Butler was a leading Missouri philanthropist of his day. He entered the Union Army as a Private and in four years rose to the rank of Colonel. After the war, he lived in St. Louis and made his fortune in the tobacco industry as the director of the American Tobacco Company. When he retired, he announced that he intended to give away his entire annual income. He gave money and properties to Lindenwood College, the St. Louis Y.W.C.A. and Westminster College. He was president of the Missouri Association for the Blind, organized the Industrial Loan Company (the "poor man's bank") to provide loans with only note security to wage-earners to keep them away from loan sharks. He was also active in the drive to rid St. Louis of its smoke nuisance. At the time of his death, he was a director in the Mercantile Trust Company and the Mercantile National Bank of St. Louis and chairman of Lindenwood College Board of Directors. He also had served as director of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 World's Fair).
Butler was a leading Missouri philanthropist of his day. He entered the Union Army as a Private and in four years rose to the rank of Colonel. After the war, he lived in St. Louis and made his fortune in the tobacco industry as the director of the American Tobacco Company. When he retired, he announced that he intended to give away his entire annual income. He gave money and properties to Lindenwood College, the St. Louis Y.W.C.A. and Westminster College. He was president of the Missouri Association for the Blind, organized the Industrial Loan Company (the "poor man's bank") to provide loans with only note security to wage-earners to keep them away from loan sharks. He was also active in the drive to rid St. Louis of its smoke nuisance. At the time of his death, he was a director in the Mercantile Trust Company and the Mercantile National Bank of St. Louis and chairman of Lindenwood College Board of Directors. He also had served as director of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 World's Fair).
Bio by: Connie Nisinger
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