Butler County, Iowa Genealogical Records Information

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Butler County History and Information

Butler County Facts

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Butler was created on January 15, 1851 (Organized in 1854) from Unorganized Territory. The County was named for William Orlando Butler, a Kentucky candidate for the vice presidency and general in the Mexican-American War. The County Seat is Allison.

Counties adjacent to Butler County are Floyd County (north), Bremer County (east), Black Hawk County (southeast), Grundy County (south), Franklin County (west), Chickasaw County (northeast), Cerro Gordo County (northwest), Hardin County (southwest). Cities and Towns Include Allison, Aplington, Aredale, Bristow, Clarksville, Dumont, Greene, New Hartford, Parkersburg, Shell Rock. Townships Include Albion, Beaver, Bennezette, Butler, Coldwater, Dayton, Fremont, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Pittsford, Ripley, Shell Rock, Washington, West Point.

In 1853 a full staff of county officials was elected to start governing. Because the office positions were not considered sufficiently lucrative, a trip to Independence to swear in the officials was never made, and the office holders failed to qualify. In August 1854, elections were held again, and the officials this time took the oath of office.

The first courthouse was constructed at Clarksville in 1858. The two-story courthouse was constructed of bricks and cost approximately $20,000 to complete.

Soon after this building was completed there were numerous battles over the removal of the county seat. The most prominent of those battles came from the town of Butler Center. An election was held in April 1858, in which Butler Center won by only 21 votes. The citizens of Clarksville then obtained an injunction blocking the removal of the county seat. In July of 1859 the district court found irregularities in the election and issued an order voiding the election. A second election was then held in April 1860. Again Butler Center won, but this time by a majority of 80 votes. So, in 1860 the county seat was removed to Butler Center for a period of 20 years. The old courthouse was sold to the local school district for $2,800.

Butler Center erected a simple, two-story frame courthouse that cost only $2,000. The two-acre site of land was donated by Arthur Mullarkey.

The residents of Butler County became disenchanted with the town of Butler Center as their county seat. It was removed to the city of Allison in 1881 after several elections. It was there where the county constructed its third courthouse. The residents of Allison donated $7,000 to the $10,000 project. In 1903 an addition was added to the courthouse at a cost of $5,000, and in 1937 a second addition was completed. It cost approximately $9,000. Finally, $5,000 was used to remodel the courtroom in 1959. In the mid-1970s, an attorney expressed interest in buying the courthouse, dismantling it, and moving it to California to use as a law office. The deal fell through, but this courthouse was replaced by the current courthouse in 1974.

The present courthouse is located just south of the previous courthouse’s location. Total cost of the project was $936,950.84, just under the $940,000 that was allowed by the bond election in 1973. This building was officially dedicated on December 14, 1975. See also County History and County Courthouse for more details.

The Butler County Official Government Website
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Records at the Butler County Courthouse

PLEASE READ FIRST!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link below, calling or visiting the Butler County Courthouse at 428 Sixth Street, Box 307, Allison 50602; Tel: 319-267-2487. See Also Courthouse Street Addresses for current courthouse addresses for all Iowa Counties. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. Butler County was attached to Buchanan & Black Hawk Counties for a breif time. Some early records may be found there.

Butler County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1874, Marriage Records from 1854, Death Records from 1880 and Land Records from 1854.
The Recorder's Office was created in 1839 by the First Legislative Assembly. The Recorder continues to maintain official records of documents affecting title to real estate. Every real estate transaction that takes place begins in the Recorder's Office. One of the major duties of the office is the management of public records. As a result, accuracy and preservation of records are a must in the Recorder's Office. Instruments that are recorded are not only important for today, but serve as a historical library for all of the tomorrows.

In addition to real estate transactions, the Recorder's Office issues titles and liens; records veterans discharge papers; processes passport applications; accepts marriage applications and issues the subsequent license; issues certified copies of birth, death and marriage records as well as other numerous duties.

Butler County Clerk of Court Office has Probate Records from 1864 and Court Records from ?.
In each of Iowa's 99 counties, a clerk of district court office manages and maintains all trial court records, including pleadings, evidence and orders. The clerks of court have hundreds of administrative duties. They accept and process fines, fees and court costs owed to the state, child support checks, and civil judgments owed to litigants. They maintain a record of liens on all real estate in the county. Clerks help with involuntary hospitalization cases. They have the authority to dispose of scheduled violations which are not contested and do not require a court hearing. Clerks are also responsible for informing state and local government agencies of court orders.

