|
a.
|
Note: All the following information was given to L. Lutz by Willie Butler, granddaughter of Emily Jo Ella Pruitt Butler. Her sources will be given at the end of each paragraph. "Whereas I am indebted to Long Brothers in the sum of $35. by promissory note dated January 26, 1892 and due the 15th of October 1892. Said note is also signed by John Butler, security. Now in order to secure the payment of said indebtedness I do hereby bargain, sell, convey unto Long Brothers the following described property to wit: my entire crop of cotton and corn planted in 1892. Also 1 bay mare 8 years old, also one white heifer 3 years old named Bloss". Witnessed by V. M. Sides and James L. Morris. Signed by R. W. Butler. (Source: Winston County, Alabama Mortgage Book 1 pg 105) Robert and Jodie had been married one year when this note was taken. They had already moved from the home they knew to a new place they would learn to call home. And, Robert and Jodie had already had their first child, Annie, by this time. This note was taken out to provide money to buy fertilizer and seed for the upcoming crop season. (Source: Willie Butler) Filed January 22, 1903 8 a.m. signed by R. L. Blanton, Judge of Probate: "The State of Alabama, Winston County, know all men by these presents: That for and in consideration of R. W. Butler and wife, E. J. Butler, indebtedness to W. R. Long, in the sum of eighty two dollars and 50 cents due by waiver note bearing date January 26, 1903, and payable October 15, 1903. Now to secure the punctual payment of said indebtedness R. W. Butler and wife, E. J. Butler the said W. R. Long do hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey to said, W. R. Long, the following property to wit: one mare colt (?) black age 10 years; one cow and calf, cow color white and red spotted age 9 years; calf color white, age 3 weeks. N 1/2 of SW 1/4 of Section 30, T10 R7W containing seventy eight, seventy/100 acres. Also SE 1/4 SW 1/4 of Section 30 and NE 1/4 of NW 1/4 of Section 31, TWR_____more or less. All that part NE 1/4 NW 1/4 lying east of Sipsey River. Also all that part of NE 1/4 of SW 1/4 lying west of Sipsey River, four acres more or less. Also NW 1/4_____1/4 Section 31 T.W. R7 or all that part lying north of main bluff, also my crop of corn and cotton and other produce that I may raise in 1903, warranted free from all encumbrance and against any adverse claims. Upon consideration, however, that if we pay said note to the said W. R. Long or his assigns, with interest this deed is void; but if we fail to pay said note in the whole or in part at maturity then W. R. Long his agents or assigns are authorized to take possession of said property etc., etc. (Source: Winston County, Alabama Mortgage Book 16 pg 214) Jodie was an excellent seamstress. Once when Lena was in school Jodie went to town with Flora and they shopped for material for Lena a new dress. She selected a pretty blue "linen". Then she drew a picture of what she wanted the dress to look like, an A-line with panels. She took a newspaper and cut the pattern to cut the dress by and made Lena a beautiful dress. (Flora Woodley Otwell, Neice) A letter from her sister-in-law Nellie Frances (Fannie) Collier Pruett written shortly after the death of Mary Vaughan Pruett - "June the 6 - Mrs. Jodie Butler. Dear Sister and family. It is with plesure for me to rite you a few lines. But sorry to rite that the Lord has visited your father's house and taken your dear mother. Jodie she departed from us all Wensday night at nine o'clock and forty minutes. Jodie you no she prayed to go easy all through her suffering. She did not strugle. Went as asy as if she were going to sleep. Jodie, She had not realized any thing sense last Sat. But when any of them ask her if she knew them she did. She told your Pa she knew him about sundown Wens. eve. Jodie your Pa is so pitiful I can't hardly stand to look at him. I have just come home from up there. Margret went home this morn - Ezzie went yesterday from the funerl. Jodie your mother sure was put away nice. Well I guess I had better close. From your sister Fanie. May God bless you in your trouble. We would called you but we did not know where to call to. Ezzie children wos there. May God bless you." Ma was the chief cook and vegetable gatherer. She never went to the field. She did all the carding of the ginned cotton, making long, thin strips of cotton to be used in quilts and making thread. (Degloais Alexander Usrey, Granddaughter 1989) Ma told me more than once about an experience she had as a child. A circus was traveling through the countryside where they lived. Young Jodie was sitting on a fence. An elephant swung his trunk and almost knocked her off the fence. She was quickly retrieved. I remember Ma saving everything, bits of string