loup County Treasurer in Taylor (Nebraska) from approximately 1889 to 1892.
(Book: Valleyview, Nunda, and Boiling Spring Too (1990) by Kevin Brown).

In 1891, James becomes a Seventh-day Adventist. "He accepted this blessed truth...and was an active, earnest church member and worker for 61 years." (1952 SDA Obituary). Curiously, this religion was officially founded in 1863, the year of his birth.

About 1892, now with a wife and three children [1888 (Daisy Maude), 1890 (Leslie Harrison), and 1891 (Lawrence James)], James built a second home on his homestead property which was:
"12'x36', four rooms, floor and ceiled, shingle roof, sod stable, and also a cow, stable, hen
house, hog yard, cattle, cewall, three wells, cewall, and 2000 trees value $500.00."
James cultivated 15 acres on part of it for six seasons by this time. He grew hay, farmed grain (corn), and used the prairie land for other agricultural purposes, having apparently harvested 4,000 trees since 1887.
(1893 Land Homestead Affidavit of James Butka and Death Certificates of children re their birth years).
Two other witnesses described his property as:
"[s]od house shingle roof 4 rooms board floor sod stable frame grassing ou[t]side cellar grassing chicken house 3 wells 1500 trees overall value $250.00" and
"[s]od house shingle roof board floor 4 rooms sod stable frame grassing 3 wells hen house overall value $350.00"

Having successfully acquiring the land in 1893, meeting all requirements under the Homestead Act, the Butkas were able to sell their improved real estate and seek other opportunities elsewhere.

In 1894 the Butkas and the Fields all moved from Loup County, Nebraska, and never returned.

Frank moved his family about 120 miles North-Easterly to Gross, Boyd County, Nebraska, near the South Dakota border.

James Butka and his father-in-law's families both traveled south through Kansas for about 535 miles to settle in Oklahoma, Charles in Columbia, Kingfisher County, and James in the adjacent County of Garfield, in the County Seat of Enid.
It should be noted that Garfield County was established on September 16, 1893 from the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, with Enid as County Seat.
[See Wikipedia and https://www.genealogyinc.com/oklahoma/garfield-county/#sthash.4ANdKmRM.dpuf].
I surmise that the Butkas and Fields moved here to again homestead some land.

In 1894 (Hersel Eugene) and 1901 (Letha Luella) were born, both in Columbia, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma.
I suspect that Lucy went to stay with her parents in Columbia during her final weeks of pregnancy to help her with the deliveries and care for her and the infant children for a time.

In 1900, James Butka and his family appear in Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma (1900 Census).

In 1904 and 1905 James Butka is listed as an officer (state missionary and missionary licentiate)
in the SDA Yearbook, Southwestern Union Conference, Oklahoma and Indian Territories, organized 1894.

James Butka was a hardworking, serious farmer all his life. He was rather stern, practical, and without much of a sense of humor. Lucy was a pretty, curly-haired blonde, blue-eyed, fun-loving lady. His very young wife struggled along, but after around 17 years of marriage, all work and no play, could bear it no longer. About 1905 or 1906, Lucy left James for another (younger) man. The children remained behind at James' insistence, except for little Letha [about age 4] who accompanied her mother for a short while until she lost custody of all the children in the divorce. The family story is that Hersel [about age 10] ran away from home to look for her and wound up being picked up by the police and put in jail for a night or two until he could be returned to his father. Their eldest daughter, Daisy did her best to help her father care for her siblings until he remarried about 1908. (L. Aileen Butka).

In their Divorce Judgment on June 15, 1906, in Garfield County, Oklahoma, James was awarded custody of the children. While both parties had attorneys present, only James Butka appeared to present evidence. The court found the Plaintiff [Father] to be the proper person to be awarded the care and custody of the minor children, to wit; Daisy age 17, Leslie age 16, Laurence [sic] age 14, Hersel age 11 and Letha age 5. The court also made into an order the parties' written agreement and contract regarding property rights that Defendant [Lucy] received $550.00 in lieu of any interest in any real or personal property. The Plaintiff, James Butka, was granted and decreed an absolute divorce, which shall not take effect and be in full force until the expiration of six months. On January 15, 1907, their divorce became final.

On March 25, 1907, just two months after her divorce was final, Lucy married William "Bill" Charles Menefee in Woodward, Woodward County, Oklahoma. He was fun, a talented horse trainer, farm hand, and an itinerant preacher who was nine years her junior. Lucy and Bill traveled from place to place, unencumbered by children, holding Evangelistic meetings-Bill preaching, and Lucy playing the piano. Between times they worked on farms until they'd saved enough to launch the next Evangelistic series.

After obtaining the Divorce Judgment, but before it became final, James wasted no time and removed the children from Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma in 1906, moving about 323 miles and two states away, to reside in Keene, Johnson County, Texas. This physical distance made any visitation with their mother post-divorce unlikely. The children attended Keene Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist school, where James obtained employment.

From 1906 to 1913, James Butka was the manager of the Broom Shop at Keene Industrial Academy (SDA Yearbook & Obituary) and his children, Leslie and Hersel, worked in the broom factory with their father for a while. James had some milk cows and Hersel delivered milk and collected empty bottles on his bike ride to and from school. This bicycle was purchased strictly so he could deliver more milk, otherwise he would have been walking to school. Hersel also colporteured (sold books door-to-door) in Texas and Mexico, where it helped that he had learned to speak Spanish.

