John Butler - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

John Butler was known as the blind veteran in Defiance.  He did not work, but was active in the G.A.R. and was well known throughout the city of Defiance.


 Born in 1840 or 1841 in Coshocton, Ohio, to John Washington Butler and Sarah DeVault,  the family was in Richland Township, Defiance County, at least by 1860.  John lived with his parents at the age of 18, in 1860, along with his brother George, 27.  His father was a farmer; his real estate holdings were worth $200.







John enlisted into the 48th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company F, in December, 1861.  The Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio noted that he 
"transferred from Company E, 83d O. V. I. to Company D, 48th Battalion July 24, 1865.  Mustered out August 31, 1865, at Houston, Texas on Surgeon's certificate of disability."  In the 1890 Veterans Census, John noted that his disability was a loss of eyesight.  No record has been found as to the cause of his blindness.

As he really could not support himself, John lived with his parents in Richland Township for many years. He was enumerated with them on the census in both 1870 and 1880.  In 1880, a granddaughter, Georgianna Harris, lived with them to help with housekeeping.

In 1886, when John was in his forties, he married a younger Adella Bennett.
The Defiance County Express ran the announcement on October 14, 1886.

"MARRIED.  Butler - Bennett.  On October 5th, 1886 at the residence of the bride's sister, Mrs. S. M. Cameron, by Rev. J. L. Phillips, Mr. John Butler and Miss Adell Bennett, all of Defiance.  

Unfortunately, she died about nine months later on July 21, 1887.

 John's father died the next year, in 1888, and his mother in 1891.  These notes appeared in the newspapers of Defiance.

"John Butler, Sr. died Tuesday, May 8, 1888 at 4:00 in the morning at the advanced age of 82 years, 8 months, 2 days.  Deceased resided with his son, John, in 3rd ward.  Funeral on Thursday.  Services were conducted by the M. E. Church and by J. C. Phillips at 1 o'clock p.m."

"BUTLER - On Sunday evening, February 22, at the residence of her son, John Butler, Mrs. Sarah Butler, aged 81 years, of pneumonia.  The funeral occurred Tuesday afternoon at Independence, Rev. A. L. Jordan conducting the services.  The deceased was an old resident of the county and the mother of George and John Butler and Anna Harris of North Defiance."
Defiance County Express, 1891

Again alone, John married Tryphena Hughes on April 29, 1891 at the home of the bride.  They settled in at 130 East High Street.  In 1900, the census enumerator found John, 59, and Trypena, 41, with Nora Fosler, a servant.  John gave his occupation as landlord, so perhaps he was renting out his parents' place or some other property he had acquired.  

John lived until January 5, 1905, when he died and was buried in the Independence Cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the Defiance Express. 

Defiance Express - January 13, 1905

Independence Cemetery

Tryphena Hughes Butler died in 1911, and she was buried in an unmarked grave next to her husband, John.  This short obituary appeared in the Defiance Democrat on June 24, 1911.

"Mrs. Triphena Butler, who died at the Toledo State Hospital, will be brought to this city this evening and taken to the residence of B. Brickman.  Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 10 o'clock at the residence.  Burial in Independence."
 

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)