Coleman L. Butcher

    Coleman L. Butcher was born near Knoxville, East Tennessee, in 1829, his parents, Joseph and Mary (Oak) Butcher, being born and reared in East Tennessee. They remained in their native State until the subject of this sketch was nine years of age, when they removed with their family to Ripley County, Indiana, the father dying in that county shortly after. The mother and children remained there about one year, when they removed to Delaware County, locating in the vicinity of Muncie, and about four years later came to Blackford County and settled in Licking Township, where Mrs. Butcher had previously entered. This land was right in the woods, and here our subject grew to manhood amid the scenes and incidents of pioneer life. No towns were to be seen in the county at that early day, and Mr. Butcher has picked berries where the city of Hartford is now located. Game of all kinds were very plentiful, and has often seen his brother shoot deer from their cabin door. During his youth he was bound out for a time. He was a young man of rugged constitution, and has assisted many of the early settlers in the erection of their cabins. After reaching manhood he was the mainstay of his father's family, caring for his mother until her death, which occurred about 1859.

    Mr. Butcher was married in 1848 to Miss Frances Ellen Powell, a native of Pennsylvania, coming to Blackford County from Ohio. She died about ten years after marriage, leaving at her death three children -Mary, Joseph, residing in Mercer County, Illinois, and James. Mr. Butcher was again married about 1873 to Miss Cynthia Haldren, and of the six children born to this union one only survives, a  son named Walter.

    Mr. Butcher was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in 1862 in Company I, Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served for a time in Kentucky. He was taken sick while in the service, and was mustered out in Arkansas, when he returned to his home. After his enlisting in Company I, One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Infantry at Hartford City. His regiment rendezvoused at Kokomo, thence to Nashville, Tennessee, and from there went to Georgia on the Atlanta campaign. He was under fire first at Resaca, and from that time until the taking of Atlanta he was under fire about 100 days, participating in all the heavy engagements of that celebrated campaign, and in all the movements which resulted in the fall of Atlanta. He was then taken sick, and his command going back with General Thomas toward Nashville he was in line again for the battle of Nashville, and once more participated in the great and decisive battle of Nashville, where the rebels were completely vanquished. After this he went with his regiment down to North Carolina, and after one engagement they came upon the flank of Johnston's army, where they remained until the surrender of Johnston twelve miles from Raleigh. He participated in the grand review at Raleigh, and was there mustered out in July, 1865. To this day one of his hands bears the mark of a rebel bullet..

    After his return from the army he bought forty acres of his present farm, then heavily covered with timber, which he immediately began to clear and improve, and to this he has added until he now owns sixty-seven and three-quarter acres, of which about forty-five acres have been cleared and brought under cultivation. He has a natural slope and drainage on his land, and has constructed a system of drainage from timber, and has also laid some tile, his improvements being as good as any in Licking Township. His present substantial and commodious residence was erected in 1885, and in the spring of 1887 his fine barn was completed. Mr. Butcher has spent  the greater part of his life in this portion of Indiana, and has had his share of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. He has witnessed about al the material growth of the county, and has lived to enjoy its prosperity, and by this fair and honorable dealings through life he has gained the confidence and respect of the entire community.

    He is a member of the Dunkard Church, in which he has served as deacon. In politics he is a Republican, and is a firm advocate of the principles of that party.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford County, Indiana. The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887, page 895-96.