The Iowa district court has general jurisdiction of all civil, criminal and juvenile cases and probate matters in the state. The district court, which is also known as the trial court, is the point of entry in the court system for most cases. The Iowa district court is composed of different kinds of judicial officers with varying amounts of jurisdiction-judicial magistrates, associate juvenile judges, associate probate judges, district associate judges, and district court judges.

Click Here to Search Iowa Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records! - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

Below is a list of online resources for Butler County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Butler County Court Records by clicking the link below:

Butler County Vital Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

The tax rolls for personal property and real estate were kept by the auditor or the treasurer of each county. A few of these records have been microfilmed and are available at the State Historical Society of Iowa. Original county tax rolls are usually not transferred.

Old age pension tax is a resource genealogists should consider in Iowa. A 1934 directive to collect an old age assistance tax was based on a list of all persons over twenty-one years of age. Although the tax was discontinued in 1936, the information included could be important: name, address, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and names of both parents. Many counties have had these lists microfilmed and they are available through the FHL.

Below is a list of online resources for Butler County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Butler County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

Butler County Tax Assesors Office, Telephone: (319) 267-2264
The Treasurer is responsible for collection of property taxes and other fees for state, county, city, school districts, community colleges, and other taxing entities such as townships, fire districts, and drainage districts.
Butler County, Iowa Tax Books at Amazon.com

Butler County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Iowa Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Butler County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Butler County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

Butler County Iowa Genealogy Society, Box 534, Allison IA 50602-0534
North Central Iowa Genealogy Society, PO Box 237, Mason City IA 50402-0237
[Researching in nine area counties Cerro Gordo, Mitchell, Floyd, Butler, Franklin, Worth, Winnebago, Hancock, and Wright]
Local Iowa Researchers, Find a local researcher or become a local researcher.
State Historical Society of Iowa, Capitol Complex, Des Moines, IA 50319
Iowa Genealogical Society, 6000 Douglas, P.O. Box 7735, Des Moines, IA 50322
State Historical Society of Iowa Research Library, 402 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA 52240
State Historical Society of Iowa Library, Capitol Complex, Des Moines, IA 50319
National Archives; Central Plains Region, Kansas City, 2312 East Bannister Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131-3011; Email: kansascity.archives@nara.gov; Phone: 816-268-8000
Iowa Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
Iowa Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

Butler County Church & Cemeteries

Click Here to Search Iowa Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Butler County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Butler County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Predominant church groups in Iowa include Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist. Less in size, but equally important in religious history in the state are the Quakers, Mormons, Mennonites, and Congregationalists. The first church building in Iowa, a Methodist church built of logs, was constructed in Dubuque in 1834. A year later the Catholics erected a parish building in the same city. In 1843 the “Iowa Band” of Congregational and Presbyterian clergy began ministering to the settlers in Iowa. In 1854 a small group of the Community of True Inspiration arrived from Germany, settling along the Iowa River in the mid-section of the state. A year later additional members of their group joined them, establishing the unique Amana colonies of present-day Iowa.

Many of the local chapters of the Iowa Genealogical Society have publications of cemetery records in their respective counties which can be ordered through the chapter. A state-wide publication listing is available through the state society. A large number of cemetery transcription collections as well as records of funeral homes, casket lists, and obituary indexes are held by the FHL

Below is a list of online resources for Butler County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Butler County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

IOWA WPA GRAVES REGISTRATION SURVEY - These records contain burials throughout much of Iowa that were compiled by WPA workers in the 1930 s, including grave markers which no longer exist today. Records may be searched within a county or state-wide.
Iowa Cemetery Records: These cemetery records represent seventy-six counties and Graceland Cemetery of Sioux City, Iowa, in the united States, that were transcribed by the Works Project Administration. Records in this database generally include the page number where the record can be found in the WPA index, the name of the deceased, birth date, death date, age, cemetery name, town name, and additional comments if any.
Iowa Civil War Soldier Burial Records: Listing of 30,000 Civil War veterans who served or lived in Iowa following the war.
Butler County, Iowa Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
Butler County, Iowa Church Books at Amazon.com

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Click Here to Search Iowa Family Tree Records! - The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Butler County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Butler County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Butler County USGenweb Archives
Butler County, Iowa Family Books at Amazon.com

County History

Butler County is situated in the third tier of counties south of the Minnesota line, and is directly distant
therefrom about 40 miles. It is also about 40 miles distance northwardly, and about 25 miles
eastwardly, from the center of the state. It is bounded on the North by Floyd County, on the south by
Grundy County, on the east by Bremer County, and on the west by Franklin County. Within its limits
are comprise 16 congressional townships, aggregating 576 square miles, or 365,070 acres of land, in
form a perfect square, sloping to the South and East. The general surface of the county is rolling
prairie, more rolling in the north part than in the south. Very little of the surface is flat.

