SPEED was born Aug. 7, 1837, in Springfield. He graduated at the Lutheran University in Springfield, in 1854, studied law, and was admitted to practice in 1860. When the rebellion came upon the country in 1861, Speed Butler was selected by the Governor of Illinois to carry a dispatch to Washington City, asking for an order to remove the United States arms from the Arsenal at St. Louis to Alton, Ill. Railroad and telegraphic communication to the Capital was cut off, but he managed to make his way through, obtained the order, and returned in safety.
The arms were removed just in time to keep them from falling into the hands of the rebels. Soon after completing that service he was appointed Commissary, with the rank of Captain, but was at once assigned to duty on Gen. Pope's staff, and was with that officer during his campaign in North Missouri, at Island No. 10. In Sept., 1861, he was appointed Major of the 5th Ill. Cav. For gallantry on the battle-field at Farmington, Miss., in June, 1862, he was promoted to Colonel in the regular army; but still, by permission from Gen. Wool, he remained on duty with Gen. Pope. He shared the fortunes of that officer during the Virginia campaign, as also in Minnesota against the Indians. He served until the close of the rebellion, in 1865.
Col. Speed Butler was married May 26, 1864, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Jeannie McKenzie Arnold, who was born Sept. 4, 1845; in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. They have three children, ANNIE L., ELIZABETH and ARNOLD W. and live near Springfield, on the southwest.
Very general surprise was caused throughout the city, Wednesday evening, by the announcement that Col. Speed Butler was dead. The event took place at his home just southwest of the city, at 6 o'clock Wednesday evening, April 8, as the result of an attack of inflammation of the bowels, from which he had been suffering some days. Col. Butler was a son of the late Hon. Wm. Butler, who was State Treasurer for over three years, from 1859 to 1863. He was born in Springfield Aug. 7, 1837, and graduated at the University near this city in the year 1854. Afterwards he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1860. At the commencement of the rebellion, in 1861, young Butler, who was then less than twenty-four years of age, was selected by Gov. Yates to perform the duty of carrying a dispatch to Washington City, informing President Lincoln of the condition of affairs at St. Louis and requesting an order for the removal of the arms stored in the Arsenal there to Alton, in this State. The trust was one of great delicacy and responsibility, requiring both care and discretion in its performance and communication with the National Capital, both by railroad and by telegraph, having been cut off. He managed to reach the Capital, however, obtained the order and returned to Springfield. As the result of the order, the arms were removed just in time to prevent them being captured by the rebels.
Soon after the performance of his service he was appointed a Commissary of Subsistence with the rank of Captain, and was assigned to duty on the staff of Gen. John Pope, with whom he participated in the campaign in Missouri, and also that which resulted in the capture of Island No. 10, belowe Cairo. He had, in September, 1861, been appointed Major of the Fifth Illinois Cavalry, and in June, 1862, for gallantry displayed on the battlefield at Garmington, Miss., he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the regular army, though he allowed by permission of Gen. Wool, to remain upon the staff of Gen. Pope, with whom he continued to serve to the close of the war, participating in the campaign of that officer in Virginia, and also against the Indians in Minnesota.
During his stay in Minnesota, Col. Butler beme acquainted with Miss Jeannie McKenzie Arnold, to whom he was married May 26, 1864, at Milwaukee, Wis., and the year following retired from the army. A brother and a sister-Henry Wirt and Miss Salome E. Butler-survive him, besides his wife and three children-a son and two daughters. During the last few years, Col. Butler has resided on his farm adjoining the city limits on the southwest, where he has carried on the business of mining coal and manufacturing tiling. He was an earnest Republican and was often a delegate to County and State Conventions, though we believe he was never a candidate for civil office. Personally, he was genial and public-spirited, and his loss will be deplored alike by the community in which had lived through his whole life, and by his bereaved family, who have the sympathy of the entire community. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 4-9-1885
The arms were removed just in time to keep them from falling into the hands of the rebels. Soon after completing that service he was appointed Commissary, with the rank of Captain, but was at once assigned to duty on Gen. Pope's staff, and was with that officer during his campaign in North Missouri, at Island No. 10. In Sept., 1861, he was appointed Major of the 5th Ill. Cav. For gallantry on the battle-field at Farmington, Miss., in June, 1862, he was promoted to Colonel in the regular army; but still, by permission from Gen. Wool, he remained on duty with Gen. Pope. He shared the fortunes of that officer during the Virginia campaign, as also in Minnesota against the Indians. He served until the close of the rebellion, in 1865.
Col. Speed Butler was married May 26, 1864, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Jeannie McKenzie Arnold, who was born Sept. 4, 1845; in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. They have three children, ANNIE L., ELIZABETH and ARNOLD W. and live near Springfield, on the southwest.
