William Ward Butler was born in 1852 in Winston Co. MS as the seventh child of James M. Butler and Sarah Crawford. Billy’s Mother died shortly after his birth. In 1857, Billy moved with his father and step-mother Amanda Bishop to Walker Co. AL to live on a land patent purchased by her father. In 1861, Billy moved with the family to northern Alabama. By 1870, Billy had moved to Decatur Co. TN along with his parents and several siblings.
Billy married Martha Stanfill in Decatur Co. TN in 1877. They had one surviving son, Elbert Eldest Butler and a daughter Alice who died shortly after birth and is buried at the Sardis Cemetery. E. E. Butler finished a scientific course at Scotts Hill College, and was one of the first rural mail carriers in Scotts Hill, TN. He later entered the grocery business in Lexington, TN and continued in this business for 25 years.
Martha died shortly after Alice’s birth in 1880 and is probably buried at the Sardis Cemetery in Henderson Co. TN. Billy married the orphan, Eliza Julita Edwards in 1882 in Decatur Co. TN. Billy and Eliza had eleven children – Sallie, William Festus, Mary Louise, Nora, Joseph Lewis, Robert L., John T., George Washington, James Ernest, Charles Paul and Thelma Inez. Sallie, Nora and James died young and are buried at the Scotts Hill Methodist Cemetery in Scotts Hill, Tennessee.
Billy was a farmer and lay preacher/evangelist in the Scotts Hill area starting in the 1870’s. He preached at the early Scotts Hill Methodist Church. He was admitted to the Lexington District of the Memphis Conference on trial in 1889 and discontinued from trial in 1891. He remained a lay preacher associated with the Scotts Hill mission and performed several marriages in Decatur Co. between 1890 and 1907.
By 1910, Billy and Eliza had moved their family to Crockett Co. where Billy continued to work as a farmer and serve as a lay preacher for the Methodist Church. Their daughter Thelma died at age five in Crockett Co. in 1911 and was returned by a horse drawn hearse to be buried at the Scotts Hill Methodist Cemetery in Decatur Co. TN.
From 1911 to 1914, Billy was assigned to the Gadsden Circuit of the Brownsville District of the Methodist Church. From 1915 to 1924, he was assigned to the Alamo Circuit of the Brownsville District.
Billy had a sad ending to his life. Billy’s son, John T., ended his life and two others in a tragic murder-suicide in 1924. Billy died within two weeks of this tragic episode and is buried at the Belleview Cemetery in Crockett Co. TN.
Billy’s many descendants include teachers, merchants, pubic servants and a variety of business people who were all productive and successful members of society.
From The History of Scotts Hill, Tennessee, Gordon H. Turner, Sr., (Carter Printing Company, Southaven, Mississippi, 1977):
Methodists erected a meeting house and began worship across the road from present Bethel Cemetery. It was called the Bethel Methodist Church and whether the church or the cemetery came first may never be known. The church dates from about 1843.
The Bethel Methodist church was well organized and growing before the Civil War. After the war, more and more people were moving into the little town proper. About 1885 Bethel Methodists erected a frame meeting house on the site of the present building donated by Edd Austin and the congregation moved to meet and worship there.
Other early Methodist membership names — individuals or families — before and since 1900, included: Tom and George Smith, Nat Huggins, Dr. W. B. Keeton, the Bagbys, Brights, Davidsons, Austins, McCollums, Waltons, Whites, Butlers and others.
In 1943-44 a pretty concrete block building replaced the worn and leaning frame house. The Pastor, John P. Murphy, worked mightily also with his hands, assisted much by Dee McCollum, Jim S. Walton and others. Other well-known preachers and leaders through the years were: Billy Butler, O. H. Lafferty, and the Treadwells, Flatts, Gilliams, etc.