wrapped around pieces of paper. Every piece of material went into a quilt, no matter how small, every bit of bacon fat and soap bits were saved. She was an expert at blackberry picking, fast as a whiz with snatching the berries from the vine. She'd get out roaming around the place and find stolen hen's nests and she would gather her apron full and bring them to the house. Ma loved to dip snuff, sometimes Tube Rose but most likely Garrett Sweet Snuff and she would dip the tip of a tiny knife into the snuff and then ease it into her cheek. I own the knife she used for dipping snuff. In Winston County Ma dug star root and sold it. She kept snake root in a sort of flat ridgedy bottle about 6" or 7" tall. This snake root was put in whiskey to give babies for the colic. (Source: Willie Barton, Granddaughter 1989) TO CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARIES: Celebrating their golden wedding anniversary on Sunday are Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Butler, residents of Jasper, Ala. for the last 16 years. Open house will be held for friends of the couple Sunday afternoon. Their children are Davis Butler, Double Springs; John Butler, Florence; Miss Annie Butler, Mrs. Lena Kilgo, Mrs. Dovie Alexander, Mrs. Ophelia Cain, Wesley Butler and nelson Butler, all of Jasper. (Source: Mount Eagle 1/17/1941) FIRST TRAIN RIDE - Mrs. Robert Butler, 84, of Jasper took her first train ride last Tuesday, accompanied by her grandchildren, to Carbon Hill to visit her 82 year old brother, Dee Pruitt. Mrs. Butler commenting that she had rode ox wagons, horseback, buggies, cars and trains, said she planned to take an airplane ride next. She said she believed the children enjoyed the ride nearly as much as she. The grandchildren with her are Linda and Glenda Butler of Florence; Patricia, Charlotte, Martha Susan Butler and Linda Marie Barton and Bobby Cain all of Jasper. She is very devoted to church and never misses a service and attends singings several nights each month and has never been a patient in a hospital. She recommends "having a good time with grandchildren" to all. (Source: The Mountain Eagle 1955) 90 YEARS OLD TODAY - Although her birthday is today, Mrs. Jodie (Pruet) Butler celebrated last Sunday with her family at a dinner in her home on White House Road. Born in Cherokee County in 1874, Mrs. Butler was married to R. W. Butler, now deceased, in January of 1891. Eight of their eleven children are still living. They are; Miss Annie Butler, Mrs. Lena Kilgo, Mrs. Dovie Lawson, Mrs. Ophelia Rhodes, Wesley and Nelson Butler, all of Jasper; Davis Butler of Double Springs and John Butler of Florence. She has eight granddaughters, one grandson and seven great-grandchildren. (Source: Mt. Eagle) MRS. BUTLER, HERE A CENTURY - Today we salute a good Walker County lady, who achieves a new title. She is a centenarian. Mrs. Joda Butler was born on March 8, 1871, the family coming to Walker County from Winston County in 1925. She is the wife of the late R. W. Butler. To the Butlers were born 11 children, eight living. They are Miss Annie Butler, Mrs. Tasker (Lena) Kilgo, Mrs. Curtis (Dovie) Lawson, Mrs. Ophelia Cain, and Wesley and Nelson Butler, all of Jasper, Davis Butler, Double Springs and John Butler, Florence. They have given her 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Butler lived in her old home with two of her daughters until last May when it became necessary to take her to Ridgewood Manor Nursing Home. She is a non-complainer, according to her daughters, but sometimes asks wistfully "to go home". She is a member of the Pleasant Grove Primitive Baptist Church near Boldo. Mr. and Mrs. Jones, the Home's operators, are assisting the family in a quiet but happy celebration of Mrs. Butler's longevity today. (Source: Mount Eagle) MRS. BUTLER, 100, DIES - Mrs. Emily Joella Butler, spoken of with affection as Jody, and who only recently celebrated her 100th birthday at Ridgewood Manor Nursing Home, died at the Home last night. Funeral services will be Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. from Boldo Primitive Baptist Church, with interment in the Boldo cemetery. Kilgore Funeral Home is directing. Elder C. O. Woodley is the officiating clergy. Her body will lie in state from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the church. Mrs. Butler was a native of Cherokee County but had lived most of her life in Walker County between Jasper and Boldo. She was a life-long member of the Primitive Baptist Church. She is survived by 4 sons, David Butler, Double Springs; Wesley and Nelson Butler, Jasper; and John Butler, Florence; 4 daughters, Annie Butler, Lena Kilgo, Dovie Lawson and Ophelia Cain, all of Jasper. Nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren. (Source: Daily Mount Eagle)
|
