Butler School Restoration Project 'History of 1st Butler School'
Edmund Butler and his wife Permelia Ann, came to Illinois as newlyweds from North Carolina about 1833 when he was 26 years old. He obtained land grants for two adjoining 40 acre plots in Section 16 and 21 in 1836 - the same year his father Benjamin Butler wrote him a letter verifying that he was born May 8, 1807. The school house was located in the northeast corner of the land in Section 16 about 1/2 mile south of the crossroads. (financing for rural schools)
The Butler's had seven children - all born in Illinois. Elizabeth L., William E., Francis M. (Frank), Henry H., Eliza A., Mary Katherine (Kate), and John E. Henry H. and his second wife Mary Jane Piper were grandparents of Vera Butler Ruffini Dietiker who supplied this information and attended the 1st Butler School Reunion. Vera's father was Henry's son, Oliver Butler.
Edmund Butler died October 22, 1853 rather young, but Permelia who was born November 12, 1813 lived thirty eight years longer than her husband. She died April 18, 1891 and both are buried in Worden City Cemetery.
Other information researched by Frances Brakhane Westerhold, Vera Butler Dietiker, and Judith Klein Sherfy follows:
Governor of Illinois Joseph Duncan sold land in Section 16 which was retained for school use, but then sold to Edmund Butler on March 8, 1836. He paid $50 for 40 acres. Governor Duncan signed it April 3, 1836, and recorded March 29, 1837, J.T. Lusk Recorder.
On March 20, 1845, Adiel Sherwood and wife (E.C. Sherwood) sold 80 acres of land for $150 to Edmund and Permelia Butler. Recorded February 16, 1846. (N.W. 1/4 of S.W. 1/4 of Section 16)
1892 Madison County Rural Landowners lists Permelia Butler as owner of 200 acres in Section 15, 16, 17 and 21 of Omphghent Township.
Most likely after Permelia's death the land in Section 16 was purchased by Henry Schoeneweg. The land in Section 21 was purchased by Louis Klein. Louis Klein named a son Francis (Frank) for Francis Butler - Henry Butler's sons whom the Klein family thought very well of. Francis Klein purchased the land from his father Louis, and passed it on to his son Edgar. Also the land owned by Henry Schoeneweg, Franes Klein's uncle, was purchased by Frank Klein and then his son Edgar. Edgar Klein sold the land to Eugene Wieseman and Charles Wieseman. Eugene Wieseman owns the home place of Louis Klein. Charles Wieseman purchased the land of the old Schoeneweg farm. After Charles' death, his widow Marilyn divided the land between her children, and Mary Wieseman Butcher now owns the land on which the First Butler School was located.
John Garde, son of Benjamin and Johanna (Hagerty) Garde purchased the First Butler School house and moved it to the old Garde Homestead where it still stands and has been used as a storage shed. George and Gertrude (Garde) Wieseman lived on this Garde farm and presently it's owned by a grandson, James. He is a son of Eugene Wieseman.
