1818 - 1890

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• Birth	25 May 1818	Berkshire Co.,Massachusetts
  Gender	Male
  Died	Aft 1889
  Person ID	I123166	Brainard (Brainerd) / Foster / Fish
  Last Modified	05 Oct 2005 00:00:00
  Family	Lucy W. GREENE, b. Abt 1820, Madison Co.,New York
  Married	3 Sep 1841	Allegany Co.,New York
  Children	> 1. Lucy BUTEN   2. Alpheus BUTEN   3. DeForest BUTEN   4. Addis BUTEN   5. Helen BUTEN   6. Adelbert BUTEN   7. Arthur BUTEN
  Family ID	F48387	Group Sheet

• Notes

  1 NOTE "The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis.",1889, p 696,697. EZRA G. BUTEN, a farmer residing on section 8, in the town ofMilton, is numbered among the honored pioneers of Rock County.But few have longer been residents of the community, and nonehave been more prominently identified with the history of MiltonTownship. The 25th day of July, 1842, witnessed his arrival,and since that time he has been an active participant in therapid growth andprogress which have since been made. Mr. BUTENis a native of the old Bay State, having been born in BerkshireCounty on the 25th day of May, 1818, and is a son of Emmanueland Betsey (CROCKER) BUTEN, who were also born in Massachusetts.They were reared, married and died in their native State, themother having departed this life in 1832, the father in 1844, atthe age of sixty-three years. Untothem was born a large familyof children, only three of whom are now living - George W. andWilliam, who are engaged farming in Dane County, Wis., and Ezra,ofthis sketch. Those who are deceased are Horace, Almira,Frederick, Orrin, and Dorothy. Our subject was reared to the occupation of farming, andreceived such educational advantages as were afforded by theschools of his native State atthat early day. He beganbusiness as a farm hand, working for various persons in hisnative State until 1842, when he emigrated to the West.Previous to that time, on the 3d day of September, 1841, he wasjoined in wedlock with Miss Lucy W.GREEN, their marriage beingcelebrated in Allegany County, N.Y. The lady was born inMadison County, of that State, and is a daughter of Alpheus M.and Abbie (WELLS) GREEN, who were natives of Rhode Island. In1844 her parents came to Rock County, and for some years residedin Milton, but subsequently removed to Albion, where they passedthe remainder of their days. Both were members of the SeventhDay Baptist Church. In the spring of 1842, with his young bride, Mr. BUTEN came tothis county and made his first location in the town of Milton,purchasing a small farm on section 18. Life on the frontier wasthere begun, but afterfour years he sold out and bought anotherfarm in the same township, which he continued to make his homeuntil November, 1888, when he became the owner of hispresentfarm on section 8. As the days passed by, Mr. and Mrs. BUTENsaw their possessions increase, until they are now numberedamong the well-to-do citizens of the community. Their home wasblessed with the presence of nine children, whomade the pioneercabin echo with their shouts and merry laughter. They were allborn in this county, were here reared to maturity, and laterleft the parentalroof for homes of their own. Lucy, thefirstborn, is now the wife of Berry KEATH, of Milton, and tothem have been born three children - Eldredge, George and Lucy;Alpheus, the second child, is now deceased; DeForrest is acontractor and builder; Addis, who wedded Mary BOWERS, is arailroad employe, and resides in Milwaukee; Helen, widow of A.B. CLARK, resides in Chicago, Ill.; Adelbert is stillwith hisparents; and Arthur is now deceased. This family has beenidentified with the best interests of Rock County for the longperiod of forty-seven years, and in their hospitable homefriends and neighbors are always sure of a hearty welcome. The upright lives of Mr. and Mrs. BUTEN have won for them theentire confidence and respect of the people of the community,and they are numbered among the valued citizens. Many changeshave taken place since their arrival in thecounty, and theyhave borne no inconsiderable part in the noble work of progressand advancement. Janesville, now a populous and thriving city,then containedbut one store, behind the counter of which ThomasLAPPIN dealt out groceries, measure off dry-goods, sold shoes,and otherwise administered to the wants of hiscustomers. When acabin was to be erected, the entire neighborhood would assembleand assist the newcomer in making a. The people