(from Arkona Tweedsmuir)
William Butler (1849–1934), the eldest of ten children born to Edmund and Hannah Butler of Buckinghamshire, England, came to Canada in 1869. He entered Canada by way of Portland, Maine, and made his way to Lambton County in the company of a cousin, Frederick Butler. As a farm labourer he earned $130 per year. In 1873, he married Mary Christie Thomson (1854–1929) of Warwick Township. The young bride was one of six children born to James and Margaret Thomson of Fife, Scotland. Other members of the Thomson family were: Alexander, Joseph, James, Charles and Ellen. The parents and their children came to Canada in 1859 in a sailing vessel that required seven weeks to make the Atlantic crossing.
Mary and William Butler first settled in Enniskillen Township, where eight children were born to them. Later the family moved to Brooke Twp., then to Lot 28, Warwick Twp., near Arkona, where they built a cement block house and sturdy barns. Their family married: Margaret Butler to Herbert Holbrook, Hannah Butler to John Saunders, Ellen Butler to Dan Saunders, James Butler to Annie Thornicroft, Joseph Butler to Arley Smith, Emma Butler (1885–1972) to Floyd Smith (1887–1951), Bessie Butler (1886–1969) to Charles M. McPherson (1882–1960) and George Butler (1890–1948) to Mary McChesney (1888–1966).
William and Mary Butler were staunch members of St. Stephen's Anglican Church in Arkona. Mr. Butler was one of the founders of the parish in 1907, and he served for several years as warden. In 1919 Mr. and Mrs. Butler retired to Arkona, while their son Joseph took over the family farm. On the death of Mrs. Butler, Mr. Butler returned to the farm to live with his son, Joseph, and there he remained until his death.
Joseph (1882–1936) and Arley (Smith, 1887–1967) Butler took over the family farm in 1919. They remained there until the death of Joseph. Joseph and Arley Butler had two children: Manford (1914–1997) and Muriel. Manford Butler married Margaret Cadman. They operated the farm until their retirement to Arkona in 1972.
Joseph Butler's brother James (1880–1952) married Theodosia (Annie, 1888–1966) Thornicroft and they had nine children, many of whom raised families in the Arkona and Warwick Township area. Leona Butler (1908–1981) married John Cadman (1906–), Jean Butler (1911–1984) married Wilfrid Alexander McChesney (1910–1972),Ellis Butler (1912–1963), Wilson Butler (1914–1969) married Louisa Adams Butler (1918–1967), Ross Butler married Helen, Edgar Dawson Butler (1919–1944) married Donna Herrington, Gladys Butler married Warden Dellow, Grant Butler married Kay Smith and Carman Butler married R. Romph.
Chapter 24 of 25 - Butler, William
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