# Fred M. Butler > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fred_M._Butler > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fred_M._Butler.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_M._Butler > Source revision: 1263342290 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American judge (1854–1932)}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Fred M. Butler |image = Fred M. Butler (Vermont Supreme Court Justice).jpg |alt = |caption = From 1899's ''Book of Biographies of Rutland County, Vermont'' |office1 = [Associate Justice](/source/List_of_justices_of_the_Vermont_Supreme_Court) of the [Vermont Supreme Court](/source/Vermont_Supreme_Court) |term_start1 = 1923 |term_end1 = 1926 |predecessor1 = [Willard W. Miles](/source/Willard_W._Miles) |successor1 = [Sherman R. Moulton](/source/Sherman_R._Moulton) |office2 = Chief Judge of the [Vermont Superior Court](/source/Judiciary_of_Vermont) |term_start2 = 1921 |term_end2 = 1923 |predecessor2 = [Zed S. Stanton](/source/Zed_S._Stanton) |successor2 = [George M. Powers](/source/George_M._Powers) |office3 = Judge of the [Vermont Superior Court](/source/Judiciary_of_Vermont) |term_start3 = 1909 |term_end3 = 1923 |predecessor3 = [George M. Powers](/source/George_M._Powers) |successor3 = [Frank D. Thompson](/source/Frank_D._Thompson) |office4 = Member of the [Vermont Senate](/source/Vermont_Senate) |term_start4 = 1908 |term_end4 = 1909 |predecessor4 = Henry Otis Carpenter, Dan Demin Burditt, John Emory Buxton, William H. Rowland |successor4 = Henry B. Barden, Henry L. Clark, Samuel R. Hitchcock, Egbert Clayton Tuttle |alongside4 = [Walter F. Scott](/source/Walter_F._Scott), Eugene McIntyre, William Franklin Walker |constituency4 = [Rutland County](/source/Rutland_County%2C_Vermont) |office5 = President of the [Vermont Bar Association](/source/Vermont_Bar_Association) |term_start5 = 1906 |term_end5 = 1907 |predecessor5 = [H. Henry Powers](/source/H._Henry_Powers) |successor5 = [Alexander Dunnett](/source/Alexander_Dunnett) |birth_date = {{Birth date|1854|5|28}} |birth_place = [Jamaica, Vermont](/source/Jamaica%2C_Vermont), U.S. |death_date = {{Death date and age|1932|12|24|1854|5|28}} |death_place = [Rutland, Vermont](/source/Rutland_(city)%2C_Vermont), U.S. |resting_place = [Evergreen Cemetery](/source/Evergreen_Cemetery_(Rutland%2C_Vermont)), Rutland, Vermont, U.S. |party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) |spouse = Lillian Harriet Holton (m. |children = 5 |profession = Attorney }} '''Fred M. Butler''' (May 28, 1854 – December 24, 1932) was a Vermont attorney and judge. He is notable for his service as an associate justice of the [Vermont Supreme Court](/source/Vermont_Supreme_Court) from 1923 to 1926. ==Early life== Fred Mason Butler was born in [Jamaica, Vermont](/source/Jamaica%2C_Vermont) on May 28, 1854, the son of Aaron Mason Butler (1815–1886) and Emeline (Muzzy) Butler (d. 1877).{{sfn|''Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont''|page=670}} He was educated in the public schools of Jamaica, and graduated from Leland and Gray Seminary in [Townshend](/source/Townshend%2C_Vermont).{{sfn|''Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont''|page=670}} Butler had started his [legal studies](/source/reading_law) in the Jamaica office of Jonathan G. Eddy while still at Leland & Gray.{{sfn|''Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont''|page=670}} After graduation, he continued studying law under his uncle in the same Jamaica office that included [Hoyt Henry Wheeler](/source/Hoyt_Henry_Wheeler) and [Eleazer L. Waterman](/source/Eleazer_L._Waterman).{{sfn|''Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont''|page=670}} He was [admitted to the bar](/source/Admission_to_the_bar_in_the_United_States) in 1877, after which he moved to [Rutland](/source/Rutland_(city)%2C_Vermont).{{sfn|''Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont''|page=670}} ==Start of career== Butler established a law practice in Rutland, first in partnership with Joel C. Baker, then with [Lyman W. Redington](/source/Lyman_W._Redington), and finally with Thomas W. Moloney.{{sfn|''Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont''|page=670}} From 1906 to 1907, Butler was president of the [Vermont Bar Association](/source/Vermont_Bar_Association),{{sfn|"Past Presidents of the Vermont Bar Association"}} and he was succeeded by [Alexander Dunnett](/source/Alexander_Dunnett).{{sfn|"Demise of Alexander Dunnett"}} He was also involved in several businesses; he was a member of the board of directors of the Baxter National Bank and Rutland Railway Light & Power Company,{{sfn|''Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont''|page=670}} and was an original incorporator of the State Mutual Fire Insurance Company.