The beauty and fertility of the Shellrock Valley, early made famous by trappers, hunters, and others to
chance to visit this delectable region, soon excited the curiosity of prospecting pioneers, who at first
sight were charmed by the natural attractiveness of the county. Consequently the first settlements in
Butler County were made along the Shellrock River.

The honor of having erected the first cabin in the county is generally conceded to Harrison and Volney
Carpenter, brothers, from Linn County, the former unmarried, the latter married. The erection was
made sometime during the year 1850, upon a claim in a grove thereafter known as Carpenter's Grove,
now a part of the village of Shellrock. Prior to this summer of 1851, when Volney Carpenter removed
his family into the county, the brothers Carpenter occupied their cabin only at intervals, both being
absent much of the time, Volney particularly, trapping and hunting.

The first actual and permanent settlement in the county was made by Joseph Hicks and family, who
made their advent in what was then called Coon Grove, on Christmas Day, 1850. They were
accompanied by Robert T. Crowell, who moved them into the country. All these first settlers
emigrated from Milton, Brock County, Wisconsin. The Hicks family located upon a claim about 347
miles northwest of the president village of Clarksville, selected in September of the same year by
Henry J. Hicks, father of Joseph, who then visited the locality in company with Mr. Crowell. The
latter, who is yet unmarried, took possession of a claim, selected by him also on the occasion of the
visit mentioned, about half a mile east of the present site of Clarksville. In the summer of 1851 Henry
J. Hicks returned from Wisconsin, and erected a blacksmith shop on the family claim, wherein he
forged the first iron forged in the Shellrock Valley. So distant at that time were his competitors in the
trade, and so valuable his services, that he numbered among his patrons not a few living faraway over
in Bremer County. Joseph Hicks, during the first winter of his residence in the county, was compelled
to impersonate a panic-mule and transport provisions for the maintenance of himself and his family, on
his back, from Cedar Falls, Blackhawk County, but then a small trading post. His time until the
following spring was principally occupied in hunting, fishing and trapping. His first crop, upon a
small piece of broken ground, consisted of corn and vegetables. Joseph's wife is represented by a local
historian to have been "a true western heroine," who could "talk Injun" or shoot a rifle with equal
expertness.

Next following Joseph Hicks and Robert T. Crowell, in April, 1851, came Malone B. and William S.
Wamsley, brothers, from Ohio, who settled upon adjoining claims about 2 1/2 miles northwest of
Clarksville, upon which they still lives, two of the most honored and wealthy citizens in the
neighborhood.

Jeremiah Perrin, Morrison A. Taylor, E. Ensley, Seth Hilton, Sr., and others, joined the preceding
pioneers in the same year, and respectively settled in the vicinity of Clarksville.

In 1853 the number of settlers with taken up claims in the county was sufficient to want an attempt to
effect its organization. Accordingly, in May of that year John T. Barrick, D. C. Overman, and William
W. Payne, Commissioners for the purpose, appointed by Judge Roszell, of Buchanan County, located
the county seat of the then unorganized County of Butler upon the site of the present village of
Clarksville. The original part of the village was surveyed by His Honor in August following. Also in
August, 1853, by the order of the same magistrate, an election was held in Butler County -- then under
his judicial jurisdiction -- for the election of officers and the organization of the county. A full
complement of county officers was accordingly elected, but as the newly created offices were
supposed to be not sufficiently lucrative to compensate the officers elect for the necessary trouble of
journeying to Independence in order to become legally empowered to fill them, they unanimously
omitted to qualify. Soon afterward Butler County was detached from Buchanan County and attach to
Black Hawk County, then recently organized. Pursuant to the order of Judge Knapp, of the latter
county, a second election was held in Butler County, in August, 1854, when the following officers
were chosen: John Palmer, County Judge; William E. Burton, Clerk; Abner G. Clark, Treasurer and
Recorder; James Griffith, School Fund Commissioner; Robert T. Crowell, Sheriff; Harlan Baird,
Prosecuting Attorney; and John H. Mortin, Surveyor. Jan. 2nd, 1855, Mr. Baird alone having failed to
qualify, Aaron Van Dorn was appointed Prosecuting Attorney, by the County Court, to supply the
vacancy. The permanent organization of the county was effected however, Oct. 2nd, 1854. On the 28th
of the same month the first levy of taxes was made. The total amount for that year was $698.50. In
1855 taxes were collected to the amount of $855.64.

