Ora E. Butz
With the exception of a comparatively brief time, when he was employed in a stenographic capacity just after emerging from the Indiana Business College at Logansport, Ora E. Butz has been engaged in teaching the business branches in Marion, and has for some time past been manager of the Marion Business College. He has proven his ability as an instructor and excellent success has attended his efforts from the start, and as one of the enterprising and ambitious young men of the city and one whose efforts have gained him a prominent place in the city, he is properly accorded some special mention in this historical work.
Born in Cass County, on the home farm of his parents on march 25, 1883, Ora E. Butz is the son of Charles H. and Jennie (Snider) Butz, natives of Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Cass County respectively. The father made his home in Allentown until 1873, when he came to Indiana. he was identified with the manufacturing business, fairly successful in his way, but he panic of 1873 finished his prosperity and caused him to move from his old home to Indiana. coming to Cass County he identified himself with farming, and it was there that he met and married his wife. They still live on their Cass County farm, and are enjoying their well earned rest. They became the parents of seven children, five of whom are yet living. One of the number was Ora E., the subject of this review.
Mr. Butz attended the schools of Cass County in the vicinity of his home community, and on finishing the public schools, entered the Indiana Business College at Logansport, where he took up a thorough course of business study. His first work upon leaving school was in the office of the superintendent of the Michigan Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Logansport, and he was employed in a stenographic capacity. Four months of service there was followed by a period of nine months in a Logansport hardware store, after which he was asked to return to the school he had previously quitted and take up the duties of a teacher of shorthand. He taught stenography and bookkeeping in the Kokomo Business College for a year, and in 1907 was given the management of Marion business College, in addition to the manager-duties of manager, that the proprietor of the chain of schools appointed him to the post of manager of the Logansport Business College as well, which position he is now holding. His success in the field of business education is one of which he might well be proud, and he ahs done much to bring these schools up to a high standard of commercial excellence, resulting in a corresponding increase in attendance and popularity of the schools.
On December 26, 1906, Mr. Butz was married to Miss Edith M. Fouts, daughter of Jasper and Alice Ann Fouts, both of Cass County, and occupants of the farm adjoining that on which Mr. Butz was reared. He and his wife were childhood play fellows and school mates, and their union came after a lifelong acquaintance. Three children have been born to them,. -Dortha Vernon, Tom Ellis and Catherine Alice.
Mr. Butz is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and with his wife has membership in the Church of the Untied brethren in Marion. He is a clean-cut, fine spirited and wholesome young man who bears the confidence and esteem of all who share in his acquaintance, and his citizenship is of an order such as to place him among the Marion men who must be reckoned with when matters of import to the best interest of the city are up for discussion.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.