THE BUTLER HERALD
Butler, Ga., Tuesday, April 11, 1911
Misses Eva Rhodes, Janet Wallace, Hortense Davant and Mae Rawls will pull the cord that will unveil the Confederate monument on April 26th. The monument is now in position on the courthouse square, the beautiful statuary of a brave Confederate soldier looks with fixed eyes and an expression of satisfaction to the south. The address will be delivered by Rev. Solon B. Cousins of Montezuma.
THE BUTLER HERALD
Butler, Ga., Tuesday, May 2,1911
Memorial Day Observation A Credit to
Taylor County
Rev. S. B. Cousins Orator of the day, he paid
Beautiful Tribute to Dead Heroes of the Confederacy
Under the auspices of the Wallace Edwards chapter Daughters of Confederacy, Memorial Day was most fittingly observed in Butler Wednesday. The exercises were attended by more people than ever before on a similar occasion in Butler. The unveiling of the handsome confederate monument, recently erected on the court house square, was also an important feature oft he day's exercises, as was also the bestowing of crosses of honor to about a dozen veterans. They were presented by the Daughters and pinned on the lapel of coat of each veteran by Mrs. J. E. Davant one of the foremost members of the organization.
Owing to threatening weather the crowd assembled in the court house, which accommodated about half of those who had hoped to hear the address.
About fifty or more of the old veterans were present and they were given the best chairs near the speaker. They brought their old muskets and other souvenirs of war times. One of the most prominent veterans in the county attracted attention by being the only one dressed in his gray uniform that he wore so worthily in the great strife. The old wartime yells stirred the audience. After the address the veterans fired their guns the reports of which sounded like real wartime.
The school children and the brass band assisted in the music and other exercises of the day.
At 11: 15 Hon. A. S. Wallace introduced the orator of the day, Rev. S. B.
Cousins, of Montezuma, who was showered with congratulations at the close of his
address. He eulogized the gallant soldiers, the faithful and noble women of
those trying days and good ladies of the present time who are doing such
splendid service in marking the graves of Confederate dead, in one of the ablest
and most eloquent tributes ever listened to in this county. Mr. Cousins spoke
for thirty minutes. The address showed that to the subject he had given deep
study and careful research.
He began with the days of the Revolutionary war, speaking of the patriotism of
the Southerners and their loyalty to the union, and told of the oft asserted
right of the New England states to withdraw from the union at any time they saw
fit.
Then a minute history of the causes that led up to the secession of the Southern states, and the organization of the Confederacy; a comparison of the strength of the two armies and loyalty of Georgians to the cause; the decisive battles of the war and the surrender of Lee; paid a fitting tribute to the generosity of Grant and told of the trying days of reconstruction.
The speaker closed with an eloquent tribute to the noble women of the South, their loyalty to the Lost Cause and the hardships they had borne; with an expression of his confidence in the future of Georgia, her sons and her daughters.
This was the first time Mr. Cousins had visited Butler and our people were indeed charmed with him.
After the address the crowd assembled about the monument and the veiling was withdrawn. Misses Eva Rhodes, Mae Rawls, Hortese Davant and Janet Wallace pulled the cords.
A sumptuous dinner was served to the veterans by the Daughters in the sample room north of the court house.
The graves of all veterans buried in Butler were covered with the season's sweetest flowers in the forenoon.
THE BUTLER HERALD
Butler, Ga., Tuesday, May 23,1911
Mr. James White Died Saturday Night
Just after midnight Saturday night Mr. James White, one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Taylor county died at his home on Cedar Creek, near Southland, the result of paralysis. He had been in bad health a long while though not confined to his bed until Wednesday last when he was stricken with paralysis which hastened the end.
He was a good man and Christian, a good neighbor, an industrious farmer and during the civil war a gallant soldier. He enlisted in company A 10th Georgia regiment in 1862 and served his country faithfully until the surrender at Appomattox in 1865.
Mr. White was born July 2, 1846, and therefore would have been 65 years old in July of this year. He united in early life with the primitive Baptist church and through all these years was a consistent member of that church. He leaves to mourn his death a large family besides an innumerable host of friends.
The remains of Mr. White were interred at Prosperity church cemetery Sunday afternoon with an appropriate funeral service conducted by his pastor, Elder J. T. Young.