The Portland daily press., 1879-10-22
Moses Morrill, Butler.

We regret to inform our readers this morn
ing of the death of Hon. Moses NJ. Butler. The
sad event occurred at 1870 last evening from
the effects of the shock of paralysis so recently
received. He died at his residence corner of
Park and Congress streets, surrounded by his
family.
Moses Morrill, Butler was born in Sanford,
March s, 1924. He was the son of Ichabod
Butler, practicing lawyer in that town, and
Mary Wise, daughter of Capt. Daniel Wise of
Kennebunk. His father, by his mothers side,
was connected with the Wentworth family of
New Hampshire, and he was born and brought
up in South Berwick. The hill back of the
village in that town is called Butler Hill to
the present day, having been part of the
family estate.
The subject of this sketch was fitted for
college at Alfred, Gorham and North Var
mouth academies, and was graduated in 1916
with the highest honors of that class. Imme-
diately after graduation he was engaged for a
time in teaching high school in Springvale,
at the same time pursuing his studies to fit
him for the profession of the law. He after
wards studied with Hon. E. e. Bourne of
Kennebunk and completed his legal course
with Hon. Samuel Wells of Portland sub
sequently one of the Judges of the Supreme
Court of Maine.
Mr.. Butler was admitted to the Cumberland
County Bar Nov. 0, 1917, and Immediately
took the office in Portland vacated by the
elevation of his instructor, Mr.. Wells, to the
bench He shortly after took the Office and
business of the Hon. Augustus Haines, Dis
trict Attorney of the United States, who then
retired from the profession to assume the su-
perintendency of the manufactures in Bidde-
ford.
Subsequently Mr.. Butler formed a law part
nership with Hon. VIM. Pitt Fessenden, U. S.
Senator from Mane which was subsequently
continued with the Senator's sons, Ex-Mayor
Francis Fessenden and James d. Fessenden,
Register of the Court in Bankruptcy. In De-
cember 1875, he formed partnership with
his nephew, Charles f. Libby, Esq, late pros
ecuting attorney for Cumberland county,
which was continued up to the time of his
decease.
In 1850 Mr. Butler married Olive M. Storer,
only daughter of John Storer, of Sanford, and
leaves two children, son and daughter.
MT. BuUl6r Was SOtuVy 1AupoAhOJ iAOAA Az"
to 1866 representative to the legislature in
1859, and was representative elect at the time
of his decease. He was Mayor of Portland
1879, and was a member of the commission
appointed to report on the condition OF the
Portland & Ogdensburg and Portland & Ro-
chester Railroads, and what disposition had
better be made of them. He had been direc-
tor in the Cumberland Bank, land was director
of the Portland Fraternity. He was member
of the First Parish (Unitarian) Society, and
officiated as Moderator at the Parish meetings.
Mr.. Butler was careful, sagacious lawyer,
with an eminently judicial mind, and we know
of no one more eminently fitted to adorn the
bench. AS counsellor he was among the best
in the city, for he was deeply read in his
profession and his advice was always sound.
His services as Mayor will not soon be forgotten
in this, city and in his death Portland loses
valuable citizen.