{{sfn|''Acts and Resolves Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont''|page=348}} Active in politics and government as a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)), Butler served as a delegate to numerous city, county, and state party conventions.{{sfn|''Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont''|page=670}} He also served in local office including grand juror (1882–84), city attorney (1884-89), and judge of the Rutland city court (1889–95).{{sfn|''Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont''|page=670}} In 1908 he was elected to the [Vermont Senate](/source/Vermont_Senate).{{sfn|''Journal of the Senate of the State of Vermont''|page=4}} Butler was an active leader of the [Baptist church](/source/Baptists).{{sfn|''Encyclopedia, Vermont Biography''|page=91}} He was a member of First Baptist Church in Rutland, and served as president of the state Baptist convention from 1909 to 1910.{{sfn|''Encyclopedia, Vermont Biography''|page=91}} ==Judicial career== In 1908, the [Vermont General Assembly](/source/Vermont_General_Assembly) enacted a law expanding the [Vermont Supreme Court](/source/Vermont_Supreme_Court) from four justices to five.{{sfn|''Encyclopedia, Vermont Biography''|page=89}} The appointment as an associate justice went to [George M. Powers](/source/George_M._Powers), who was serving as a judge of the Vermont Superior Court, and had been an associate justice prior to the passage of a previous law reducing the size of the state Supreme Court.{{sfn|''Encyclopedia, Vermont Biography''|page=89}} Butler was selected for the resulting vacancy on the Vermont Superior Court, and resigned from the State Senate in January 1909 in order to accept.{{sfn|''Journal of the Senate of the State of Vermont''|page=561}}{{sfn|"Butler Elected Judge on the 15th Ballot"|page=2}} He continued to serve on this court until 1923.{{sfn|"Judge Butler is Elected to Supreme Bench"|pages=1, 2}} From 1921 to 1923, Butler served as chief judge, having succeeded [Zed S. Stanton](/source/Zed_S._Stanton).{{sfn|"Judge Butler is Elected to Supreme Bench"|pages=1, 2}}{{sfn|"Julius Willcox Appointed Judge"|page=4}} In 1923, associate justice [Willard W. Miles](/source/Willard_W._Miles) retired from the state Supreme Court.{{sfn|"Judge Butler is Elected to Supreme Bench"|pages=1, 2}} Butler was appointed to fill the vacancy, and he served until 1926, when he retired.{{sfn|"Judge Butler is Elected to Supreme Bench"|pages=1, 2}}{{sfn|"Judge Butler to Leave Bench"|page=2}} He was succeeded by [Sherman R. Moulton](/source/Sherman_R._Moulton).{{sfn|"Moulton Now on Supreme Bench"|page=1}} ==Retirement and death== Butler died in Rutland on December 24, 1932.{{sfn|"Judge Fred M. Butler of Rutland Dies After Long Legal Career"|page=2}}{{sfn|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Fred Mason Butler"}} He was buried at [Evergreen Cemetery](/source/Evergreen_Cemetery_(Rutland%2C_Vermont)) in Rutland.{{sfn|"Judge Butler Buried"|page=2}} ==Family== In 1875, Butler married Lillian Harriet Holton (1852-1935), a resident of [Bangor, New York](/source/Bangor%2C_New_York).{{sfn|"Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Marriage Record for Fred M. Butler and Lillian H. Holton"}}{{sfn|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Lillian Harriet Holton Butler"}} They were the parents of three daughters: Anza Lillian (1876-1933) was the wife of Wallace W. Nichols of Rutland;{{sfn|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Mrs. Anza Nichols"}} Helen Maria (1885-1981), the wife of John A. Barney of Rutland;{{sfn|"Vermont Vital Records, 1909-2008, Marriage Record for Helen Maria Butler and John Amherst Barney"}}{{sfn|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Helen Maria Butler Barney"}} and Florence Muzzy (1892-1973), the wife of Leon E. Ellsworth of [Enosburg Falls](/source/Enosburg_Falls%2C_Vermont) and Roy S. Woodward of [Waterville](/source/Waterville%2C_Vermont).{{sfn|''Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont''|page=670}}{{sfn|"Vermont Vital Records, 1909-2008, Marriage Record for Florence Muzzy Butler and Leon Edgar Ellsworth"}}{{sfn|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Florence E. Woodward"}} A son was born in 1879 and died in 1880.{{sfn|"Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Death Record for Unnamed Son of Fred M. Butler and Lillian H. Holton"}} Another son, Aaron Mason Butler, was born and died in 1891.{{sfn|"Rutland Matters: Fred M. Butler"|page=2}} Butler's siblings included Edgar M. Butler (1857-1928), who served as a member of the [Vermont Senate](/source/Vermont_Senate).