Wendel P. Butterfield

As printed in 1905

WENDEL P. BUTTERFIELD.

The subject of this review is a typical representative of sterling New England manhood, and combines many of the sturdy characteristics for which the people of that section of the Union have been long distinguished. William Butterfield, the father, was a native of Massachusetts and the mother. Elizabeth Robinson, was descended from an old family that figured in the early settlement of Vermont. After their marriage these parents lived in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, where William Butterfield followed shoemaking, working at various places in those states.

VYendel P. Butterfield was born in New Hampshire, December 29, 1849, and spent his early life in a small country town and attended the public schools until his sixteenth year. In 1861 he went to Covington.

Kentucky; thence, a little later to Cincinnati, and in the spring of 1866 came to Middletown, Ohio, to which place his mother also removed about the same time. On coming west Mr. Butterfield turned his attention to farm work, but afterwards took up the carpenter’s trade, in which he soon acquired skill and efficiency, and which he followed in Middletown and vicinity until engaging with the Oglesby Paper Company in 1873, entering the employ of the latter concern as superintendent of machinery, in which capacity he still continues. Mr. Butterfield is not only a skillful mechanic, but is also an accomplished machinist and his services in the important position which he holds have been eminently efficient and highly appreciated. The company with which he is identified is one of the leading industrial enterprises of Middletown, and the high esteem in which he is held by the management shows him the possessor of wise, able and honorable business qualities, which win and retain confidence and achieve a large measure of success. Aside from his immediate calling, Mr. Butterfield manifests a lively interest in the affairs of the community, being energetic and public-spirited and an earnest advocate of all progressive measures for the material prosperity of the city of his residence. In like manner he encourages everything in the nature of social improvement and moral reform, stands for what makes for the best interest of his fellow men and his influence has long been a forceful factor in bringing such movements to successful issue.

In politics Mr. Butterfield accords an unwavering allegiance to the Republican party, but his activity never verges on offensive partisanship, nor can he be called an office seeker, although called at different times to positions of honor and trust. In the spring of 1903 was elected a member of the board of public service by the largest plurality ever given a candidate for that place, and in addition thereto he has also served three terms as water-works trustee, discharging the duties of both positions in an able, business-like and eminently satisfactory manner.

Mr. Butterfield stands high in the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Jefferson Lodge, No. 90, at Middletown, and Chapter No. 87, at the same place, in both of which he has been honored with important official stations, being a trustee of the former organization at the present time. He is also connected with the National Association of Stationary Engineers, and in religion subscribers to the Methodist Protestant faith, belonging to the church at Middletown and holding the office of trustee in the same.

Mr. Butterfield is a married man and the father of an interesting family of seven children, his wife having formerly been Miss Elizabeth Hughes, daughter of.Edward Hughes, who for some years was superintendent of the Oglesby Moore Paper Company, and whose son now holds the same position. Mrs. Butterfield was about one year old when her parents moved to Middletown and with that exception her life has been spent in this city. Like her husband, she is widely and favorably known, stands high in the social circles of the community, and within the sacred precincts of home reigns with a gentle dignity, which bespeaks the devoted wife, loving mother and true lady. The following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Butterfield:

Edward, a machinist of Middletown; Elizabeth; Wendell; William, who holds a clerical position with a large dry-goods house in Cincinnati; Charles and Albert, who are working at the machinist’s trade, while Ralph and Raymond, the youngest of the family, are still with their parents.

As printed in Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.