Very general surprise was caused throughout the city, Wednesday evening, by the announcement that Col. Speed Butler was dead. The event took place at his home just southwest of the city, at 6 o'clock Wednesday evening, April 8, as the result of an attack of inflammation of the bowels, from which he had been suffering some days. Col. Butler was a son of the late Hon. Wm. Butler, who was State Treasurer for over three years, from 1859 to 1863. He was born in Springfield Aug. 7, 1837, and graduated at the University near this city in the year 1854. Afterwards he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1860. At the commencement of the rebellion, in 1861, young Butler, who was then less than twenty-four years of age, was selected by Gov. Yates to perform the duty of carrying a dispatch to Washington City, informing President Lincoln of the condition of affairs at St. Louis and requesting an order for the removal of the arms stored in the Arsenal there to Alton, in this State. The trust was one of great delicacy and responsibility, requiring both care and discretion in its performance and communication with the National Capital, both by railroad and by telegraph, having been cut off. He managed to reach the Capital, however, obtained the order and returned to Springfield. As the result of the order, the arms were removed just in time to prevent them being captured by the rebels.
Soon after the performance of his service he was appointed a Commissary of Subsistence with the rank of Captain, and was assigned to duty on the staff of Gen. John Pope, with whom he participated in the campaign in Missouri, and also that which resulted in the capture of Island No. 10, belowe Cairo. He had, in September, 1861, been appointed Major of the Fifth Illinois Cavalry, and in June, 1862, for gallantry displayed on the battlefield at Garmington, Miss., he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the regular army, though he allowed by permission of Gen. Wool, to remain upon the staff of Gen. Pope, with whom he continued to serve to the close of the war, participating in the campaign of that officer in Virginia, and also against the Indians in Minnesota.
During his stay in Minnesota, Col. Butler beme acquainted with Miss Jeannie McKenzie Arnold, to whom he was married May 26, 1864, at Milwaukee, Wis., and the year following retired from the army. A brother and a sister-Henry Wirt and Miss Salome E. Butler-survive him, besides his wife and three children-a son and two daughters. During the last few years, Col. Butler has resided on his farm adjoining the city limits on the southwest, where he has carried on the business of mining coal and manufacturing tiling. He was an earnest Republican and was often a delegate to County and State Conventions, though we believe he was never a candidate for civil office. Personally, he was genial and public-spirited, and his loss will be deplored alike by the community in which had lived through his whole life, and by his bereaved family, who have the sympathy of the entire community. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 4-9-1885
SPEED was born Aug. 7, 1837, in Springfield. He graduated at the Lutheran University in Springfield, in 1854, studied law, and was admitted to practice in 1860. When the rebellion came upon the country in 1861, Speed Butler was selected by the Governor of Illinois to carry a dispatch to Washington City, asking for an order to remove the United States arms from the Arsenal at St. Louis to Alton, Ill. Railroad and telegraphic communication to the Capital was cut off, but he managed to make his way through, obtained the order, and returned in safety.
The arms were removed just in time to keep them from falling into the hands of the rebels. Soon after completing that service he was appointed Commissary, with the rank of Captain, but was at once assigned to duty on Gen. Pope's staff, and was with that officer during his campaign in North Missouri, at Island No. 10. In Sept., 1861, he was appointed Major of the 5th Ill. Cav. For gallantry on the battle-field at Farmington, Miss., in June, 1862, he was promoted to Colonel in the regular army; but still, by permission from Gen. Wool, he remained on duty with Gen. Pope. He shared the fortunes of that officer during the Virginia campaign, as also in Minnesota against the Indians. He served until the close of the rebellion, in 1865.
Col. Speed Butler was married May 26, 1864, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Jeannie McKenzie Arnold, who was born Sept. 4, 1845; in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. They have three children, ANNIE L., ELIZABETH and ARNOLD W. and live near Springfield, on the southwest.
Very general surprise was caused throughout the city, Wednesday evening, by the announcement that Col. Speed Butler was dead. The event took place at his home just southwest of the city, at 6 o'clock Wednesday evening, April 8, as the result of an attack of inflammation of the bowels, from which he had been suffering some days. Col. Butler was a son of the late Hon. Wm. Butler, who was State Treasurer for over three years, from 1859 to 1863. He was born in Springfield Aug. 7, 1837, and graduated at the University near this city in the year 1854. Afterwards he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1860. At the commencement of the rebellion, in 1861, young Butler, who was then less than twenty-four years of age, was selected by Gov. Yates to perform the duty of carrying a dispatch to Washington City, informing President Lincoln of the condition of affairs at St. Louis and requesting an order for the removal of the arms stored in the Arsenal there to Alton, in this State. The trust was one of great delicacy and responsibility, requiring both care and discretion in its performance and communication with the National Capital, both by railroad and by telegraph, having been cut off. He managed to reach the Capital, however, obtained the order and returned to Springfield. As the result of the order, the arms were removed just in time to prevent them being captured by the rebels.
