THOMAS BUTT
Goodland Republic, Friday, Feb. 8, 1907
Died: Feb. 6, 1907
Thomas Butt passed away at his home ten miles south of Goodland Wednesday
morning one hour after midnight. He heard the bugle call "taps," and
"light were out," and a veteran and a good man fell asleep. He had
often blown this call on his army bugle at the burial of his comrades. But this
time it was the trumpet of an angel's call.
The immediate cause of his death was
heart failure, but he had been suffering with diabetes for nearly four years,
and had known all this time that the disease was fatal, and that the summons
might come at any time. Yet he was always cheerful and at work, according as his
strength allowed. He had been attending and laboring in a revival meeting in the
Kipps school house, being a devout Christian and a lay preacher of the United
Brethren church.
Monday night Mr. Butt returned
from the meetings somewhat fatigued, and complaining of being ill. He was
restless and could not sleep. Tuesday, seeming to be growing worse. Dr. Gulick
was sent for and came at once. He was practically dying when the doctor arrived
but lingered until a new day broke on this world, and a brighter day on his
freed spirit, where ''there shall be no more night."
He leaves a wife and three sons,
John. William and Roy, and three daughters, Mrs. E. J. Denney, Mrs. L. Jewell,
living in Colorado Springs and Mrs. Joseph McDowell, living in Denver. Telegrams
were sent out to the absent ones bearing the sad news of the father's death, and
preliminary arrangements made for the funeral.
Thomas Butt served throughout the
civil war in company A Forty-second Illinois infantry, enlisting early in 1861.
and being mustered out for disability July 7. 1865. He was a musician, a bugler,
but took part in many battles, one affair especially daring, the capture of
Island No. 10 by night by troops in a fleet of small boats supported by
artillery and gun boats. The writer of this article heard him give a very
graphic and accurate account of this daring assault at a G. A. R. encampment at
St. Francis several years ago. He usually attended when possible, district,
state, and national encampments, the last two of the latter being those held at
Denver and Minneapolis. He was a member of the local G. A. R. post, from the
very first organization some twenty years ago, and was at the time of his death
officer of the day of that body in this city; and was also one of the charter
members of the Union Hall association.
Thomas Butt was born in 1840, and
was 66 years of age at the time of his death. He was one of the early settlers
of the county. An old landmark has fallen.
Thomas Butt was born in Scott county. Missouri. November 2, 1840, and died February 6. 1907. He came to Sherman county in March, 1887. He was married to Margaret Riedenour October 20. 1864. From this union six children were born, three sons and three daughters. All the children, excepting the oldest son. John, of San Francisco, were present at the funeral, which was held at the Christian church at 10 o'clock Thursday morning. Rev. J. Ed Stevens preached the funeral sermon, and the body was laid to rest in the Goodland cemetery.
CONTRIBUTED BY LLOYD P. HOLBROOK, RESEARCHER OF G. A. R. POST , W. R. ROBERTSON POST #428