From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 537-538

THOMAS BUTSON (deceased) during his life time was closely identified with the agricultural interests of Grant county, where he was known as a representative stockman and farmer; and, in the town of Lima, where he made his home, he had a large circle of warm friends, who admired his sterling worth, and appreciated at its true value his genuine character.

Mr.. BUTSON was born in Cornwall, England, Aug. 29, 1839, and was the son of Thomas BUTSON, Sr., and Susan (RICHARDS) BUTSON, both English born and bred. The marriage of this worthy couple occurred in their native land, and they came to this country as early as 1840, settling on a farm in the town of Platteville, and then moving to a tract of wild land in the town of Lima, which he had purchased from the government. There Mr. BUTSON erected a substantial log house, and made many improvements, making his home on this farm until his death in 1871. Mrs. BUTSON died five years previously. Eight children constituted their family circle: Thomas, whose name appears above, was their oldest son: Mary A., born in Grant county, married Thomas DOBSON, of the town of Lima, and is now deceased; Isaac is a resident of Pomeroy, Iowa; James, born in Grant county, is a resident of Marshall, Minn., where he has a family; Susan is the wife of George LEE, whose biography appears elsewhere; John married Miss Jennie BRATTON, of this county, and is now a farmer in Franklin county, Iowa; Elizabeth married George SMITH, and lives in Colorado; Eliza is the wife of Thomas SMITH, of Colorado.

Mr. BUTSON reached his manhood on the farm of his parents, and had the benefits of a common-school education. On March 30, 1865, he married Miss Mary M. GILL, the worthy and estimable daughter of Isaiah and Jane (BONSON) GILL, long settled in Lafayette county, Wis., where they were well and favorably known. Mr. GILL and his wife were both born in England, and came to this country where they were married. Mr. GILL found a home for his family at Elk Grove, Lafayette county, and was for many years the honored and useful local minister of the Plymouth Methodist Church, working in Grant and Lafayette counties, where he was much esteemed for his sincere convictions and fine character. Mr. GILL died at this home Feb. 1, 1892, and the wife, who had shared with him the privations of their early life, passed away Feb. 16, 1894; the mother of twelve children: (1) Abel married Miss Sarah CHAPEL, and resides at Corning, Iowa, where he has a family of eight children. (2) Mary M., born in December, 1848, had her education in the public schools, and married Thomas BUTSON. (3) Robert married Miss Carrie PIERCE, of Elmo, and settled in Iowa. While attending his mother's funeral he was taken sick, and died in a very short time. His widow and their three children, Nettie, Roy and Walter, still live on the home farm in Iowa. (4) Thomas, born in Lafayette county, married Miss Ollie MACE, and located at Lemars, Iowa. Both husband and wife are now dead, leaving four children, Jessie, Hattie, Roy and Mirtie, and the two oldest are now adopted in the family of John KITTOE, of Benton. (5) Richard married Miss DUNBAR, and lives in Iowa, where they have a family . (6) Jane died when a young lady. (7) James married Miss Mary BELL, of this county, and lives in Platteville, where two children were born to him, Percy and Donald. (8) Isaiah is now the teller in the First National Bank of Platteville. (9) Rose is single, and lives in Platteville. (10) Frank lives in Iowa. (11) Maggie died when twenty-two years old. (12) Sarah is the wife of Ally CHAPEL, and lives in Iowa, where they have four children.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thomas BUTSON settled on a rented farm in the town of Smelser, and then moved to the town of Platteville, where they lived a year. Here Mr. BUTSON rented a farm and they lived on it four years, when he moved to Darlington, Iowa county. In 1872 Mr. BUTSON bought a farm of 140 acres in the town of Lima, and improved it with a new residence and many other necessities and conveniences, and, closely cultivating it, made a fine country home, in which he lived until his death, July 11, 1898.

This sad event cast a gloom on the community, which had come to highly appreciate his unaffected manliness and genuine goodness. A good Christian, he was a member and worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he was a Republican, and had held the office of school treasurer for a number of years. Mr. BUTSON left his wife with seven children: (1) Jennie, born in Smelser township in April, 1866, married Henry MANNY, of the town of Lima, and is the mother of three children, Arthur, Mary and Clarence. (2) Susan, born Feb. 19, 1868, is the deceased wife of Dewane HALL, of Lima, and had one daughter, Jessie. (3) Isaiah, born Feb. 23, 1870, married Miss Fannie JOHNSON, resides on his farm in the town of Lima, and has three children, Susan, Warren and Ina. (4) Mary A., born Nov. 8, 1872, is the wife of Benjamin EDGE, lives on his farm in the town of Lima, and has one son, Raymond. (5) Thomas A., born May 27, 1875, educated in the district school, remained at home until his marriage, in February, 1897, to Miss Emma EDGE, a member of a well-known Grant county family, and is now living on a rented farm, where he is the father of two children, May and Jennie. (6) Charles W., born Oct. 3, 1877, married Miss Annie EDGE, daughter of William and Sarah EDGE, an honored couple in the town of Lima, and lives at home, where he has charge of its cultivation. (7) Sarah L., born Aug. 11, 1880, married J. W. EDGE, who owns and lives on a farm in Lima. (8) Harry G., born Sept. 30, 1882, is the youngest son of his parents, and assists his brother Charles in the cultivation of the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. BUTSON reared a family of honorable and useful men, who have a work to do in the world, and are a comfort to the mother in her declining years.