Among other events, prominent in the history of the county, stated in chronological order, are the
following:

In April, 1850, John Heery, of Milton, Rock County, Wisconsin, located the first land warrant located
in the county, just in the band of the Shellrock River, adjoining Clarksville on the southwest. He
returned to Wisconsin the same season, performing the journey both ways on foot. Mr. Heery was
guided through the valley by Mr. James Newell, or Uncle Jimmy Newell, as he was familiarly called, a
pioneer settler in the forks of the Cedar, about 20 miles southeast of Clarksville. Uncle Jimmy, who
had extensively explored the Shellrock Valley, in his noted character of a mighty hunter, greatly aided
the earlier succeeding comers, who sat to profit by his knowledge of the country, and making choice
selections of land upon which to locate. Mr. Heery settled with his family upon his claim in the spring
of 1852. He is still a resident of Clarksville, and still owns part of the original entry.

In the fall of 1851 was preached the first sermon in the county, at the house of Malone B. Wamsley.
The name of the preacher, who was of the Methodist denomination, seems to be forgotten. Also in the
same fall occurred the first staff, that of Joseph Kirker, aged about 40 years, and a very recent cover
from Pennsylvania. He was an uncle of the wife of William S. Wamsley.

In 1853 the first post office in the county was established at Coon Grove, now Clarksville. Abner G.
Clark was the first post master. Up to this time the nearest post office was at Cedar Falls, whence the
route extended to Clarksville. Elwood Modlin was the contractor for carrying the mail, which was
carried once a week, by his son, on horseback. In the fall of 1853 Malone B. Wamsley was appointed
the first justice of the peace -- the first officer in the county --by the County Court of Black Hawk
County. About the same time Seth Hilton, senior, received a leg appointment from the same authority.

September 2nd, 1854, the first legal instrument, a warranty deed, was filed for record. It was executed
by Peter M. Bridget Conner, of Black Hawk County, to Jesse G. Butts, of a Otsego County, New York.
It conveyed the west half of the southeast quarter of section 30, Township 90, Range 16, containing 80
acres of land, for the consideration of $100. It was acknowledged before R. P. Speer, a Notary Public
for Black Hawk County.

Nov. 1st, 1854, County Judge Palmer issued the first marriage license, to Greenberry Luck and Susan
Williams, who were married on the same day by the Rev. W. P. Holbrook, a Methodist preacher.

Jan. 8, 1855, is the date of the first mortgage of real estate that appears of record. It was executed by
Robert T. Crowell and Lucretia Crowell, of Butler County, to James Griffith, School Fund
Commissioner of the same County. The southeast quarter of the northeast quarter, and the northeast
quarter of the southeast quarter of section 18, Township 92, Range 15, was the land mortgage, for the
sum of $298.14. It was acknowledged before County Judge Palmer, and was satisfied April 22nd,
1857. April 21st, 1855, was recorded the first chattel mortgage. Ebenezer Walter was the mortgagor,
and William Adair the mortgagee, both of Butler County. The chattels mortgaged were one yoke of
red oxen for years old, and one cow and calf. The sum secured thereby with $75. June 26, 1855, was
recorded the first articles of local incorporation -- those of the Methodist Episcopal Church of
Shellrock. The officers of the Board of Trustees were G. W. Adair, president; Alexander Glenn, vice
president; John H. Smith Treasurer and Asa Chance, Secretary. The first school in the county was
opened the same year, in a small log cabin in Clarksville. It was taught by Miss Melinda Searles,
afterwards the wife of Mr. Vallantine Bogle, of Clarksville, now recently deceased. It began in the
spring of the year mentioned, and was attended by only a very limited number of pupils.

