- EZRA G. BUTEN, a farmer residing on section 8, in the town
of Milton, is numbered among the
- honored pioneers of Rock County. But few have longer been
residents of the community, and none have been more prominently
identified with the history of Milton Township. The 25th day
of July, 1842, witnessed his arrival, and since that time he
has been an active participant in the rapid growth and progress
which have since been made. Mr. BUTEN is a native of the old
Bay State, having been born in Berkshire County on the 25th day
of May, 1818, and is a son of Emmanuel and Betsey (CROCKER) BUTEN,
who were also born in Massachusetts. They were reared, married
and died in their native State, the mother having departed this
life in 1832, the father in 1844, at the age of sixty-three years.
Unto them was born a large family of children, only three of
whom are now living - George W. and William, who are engaged
farming in Dane County, Wis., and Ezra, of this sketch. Those
who are deceased are Horace, Almira, Frederick, Orrin, and Dorothy.
- Our subject was reared to the occupation of farming, and
received such educational advantages
- as were afforded by the schools of his native State at that
early day. He began business as a farm hand, working for various
persons in his native State until 1842, when he emigrated to
the West. Previous to that time, on the 3d day of September,
1841, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Lucy W. GREEN, their
marriage being celebrated in Allegany County, N.Y. The lady was
born in Madison County, of that State, and is a daughter of Alpheus
M. and Abbie (WELLS) GREEN, who were natives of Rhode Island.
In 1844 her parents came to Rock County, and for some years resided
in Milton, but subsequently removed to Albion, where they passed
the remainder of their days. Both were members of the Seventh
Day Baptist Church.
- In the spring of 1842, with his young bride, Mr. BUTEN came
to this county and made his first
- location in the town of Milton, purchasing a small farm on
section 18. Life on the frontier was there begun, but after four
years he sold out and bought another farm in the same township,
which he continued to make his home until November, 1888, when
he became the owner of his present farm on section 8. As the
days passed by, Mr. and Mrs. BUTEN saw their possessions increase,
until they are now numbered among the well-to-do citizens of
the community. Their home was blessed with the presence of nine
children, who made the pioneer cabin echo with their shouts and
merry laughter. They were all born in this county, were here
reared to maturity, and later left the parental roof for homes
of their own. Lucy, the firstborn, is now the wife of Berry KEATH,
of Milton, and to them have been born three children - Eldredge,
George and Lucy; Alpheus, the second child, is now deceased;
DeForrest is a contractor and builder; Addis, who wedded Mary
BOWERS, is a railroad employe, and resides in Milwaukee; Helen,
widow of A. B. CLARK, resides in Chicago, Ill.; Adelbert is still
with his parents; and Arthur is now deceased. This family has
been identified with the best interests of Rock County for the
long period of forty-seven years, and in their hospitable home
friends and neighbors are always sure of a hearty welcome.
- The upright lives of Mr. and Mrs. BUTEN have won for them
the entire confidence and respect
- of the people of the community, and they are numbered among
the valued citizens. Many changes have taken place since their
arrival in the county, and they have borne no inconsiderable
part in the noble work of progress and advancement. Janesville,
now a populous and thriving city, then contained but one store,
behind the counter of which Thomas LAPPIN dealt out groceries,
measure off dry-goods, sold shoes, and otherwise administered
to the wants of his customers. When a cabin was to be erected,
the entire neighborhood would assemble and assist the newcomer
in making a. The people lived for one another, and the command
"Love thy neighbor" was fully carried out. Each shared
with the other the joys and sorrows, the pleasures and pains,
and the feeling of goodwill pervaded the entire community. But
two of the old neighbors are now left to tell the story of pioneer
life when Rock County was situated on the western frontier. The
red man had not yet left his haunts at the time of the coming
of Mr. BUTEN, and he settled in the midst of their old hunting
grounds. The beautiful Lake Koshkonong, situated within a half
mile of his home, was one of their favorite resorts, and when
they were compelled to leave for the reservation beyond the Mississippi,
the night was made hideous by their wild yells. The religious
services of the Seventh Day Baptist Church, of which Mr. and
Mrs. BUTEN are devoted members, were, in those early days, held
in the barns of the settlers, where all congregated each Sabbath.
To the noble band of pioneer men and women who left comfortable
homes in the East and settled on the Western frontier, enduring
trials and hardships of which noting is known by the youth of
the present generation, all credit is due, and to them the country
owes a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid. No praise
is too great for them, yet words fail us in our efforts to express
our admiration of their self-sacrificing and noble lives. In
his early years Mr. BUTEN cast his ballot with the Whig party
and voted for William Henry Harrison, the hero of Tippecanoe,
at whose death the country was draped in emblems of grief for
thirty days. When the Republican party sprang into existence,
he joined the ranks of that great organization, and deposited
his last ballot up to the present time, for the Hon. Benjamin
Harrison, the illustrious grandson of that old hero.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 696-697.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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