Joseph A. Butler

JOSEPH A. BUTLER, who is successfully engaged in the undertaking business at Kansas City, Kansas, has long been a prominent and influential factor in public affairs in this section of the state, where he has served as city marshall, as county commissioner and as representative of his district in the state legislature, all of which indicates a high degree of popular confidence and esteem. In the city of Cleveland, Ohio, on the twenty-first of June, 1870, occurred the birth of Joseph A. Butler, who is a son of Jeremiah J. Butler. The father was a cooper by trade and he and his wife, whose maiden name was Laura Campbell, were both natives of Ireland, whence they immigrated to the United States about the year 1856, location being made in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, where the family home was maintained until 1871, in which year removal was made to Kansas City, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Butler became the parents of eleven children, and of the number eight are now living. The father and mother are both deceased, the mother passing on to her reward in 1874, and the father surviving until 1895.

Joseph A. Butler was a child of about one year at the time of his parents' removal to this city, to whose public schools he is indebted for his early educational discipline. After leaving school he became identified with the Tead Cooper business, and he remained with this until 1898. In 1905 he embarked in his present business - undertaking - and he opened an establishment at the place in which he is now located on the corner of Central avenue and Harrison street, Kansas City, Kansas. He has been most successful in this line of enterprise from the very start and he now conducts one of the finest undertaking concerns in the city.

In his political convictions Mr. Butler is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor and in local politics he has long been a most interested factor. In 1898 he was elected to the office of city marshall, in connection with the duties of which office he acquitted himself with honor and distinction, continuing incumbent thereof for some two years. In the session of 1901 he represented his district in the general assembly of the state legislature and subsequently he served for three years as county commissioner of Wyandotte county. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of Columbus, and with many organizations of a local character. He is a man of high ideals and one whose civic life has ever been of the most praiseworthy order.

In this city on the 8th of February, 1893, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Butler to Miss Mary E. Nichols, who was born and reared in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. To them have been born four children, whose names and respective dates of birth are here recorded: Loretta, January 18, 1894; Maria, December 9, 1895; Joseph, June 14, 1898; and Dorothy, October 7, 1899. Another member of the Butler household is Henry Butler Burns, who was born January 28, 1905, and who was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Butler when a child but six weeks old. The mother was Mrs. Butler's sister. Mr. and Mrs. Butler are devout members of the Catholic church in Kansas City and as citizens they are highly esteemed and beloved by all with whom they have come in contact.