June 3rd, 1857, was instituted, at Clarksville, Butler Lodge No. 94, A. F. and A. M., a the first Masonic
society, or other similar organization, in the county. The first officers were: Alpheus J. Lewellen, W.
M.; George W. Potsall, S. W.; Robert T. Crowell, J. W.; John Palmer, Secretary. I'm the 24th of the
same month William Hicks, a British subject, and the first foreigner in the county to renounce formerly
his allegiance to any foreign potentate, took the initiatory steps to become an American citizen, by the
usual declaration of intention. John Palmer and William Glass, also British subjects, where the next to
declare like intentions, on the same day. William Gough, a native of England, and the first foreigner in
Bremer County to declare his intention to become a citizen of the United States, was the first foreigner
admitted to full American citizenship in Butler County, Oct. 6th, 1857. Patrick Hays, a native of
Ireland, was the next person naturalized, at the same term of the District Court.

In June, 1858, County Judge Converse advertised for proposals for the erection of the following
bridges in the economy, 13 in number: two across Shellrock River, near Clarksville; one across
Shellrock River at the village of Shellrock; one across the West Fork of Cedar River, near
Willaoughby; one across the same stream at Mason's Ford; one across same at McConnell's Ford, on
road leading west from Butler Center; one across same on road leading west from West Point in
Hampton; one across to Beaver River at New Hartford; one across same at Olmstead's Ford; one across
same on Central road, near Mr. Daniel's; one across same on the left side section 25, Township 90
range 17, near Mr. Curtis'; one across Beaver River, on section 20, near Mr. Parriott's; one across
Coldwater Creek at Cunningham's Ford. These bridges were the first structures of the kind erected in
the county. Nearly all of them work, however, within a few years afterward, swept away by ice and
freshets.

Still other occurrences in the history of the county, worthy of note, were the erection of the first
church, Methodist Episcopal, at Clarksville, in 1864. Elias Smith, pastor; the organization of the first
bank -- the Butler County Bank -- at Clarksville, in June, 1871, and the opening thereof for business in
September following. Malon B. Wamsley, President, and Francis B. Cooke, Cashier, were the first
officers of the bank mentioned.

Upon the division of the previously united offices of Treasurer and recorder, J. H. Hale became the
first recorder, and 1865, and John Palmer the first Treasurer, in 1866. A. J. Tomkins was the first
auditor of the county, in 1870.

The first division of the county into townships was made February 6th, 1855, when four townships --
Butler, Coldwater, Ripley and Beaver -- were created. March 3rd, 1856, West Point, Shell Rock and
Monroe townships were created. In the latter part of the year 1857, and in the early part of the year
1858, the remaining townships of Albion, Bennezette, Dayton, Fremont, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison,
Pittsford and Washington were regularly organized.

M. M. Trumbull, who was emigrated from Cedar Rapids, and 1854, was the first lawyer in the county.
He was elected to his seat in the lower branch of the state legislature, in 1858. Mr. Trumbull now
resides in Dubuque. The first physician in the county was Dr. James E. Walker, from Maine, who
settled at Clarksville about 1854. He subsequently returned to his native state.

Of three different attempts to remove the county seat from Clarksville to other localities in the county,
the first was made in 1858. In April of that year and election was held in the county to determine the
question of its removal to Georgetown, a "paper town" in the center of the county. Its retention at
Clarksville was secured by a majority of seven votes. The second attempt was made in 1859. At an
election held April 4th, of the year last named, by a vote of 385 for removal to 364 against removal, a
majority of 21 votes was cast in favor of Butler Center, then the competitor of Clarksville, for the
honor of being the county capital. A writ of injunction was, however, sued out by the opponents of the
successful locality, for the purpose of staying the removal voted until certain legal objections on their
part could be duly adjudicated. In July following the District Court adjudged the election void because
of certain irregularities in its formal conduct. On the fourth of April, 1860, the canvas of the third
election was held two days previously resulted in the declaration of a majority of upwards of 80 votes
in favor of Butler Center over Clarksville, which ended the county seat contests, and on the following
day the records were removed accordingly.

The first court house, erected in a handsome square in the center of Clarksville, in 1857, at a cost of
about $20,000, is a neat structure of brick, 40x60 feet in size, and two stories high. It is much the
largest and best building in the county. On the removal of the county seat to Butler Center, the
building was purchased from the county by the independent school district of Clarksville, for the very
small sum of $2,800, and appropriated to local school purposes. The only building of any kind now
existing and occupied for county offices, courts, or otherwise, is a most unpretentious frame structure
at Butler Center, 26x36 feet in size, and two stories in height. The upper story, which is reached by an
outside wooden stairway, is by courtesy called a court-room; the lower story, divided into three
apartments of the most inferior character for such uses, are occupied as county offices. This structure,
erected in 1860 at a cost of $2,000, was donated to the county, together with about two acres of land
appappurtenant thereto, by Mr. Andrew Mullarkey, of Cedar Falls, since deceased, who owned a large
amount of land in the vicinity, and who was greatly instrumental in securing the removal of the county
seat from Clarksville.

