Source:
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Brant & Fuller, c.1889
Page 374

      Charles H. Butterfield, whose distinguished services in war and in peace, make a notable figure in the history of the city, is a native of Maine, born in Farmington, May 17, 1834. He remained at home until he was seventeen, assisting his father, and attending the winter schools. He then entered the Farmington academy, and in 1855 completed a preparatory course for college. In the fall of that year he entered Bowdoin College, and was graduated in 1859. His favorite studies were Latin and natural sciences, in which he particularly excelled.

      In August of the same year, he came to Evansville and became the principal of the high school, in which capacity he had acted three years with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the patrons of the school, when the dire necessities of the national government, assailed by rebellion, called upon him irresistibly to drop all civil pursuits, and go to the front.

      In the spring of 1862 he assisted to recruit the Sixty-fifth regiment, expecting to go with it, but was detained by circumstances beyond his control. He then raised the Ninety-first, and was appointed its major, later being promoted to lieutenant colonel. His command saw active and important service. The first exciting duty was the chasing of the guerillas in the vicinity of Henderson, and they were then engaged in the expedition after Morgan in the spring of 1863. In the fall and winter of 1863-4, the regiment was a participant in all the battles of the East Tennessee campaign, and in the spring of 1864, it formed a part of the Twenty-third army corps, under the general command of Gen. Sherman, and made the march from Chattanooga, to Atlanta. This famous campaign ended, the regiment returned to Nashville, to fight under Thomas, and destroy the hopes of the confederacy in the crushing defeat of Hood. Then the Ninety-first was transferred to Washington, and took boat for Fort Fisher, North Carolina, landing in time to join Sherman at Goldsboro, and in the final battles and skirmishes that followed, the regiment gallantly did its duty. Col. Butterfield was in command at Salisbury the first day after the entry of the Union army.

      In July, 1865, he returned to Evansville, and resumed the study of law. He was soon appointed superintendent of the schools and he held this position one year, meanwhile improving whatever opportunity offered to keep up his study of law, in the office of Hon. Conrad Baker. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1865, and soon after engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. In 1869 he was elected judge of the criminal court, but resigned this position in 1871, to accept the mayoralty, to which he was elected at the death of Hon. William Baker. He served for nearly three years as mayor, since which he has up to the present time, been engaged in the practice of the law in Evansville.