{{sfn|"Five Ballots on Sheriff"|page=9}}{{sfn|''New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial''|page=974}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==Sources== ===Newspapers=== *{{cite news |date=May 4, 1891 |title=Rutland Matters: Fred M. Butler |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-rutland/135265213/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |ref={{sfnRef|"Rutland Matters: Fred M. Butler"}}}} *{{cite news |date=September 15, 1920 |title=Demise of Alexander Dunnett |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/montpelier-evening-argus-dunnett/135266414/ |work=[The Evening Argus](/source/Barre_Montpelier_Times_Argus) |location=Montpelier, VT |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |page=4 |ref={{sfnRef|"Demise of Alexander Dunnett"}}}} *{{cite news |date=January 30, 1909 |title=Butler Elected Judge on the 15th Ballot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/spirit-of-the-age-butler/135265284/ |work=Spirit of the Age |location=Woodstock, VT |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |ref={{sfnRef|"Butler Elected Judge on the 15th Ballot"}}}} *{{cite news |date=July 6, 1910 |title=Five Ballots on Sheriff |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-ballots/135265370/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |ref={{sfnRef|"Five Ballots on Sheriff"}}}} *{{cite news |date=August 27, 1921 |title=Julius Willcox Appointed Judge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-johnsbury-republican-willcox/135265893/ |work=St. Johnsbury Republican |location=St. Johnsbury, VT |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |ref={{sfnRef|"Julius Willcox Appointed Judge"}}}} *{{cite news |last=Vermont Press Bureau |date=January 23, 1923 |title=Judge Butler is Elected to Supreme Bench |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-butler/135265980/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |ref={{sfnRef|"Judge Butler is Elected to Supreme Bench"}}}} *{{cite news |date=October 20, 1926 |title=Judge Butler to Leave Bench |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-butler/135266043/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |ref={{sfnRef|"Judge Butler to Leave Bench"}}}} *{{cite news |date=October 22, 1926 |title=Moulton Now on Supreme Bench |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-moulton/135266129/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |ref={{sfnRef|"Moulton Now on Supreme Bench"}}}} *{{cite news |date=December 27, 1932 |title=Judge Fred M. Butler of Rutland Dies After Long Legal Career |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-butler/135266188/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |ref={{sfnRef|"Judge Fred M. Butler of Rutland Dies After Long Legal Career"}}}} *{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=December 29, 1932 |title=Judge Butler Buried |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/ |work=Springfield Republican |location=Springfield, MA |url-access=subscription |via=[GenealogyBank.com](/source/GenealogyBank.com) |ref={{sfnRef|"Judge Butler Buried"}}}} ===Books=== *{{cite book |last=Carleton |first=Hiram |date=1903 |title=Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont |volume=II |url=https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalfami02carl#page/n929/mode/2up/search/butler |location=New York, NY |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company |ref={{sfnRef|''Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont''}}}} *{{cite book |last=Cutter |first=William Richard |date=1913 |title=New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial |volume=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ofcsAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA974 |location=New York, NY |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company |ref={{sfnRef|''New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial''}}}} *{{cite book |last=Dodge |first=Prentiss Cutler |date=1912 |title=Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_tt2_3hTQxFMC |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_tt2_3hTQxFMC/page/n91 90] |location=Burlington, VT |publisher=Ullery Publishing Company |ref={{sfnRef|''Encyclopedia, Vermont Biography''}}}} *{{cite book |last=Vermont General Assembly |date=1898 |title=Acts and Resolves Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_S1EAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA348 |location=Burlington, VT |publisher=Free Press Publishing |ref={{sfnRef|''Acts and Resolves Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont''}}}} *{{cite book |last=Vermont General Assembly |date=1908 |title=Journal of the Senate of the State of Vermont |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BDYtAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA4 |location=St. Albans, VT |publisher=St. Albans Messenger Company |ref={{sfnRef|''Journal of the Senate of the State of Vermont''}}}} ===Internet=== *{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Marriage Record for Fred M. Butler and Lillian H. Holton |last=Howard |first=Luke (Jamaica, Vermont Town Clerk |date=November 24, 1875 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=December 18, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Marriage Record for Fred M. Butler and Lillian H. Holton"}}}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Death Record for Unnamed Son of Fred M. Butler and Lillian H. Holton |last=Brown |first=I. M.