The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-17
BUTTERwORTH's LIFE.
Came from Hardy Quaker StOcl--Five
Times in CONGRESS-.

Times in Congress.
Mr. Butterworth was born in Warren
county, Ohio, Oct. %. 1899. His people were
all Quakers on both sides. John Linton,
who was conspicuous among those who emf
grated to Pennsylvania with William Penn,
was his maternal ancestor. His father was
a Virginian by birth, and originally slave
holder, although a Friend, but becoming
convinced that property in human beings
was wrong, freed his slaves and removed
into the State Of Ohio There he became
associated with Levi Coffin, the originator
of the underground railroad. and assisted
that philanthropist in forwarding fugitive
slaves on their way to liberty. Young But
terworth therefore, was raised in an atmos-
phere of Quaker simplicity, varied with the
stern secrecy necessarily accompanying
efforts towards the emancipation of human
property. The newspaper diet on which the
boy was fed consisted of the Emancipator
the Liberator, the Cincinnati Gazette and
other prints of the same character His
home was a station on the underground
railroad and Mr.. Butterworth remembered
the time when a reward of 81 900 was offered
in the neighboring part of Kentucky for his
fathers head.
Until he was eighteen years of age young
Butterworth lived On his parents farm,
with such advantages of education as farm
ers' children usually had in those days. AS
is generally the case with young men of
talent and restless ambition, farming soon
proved uncongenial to his tastes, and he de-
cided to fit himself for professional life
He first attended an academy near his home
and then went to the Ohio University at
Athens. He then went to Cincinnati and
entered the law. office of Durbin Ward,
where he pursued his legal studies for two
years, and graduated at the Cincinnati Law
School In 1861
No sooner had he established himself in
the practice of law than his personal popu-
larity became universal and he was thus
early called into public notice. His public
life began in 1868, when he was appointed
assistant United States district attorney
He filled this position ably until he resigned
to engage in practice, In 1871 he was nom
mated for the Ohio State Senate in thor
oughly Democratic district. He was beaten
after a hard fight by 126 votes. In 1878 he
was nominated again for the same office,
eighty-six majority. Upon the termination
OF his office in the spring of 1875 he moved
tinued the practice. Of law. He formed a
partnership with Mr.. .Vogeler, afterwards
consul general at Frankfort, Germany.
In 1878 the Republican convention of the
First congressional district, composed of
twelve. wards in the city of Cincinnati and
Mr. Butterworth for Congress. Milton Say
Ter, now of New York, and who represented
the district for three consecutive terms, was
election of Mr.. Butterworth by a majority
OF 720 votes. In 1880 he was renominated by
acclamation, his opponent being Samuel F.
Hunt. Mr.. Butterworth again carried the
district by the increased majority of l, ,29S.
In 1882 he was for the third time nominated
by acclamation, but, although he far
ahead of his ticket, he was defeated by
John F. Folett. At the close of the Forty
seventh Congress he returned to the prac-
tice of law at Cincinnati.
soon after resuming practice he was re-
tanned by the attorney general OF the United
States to assist at the prosecution of the
election cases in South Carolina. In June,
1883, he was appointed by President Arthur
commissioner to inspect certain portions of
the Northern Pacific Railroad. In October
of the same year he was rendered the Office
of commissioner of patents, which he ac-
the line of his profession. 1t is an open
secret that President Arthur desired and
intended to make him postmaster general
had claims for recognition and Judge
Gresham was selected
In 1884 he was for the fourth time nomi-
mated by acclamation for Congress, having
for his competitor John +. Follett. who had
defeated him in 1882 After the most inter-
esting and exciting canvass and election
ever had in Cincinnati he was elected by a
majority OF 1909. Again in 1886 he was nom
mated by aeclamation, his opponent being
Samuel A. Miller. Mr.. Butterworth, for the
fourth time, carried the district by the in
creased majority of 2346.
Mr.. Butterworth was steadfast friend of
Chicago in the contest for the location of
the worlds fair Being a member of Con-
gress at the time. he was able to render
Chicago valuable service. He was the sec
retary of the Worlds Columbian EXPOSE
tion, the national organization connected
with the fair Resigning that position, he
became the solicitor general of the same
organization. serving from 1890 to 1892 Dur
ing the last presidential campaign he was
active in support of President Mckinley.
April l last he was appointed by the Presi-
dent commissioner of patents.
Mr.. Butterworth is the originator of sew
eral bills still pending in Congress, notably
the bill providing that every article of COM
merce shall be actually what IL represents
and shall not be sold for what ii is not.
He is also the originator of the bill now
under consideration leveled at boards OF
trade and grain spectators. During the
tariff discussion in the House he was an
enthusiastic advocate of the reciprocity
doctrine advanced by Mr. Blaine. While in