Butler, John C.

Born 14 January 1848, Indiana County, Pennsylvania; died 4 March 1904, St. Louis

A Find A Grave memorial for John C. Butler, born 24 January 1849, died 4 March 1904, based upon a 1939 transcription of grave marker inscriptions by Blaine Helman, has been created by Sue Lackey for Hice-Pershing Cemetery. A newer transcription of inscriptions, found here, does not list John. He is almost certainly buried here, but the marker found in 1939 may have vanished or have become obscured.

John died in St. Louis, as the city of St. Louis death certificate (above) shows, but Colorado often is cited as his place of death by family members. It seems likely to me that John was indeed a resident of Colorado and perhaps was in St. Louis on business when he died. Note that he had been a resident of the city for only six days (the duration of his illness was 5 days). His occupation was given as "mining business."

The following report from The Indiana Weekly Messenger stares that has body was being returned to the "east" for burial and the death certificate confirms that, noting that the body's destination was Nineveh, There is some confusion about John's birth date. Family members and the death certificate give the date as 14 January 1848, which probably is the accurate date. John's middle name apparently was Cromwell.

JOHN C. BUTLER
Indiana Weekly Messenger, Wednesday, 9 March 1904, Page 1

John C. Butler, who was born near Seward, died in St. Louis Friday of pneumonia, aged 45 years. Deceased was engaged in business there and is survived by his mother, Mrs. Samuel Butler, of Seward, and these brothers and sisters: Alexander, Morrellville; George, Seward; Samuel, California; Mrs. Robert Mack, near Seward; and Mrs. Joseph Mack, near Armagh. It was decided to bring the body east for interment.