The first term of the District Court convened at Clarksville, October 5th, 1857. The Honorable James
D. Thompson, Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial District, presided. Walker H. Bishop, sheriff, and
James E. Walker, clerk, were the officers in attendance. The grand jurors named in the venire returned
by the sheriff, were William Holsington, James Woods, D. W. Miller, John T. Newhard, John Braden,
L. D. Owens, G. S. Root, John Palmer, James Bywaber, James McKinney, John Boggs, L. A. Orris,
Judd Bradley and Peter Riley. The panel not being full A. J. Lewellen, a talisman, was added. D. W.
Miller, at his request, was excused, and his place supplied by M. B. Wamsley, a talisman. John T.
Newhard was appointed foreman. J. M. Vincent was sworn as bailiff. The following were the petit
jurors regularly summoned at the same term: P. Landis, Christian Forney, John M. Hart, Benjamin
Eikenberry, Charles Ensign, Aaron Hardman, George Harlan, Samuel McCreery, and John Lash.
Benjamin Eikenberry was excused by the court. The panel not being full, the following talisman were
added: James Blake, Aaron Van Dorn, J. H. Smith, William Burress, Charles Lasted, Alexander
Glenn, and Jacob Shapper. Aaron Van Dorn was appointed foreman, and G. W. Stow was sworn as
bailiff. On motion of M. M. Trumbull, Messrs. James R. Fletcher and Charles A. Bannon, both
members of the Pennsylvania bar, were admitted to practice as attorneys of the court. The first case
called for trial was that of "The State of Iowa vs. William Casterline." The defendant was charged
with threatening to assault and do bodily harm to one Rufus L. Hardy, and was under bonds. The
prosecuting attorney declined further to prosecute the charge, and the defendant was awarded eighty-
five cents costs. The first two appeal cases coming up to be heard were those of "The State of Iowa vs.
William R. Jamison, " and an appeal from the docket of J. H. Smith, J. P., and the other an appeal
from the docket of J. M. Vincent, J. P. The judgment of the court below was reversed in both cases at
the plaintiff's costs. Committees, each consisting of three attorneys, were appointed by the court to
examine and report upon qualifications of Messrs. John Palmer, Orson Rice, and George A. Richmond
to be admitted to practice as attorneys. They were all favorably reported upon and admitted on the
second day of the term. Mr. William R. Jamison was afterwards similarly admitted, at the same term.
The grand jury, on the third day of the term, returned into court "a true bill" against Thadens Bird for
bigamy. At the June term, in 1868, the indictment was quashed and the defendant discharged.

The first term of the Circuit Court for Butler County convened at Butler Center, February 22, 1869.
Hon. George W. Ruddick was the presiding judge. The officers present were L. L. Smith, sheriff, and
James W. Davis, clerk. "Theron Landon vs. T. B. Hanna," an attachment case, the second case on the
calendar, was the first case called. It was settled by the parties, the plaintiff withdrawing the suit and
paying the costs. W. R. Jamison appeared as attorney for the plaintiff. The following petit jurors were
empanneled for the term: E. H. Gilloghy, Charles Hitchcock, E. Town, John Kimmons, David Soash,
Sr., E. D. Marquand, Charles Bates, H. Billhimer, W. Foster, C. V. Surface, N. F. Manley, George A.
Burnett, J. L. Kemmerer, S. M. Townsend, and John A. Smith.

The first case ever prosecuted in the County Court was entitled "Solomon W. Ingham vs. Daniel D.
Meyer." It arose upon an injunction issued by Judge Palmer to restrain the sale of land. The first
official service of the first sheriff -- Sheriff Crowell -- was performed in this case.

Butler County Courthouse

The first county seat was located in Clarksville, but it soon relocated to Allison. The Allison Town Company gave $7,000 in cash for the erection of a new courthouse. A 50 by 55 foot wood and brick building was completed in 1881. An addition was built 22 years later for $5,000. This building was torn down, but the silver-colored cupola was saved and used to crown a small building on the courthouse grounds. This small building was titled the "Butler County Hall of Fame".

In October of 1975, a modern courthouse was completed for approximately $940,000. It is located at the end of Main Street, just below the site of the 1881 courthouse.

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