Soon after the performance of his service he was appointed a Commissary of Subsistence with the rank of Captain, and was assigned to duty on the staff of Gen. John Pope, with whom he participated in the campaign in Missouri, and also that which resulted in the capture of Island No. 10, belowe Cairo. He had, in September, 1861, been appointed Major of the Fifth Illinois Cavalry, and in June, 1862, for gallantry displayed on the battlefield at Garmington, Miss., he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the regular army, though he allowed by permission of Gen. Wool, to remain upon the staff of Gen. Pope, with whom he continued to serve to the close of the war, participating in the campaign of that officer in Virginia, and also against the Indians in Minnesota.
During his stay in Minnesota, Col. Butler beme acquainted with Miss Jeannie McKenzie Arnold, to whom he was married May 26, 1864, at Milwaukee, Wis., and the year following retired from the army. A brother and a sister-Henry Wirt and Miss Salome E. Butler-survive him, besides his wife and three children-a son and two daughters. During the last few years, Col. Butler has resided on his farm adjoining the city limits on the southwest, where he has carried on the business of mining coal and manufacturing tiling. He was an earnest Republican and was often a delegate to County and State Conventions, though we believe he was never a candidate for civil office. Personally, he was genial and public-spirited, and his loss will be deplored alike by the community in which had lived through his whole life, and by his bereaved family, who have the sympathy of the entire community. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 4-9-1885
The arms were removed just in time to keep them from falling into the hands of the rebels. Soon after completing that service he was appointed Commissary, with the rank of Captain, but was at once assigned to duty on Gen. Pope's staff, and was with that officer during his campaign in North Missouri, at Island No. 10. In Sept., 1861, he was appointed Major of the 5th Ill. Cav. For gallantry on the battle-field at Farmington, Miss., in June, 1862, he was promoted to Colonel in the regular army; but still, by permission from Gen. Wool, he remained on duty with Gen. Pope. He shared the fortunes of that officer during the Virginia campaign, as also in Minnesota against the Indians. He served until the close of the rebellion, in 1865.
Col. Speed Butler was married May 26, 1864, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Jeannie McKenzie Arnold, who was born Sept. 4, 1845; in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. They have three children, ANNIE L., ELIZABETH and ARNOLD W. and live near Springfield, on the southwest.
Very general surprise was caused throughout the city, Wednesday evening, by the announcement that Col. Speed Butler was dead. The event took place at his home just southwest of the city, at 6 o'clock Wednesday evening, April 8, as the result of an attack of inflammation of the bowels, from which he had been suffering some days. Col. Butler was a son of the late Hon. Wm. Butler, who was State Treasurer for over three years, from 1859 to 1863. He was born in Springfield Aug. 7, 1837, and graduated at the University near this city in the year 1854. Afterwards he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1860. At the commencement of the rebellion, in 1861, young Butler, who was then less than twenty-four years of age, was selected by Gov. Yates to perform the duty of carrying a dispatch to Washington City, informing President Lincoln of the condition of affairs at St. Louis and requesting an order for the removal of the arms stored in the Arsenal there to Alton, in this State. The trust was one of great delicacy and responsibility, requiring both care and discretion in its performance and communication with the National Capital, both by railroad and by telegraph, having been cut off. He managed to reach the Capital, however, obtained the order and returned to Springfield. As the result of the order, the arms were removed just in time to prevent them being captured by the rebels.
Soon after the performance of his service he was appointed a Commissary of Subsistence with the rank of Captain, and was assigned to duty on the staff of Gen. John Pope, with whom he participated in the campaign in Missouri, and also that which resulted in the capture of Island No. 10, belowe Cairo. He had, in September, 1861, been appointed Major of the Fifth Illinois Cavalry, and in June, 1862, for gallantry displayed on the battlefield at Garmington, Miss., he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the regular army, though he allowed by permission of Gen. Wool, to remain upon the staff of Gen. Pope, with whom he continued to serve to the close of the war, participating in the campaign of that officer in Virginia, and also against the Indians in Minnesota.
During his stay in Minnesota, Col. Butler beme acquainted with Miss Jeannie McKenzie Arnold, to whom he was married May 26, 1864, at Milwaukee, Wis., and the year following retired from the army. A brother and a sister-Henry Wirt and Miss Salome E. Butler-survive him, besides his wife and three children-a son and two daughters. During the last few years, Col. Butler has resided on his farm adjoining the city limits on the southwest, where he has carried on the business of mining coal and manufacturing tiling. He was an earnest Republican and was often a delegate to County and State Conventions, though we believe he was never a candidate for civil office. Personally, he was genial and public-spirited, and his loss will be deplored alike by the community in which had lived through his whole life, and by his bereaved family, who have the sympathy of the entire community. IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 4-9-1885
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