(Rutland, Vermont Town Clerk |date=February 9, 1880 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=December 18, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Death Record for Unnamed Son of Fred M. Butler and Lillian H. Holton"}}}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Vermont Vital Records, 1909-2008, Marriage Record for Helen Maria Butler and John Amherst Barney |last=Whittier |first=H. B. (Rutland, Vermont City Clerk) |date=April 15, 1908 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=December 18, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Vital Records, 1909-2008, Marriage Record for Helen Maria Butler and John Amherst Barney"}}}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Vermont Vital Records, 1909-2008, Marriage Record for Florence Muzzy Butler and Leon Edgar Ellsworth |last=Smith |first=Elsie C. (Cambridge, Vermont Town Clerk) |date=September 16, 1917 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=December 18, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Vital Records, 1909-2008, Marriage Record for Florence Muzzy Butler and Leon Edgar Ellsworth"}}}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Fred Mason Butler |last=Crowther |first=Nita S. (Rutland, Vermont Assistant City Clerk) |date=January 1, 1933 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=December 18, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Fred Mason Butler"}}}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Mrs. Anza Nichols |last=Eastman |first=Thelma W. (Rutland, Vermont Assistant City Clerk) |date=September 1, 1933 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=December 18, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Mrs. Anza Nichols"}}}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Lillian Harriet Holton Butler |last=Eastman |first=Thelma W. (Rutland, Vermont Assistant City Clerk) |date=September 1, 1935 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=December 18, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Lillian Harriet Holton Butler"}}}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Florence E. Woodward |last=Mander |first=Sydney C. (Morristown, Vermont Town Clerk) |date=December 31, 1973 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=December 18, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Florence E. Woodward"}}}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Helen Maria Butler Barney |last=Hackett |first=Mary E. (Rutland, Vermont Assistant City Clerk) |date=January 28, 1981 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=December 18, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Helen Maria Butler Barney"}}}} *{{cite web |url=https://www.vtbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Past-President-List.pdf |title=Past Presidents of the Vermont Bar Association |date=2013 |website=Vtbar.org |publisher=Vermont Bar Association |location=Montpelier, VT |ref={{sfnRef|"Past Presidents of the Vermont Bar Association"}}}} {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{succession box |title=[Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court](/source/List_of_justices_of_the_Vermont_Supreme_Court) |before=[Willard W. Miles](/source/Willard_W._Miles) |after=[Sherman R. Moulton](/source/Sherman_R._Moulton) |years=1923–1926}} {{s-end}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Fred M.}} Category:1854 births Category:1932 deaths Category:People from Jamaica, Vermont Category:People from Rutland (city), Vermont Category:Vermont lawyers Category:Republican Party Vermont state senators Category:U.S. state supreme court judges admitted to the practice of law by reading law Category:Justices of the Vermont Supreme Court Category:Burials at Evergreen Cemetery (Rutland, Vermont) Category:20th-century members of the Vermont General Assembly --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fred M. Butler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_M._Butler) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_M._Butler?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.