In 1907, James Butka's oldest child Daisy graduated from Keene Academy at age 19. The family has her graduation photo where she is holding flowers to commemorate the occasion.
Daisy then moved away from her family to attend Union College, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, from 1908 - 1909.

About 1908, James remarried, Miss Charlotte "Lottie" E. Farrell, in Keene, Johnson County, Texas. She was a spinster in her early 40s, two years his junior, working at Keene Industrial Academy where he was employed. They did not have any children together, but she helped his with his five children from his former marriage. Lottie was a school teacher, a bit stern, but a good and kind woman who was faithful to James for the rest of their lives. (L. Aileen Butka).
In 1909 Lottie was the Normal Department Principal.

It is somewhat unclear why, in the 1910 Census, James, his second wife Lottie, and all five of his children from his first marriage, were enumerated as residing in Oronoko Township, Berrien County, Michigan. Apparently, after some of James Butka's children finished school in Texas, they moved to Michigan briefly. His children would have attended Emmanuel Missionary College, another SDA institution [formerly known as Battle Creek College and now known as Andrews University]. Perhaps James and his family were only in Michigan briefly during a summer school break to set up a second residence where they all were living when the census taker came in May. After getting his older children situated to remain there and continue their SDA education, he took his wife and younger children back to Texas for a few more years.

James and Lottie continue to appear in records as living in Keene, Texas from 1911 - 1914. His youngest child Letha's records show attendance at Keene Academy in 1913, Loma Linda Academy in 1914 -1915, and San Fernando Academy in 1916.

His son Hersel finished school in Texas in 1911, and was in Michigan from 1911 - 1912 to take coursework in Pre-Med at Emmanuel Missionary College, in Berrien Springs, Berrien County, Michigan. His two older brothers were probably a year ahead of him as they were during medical school.

About 1912 - 1913, James again moved, with Lottie and some children, to Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California, to enable his sons to continue their education and obtain medical doctor degrees. Between 1912 - 1917, his son Hersel attended The College of Medical Evangelists [now Loma Linda University Medical Center], Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California and White Memorial Hospital, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, and earned his degree as a Medical Doctor (M.D.). Both his older brothers, Leslie and Lawrence, had graduated in the second graduating class from The College of Medical Evangelists as M.D.'s in 1916.

In the 1915 city directory, James and three sons (Leslie, Lawrence, and Hersel) were living in Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California (1915 Dir.). Lawrence and Leslie were listed in Loma Linda in the 1914 directory also. Lottie was listed as Lotta Butka in the 1916 and 1918 SDA Yearbooks in Loma Linda.

Daughter Letha truly resented her father--thought he was controlling and hypocritical. She told a story where she was picked (maybe about 1915 as an 8th grader) to escort the high school graduating class, while wearing a white dress and white shoes, a duty she found to be an immense honor. She was initially thrilled, but crushed when James Butka, her father, forbade her to have the white shoes which were required for the ceremony. He thought white shoes were frivolous and evil/sinful. Her older sister Daisy and the other girls all pitched in and got her the white shoes. Daisy basically said he was not going to ruin Letha's big event. They dyed them brown afterward. Letha had also reported that at one time James thought silk shirts were evil; however, in her words, he "sure enjoyed the ones that Leslie gave him." Her niece, Brenda Jo Butka who related these stories, has a strong memory of how her voice still shook with emotion as she remembered his rigid and unforgiving ways.

Sometime between 1918 and 1920, James and Lottie left California and their grown children and moved to Colorado live with and care for Lottie's mother, which they did for many years. In the 1920 Census, James, Lottie, and her mother lived together in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. James worked at a bakery called "Mother's Favorite Home Made Cookies" while they lived in Colorado. They are listed in Colorado Springs city directories from 1921 until 1926, when they returned to southern California.

In the 1930 Census, James and Lottie, along with her mother, were living in District 71, San Jacinto, Riverside County, California. He had a 40-acre farm there in Hemet, and may have grown alfalfa and hay. He later moved into the city across from a race track and had an old railroad car in the back of his home where he entertained because it stayed cooler in the summers with good insulation.

For many years James was farm superintendent at Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California. This farm was just west of Anderson and on the north side of the railroad tracks. (R. Jean Butka & SDA obituary).

In 1935 and in 1940, James and Charlotte ("Lottie") were living at 429 Devonshire Avenue, Hemet, Riverside County, California [1940 Census]. This three bedroom and one bathroom house was built in 1931 and is only 336 square feet. They were still residing there in 1946 when his wife died (Death Certificate). James remained a widower for the next six years until his death.

Sometime between 1946 - February 1952, James moved to 329 Baseline, La Verne, Los Angeles County, California (Death Certificate).

In his last days, from February - March 1952, James was living at the Mt. View Rest Home, 1334 W. Orange Grove, Pomona, California (Death Certificate).

James Butka died on March 31, 1952, in Pomona, Los Angeles County, California, at 8:50 p.m., at the age of 89 years, due to Arythmia (4 days) due to Generalized Arteriosclerosis (several years). (Death Certificate).

He is buried next to his second wife Lottie at San Jacinto Valley Cemetery, San Jacinto, Riverside County, California.

He was survived by his five children, proudly knowing their accomplishments after James had worked the hard life of a farmer for so many years to secure a better future for them. His three sons all became Medical Doctors at the Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists. All three sons had also served their country in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as Surgeons, traveling overseas during World War I. His son Leslie was a missionary in China and his son Hersel was a missionary in Bolivia and Mexico. Both his daughters were teachers as well as missionaries in China and Letha, along with her husband, were SDA educators who operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages giving Bible truths.