Marriages performed by William W. Butler in Decatur Co. TN Decatur County Marriage Records 1869-1921
- Page 4 A. F. Austin, Mary Kincannon, 11-20-1901, W. W. Butler, MG
- P. L. Brasher, Virgie Davison, 12-20-1897, W. W. Butler, MG
- Page 59 George C. McClearen, Lillian Wright, 12-25-1905, W. W. Butler, LE
- Page 61 N. R. Marr, V. A. Butler, 4-17-1890, Wm. W. Butler, MG
- Page 62 Z. T. Meggs, Authand E. Herndon, 3-17-1896, W. W. Butler
- Page 77 Jasper Rickets, Annie Williamson, 2-23-1903, W. W. Butler, MG
- Page 85 Ed Stout, Alley Tuck, 8-20-1904, W. W. Butler, MG
- Page 86 W. T. Stuberfield, Maude E. Kirk, 11-7-1907, W. W. Butler, MG
- Page 101 Guy Yarboro, Clara Swift, 3-30-1905, W. W. Butler, MG
The archives of the Memphis Conference of the United Methodist Church indicate that William W. Butler was admitted to the Lexington District of the Memphis Conference on trial in 1889 and discontinued in 1891. In 1911, he was listed as a local preacher in the Memphis conference.
Minutes of the Fiftieth Annual Session of the Memphis Conference of the M. E. Church, South 1889 Page 12-13 Ques. 1. Who are admitted on trial into the traveling connection? Ans. <deleted> Wm. W. Butler, of Sardis circuit, Lexington district; <deleted> having been recommended by their respective quarterly conferences, and having stood an approved examination before the committee, were admitted on trial. Page 28 LEXINGTON DISTRICT Sardis ct, W. W. Butler
Minutes of the Fifty-First Annual Session of the Memphis Conference of the M. E. Church, South 1890 Page 16 Ques. 2. Who remain on trial? Ans. <deleted> Wm. W. Butler <deleted> having passed in examination of character, and being approved by the committee, were continued on trial. Page 30 LEXINGTON DISTRICT Scott’s Hill mission —W W Butler.
Minutes of the Fifty-First Annual Session of the Memphis Conference of the M. E. Church, South 1891 Page 15 Ques 3. Who are discontinued? Ans. Wm. W. Butler
DIRECTORY OF LOCAL PREACHERS. 1911 Brownsville District. W. W. Butler, L. E., Gadsden, Tenn., R. F. D.
MEMPHIS CONFERENCE YEAR BOOK 1921 Directory of Local Preachers Page 16 Butler, W. W. Grade E Post Office Bells, R. F. D. 3 Brownsville District Alamo Circuit
Funeral of Rev. W. W. Butler Interment in Belleview Cemetery In our last week’s issue a brief announcement appeared of the death of Rev. W. W. Butler, which occurred at his home near Cypress church, where he had resided for the past seventeen years. He moved from Scott’s Hill, Henderson County, to the place where he succumbed, after a long and useful life. He was a faithful, earnest and successful Minister of the Southern Methodist church for near fifty years. He is survived by a lonely companion, six sons and one daughter. Funeral services were held in the Methodist church in Bells, Friday morning, June 20th, by his pastor, Rev. E. L. Robinson, assisted by Rev. C. C. Newbill and J. C. W. Nunn. Brief tributes of respect and love were also paid by Esq. F. M. Goldsmith, a long co-laborer and close friend, and Revs. Bryant, Hope and Maxedon, pastors of the Presbyterian, Christian and Methodist churches, respectively, of Humboldt. But few funeral services so impressive, so full of deep sympathy, have been held in this place for the past twenty-five years. After the services at the church, his body was taken in charge by his Masonic brethren of the Alamo Lodge, assisted by members from Bells and Humboldt, and impressive burial services conducted at the grave. Rare, numerous, beautiful and fragrant floral offerings covered the grave, underneath resting the body of a loyal, true soldier of the Cross. May the Good Spirit be your constant help in this time of deep sorrow, is the united prayer of hosts of friends, bereaved companion, children, grand-children and other near relatives of this departed servant of God.
Compiled by Jerry Butler, source: Mary Butler Curry.