Henry Buttron & Family.

Picture publish date 1916.

No order of names given.

Push to enlarge.

 

The life story of Henry Buttron, late of Lancaster township. Atchison county, Kansas, reveals the accomplishments of a poor German emigrant, who began his career in Kansas with no money, and rose to become the practical leader of the German colon)- in the township, and to amass considerable wealth. His large farm of 960 acres which he owned at the time of his demise was left intact, to be held in trust for his children and heirs.

Henry Buttron was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, October 12, 1831, and he was one of the five sons of Jacob and Margaret (Zimmer) Buttron, two of whom came to America from their native land. Two brothers of the family, Frederick and Henry, came to America in 1852; Frederick settled in Pittsburgh, as did Henry, and he resided there until 1854, and then came to the west. In his native land. Henry Buttron had learned the trade of blacksmith ; he worked at his trade in Pittsburgh. and after he came west, he was employed as a smith at Elgin, Ill., until 1857. He then came to Kansas and preempted a claim on section 22, Lancaster township, Atchison county.

He brought a small amount of money with him, and was enabled to build a very small house, and then began to improve his farm. The crops failed in i860, and he found it necessary to resort to the hammer and anvil in order to gain a livelihood for himself and his family. He, accordingly, removed to Atchison and was employed at his trade by Tom Ray, of the firm of Ostertag & Carmichael, and Anthony & Ostertag, consecutively for nine years.

He then returned to his claim, redeemed the unpaid taxes, and entered upon a new era of progress and industry which led to his great success in the ensuing years. In 1882 he erected a large, handsome farm house, which at the time was one of the most conspicuous homes in the county. He added to his possessions as he was able, and accumulated a total of six quarter sections of good land, of 960 acres in all, all of which he left to his widow, who resides on the old home place.

Henry Buttron was married in Atchison, Kan., in 1866, to Rosa Scheu, whose father, Andrew Scheu. came from Wittenberg. Germany. The following children were born to this union: Rosa, wife of Louis Gerhardt, of Atchison: Emma, wife of Charles Kammer, of Lancaster township: Kate and Jacob, at home; Henry, who married Bertha Kemmer: Fred. married Louise Meek, lives near Nortonville. Kan. : Anna, wife of George Schulz, Lancaster township: Karl, married Anna Hegland, Lancaster township: William, George and Louis, at home. The mother of these children was born in Germany, in May, 1845, and came to America with her parents when nine years of age. She was a daughter of Andrew and Rosena ( Baner ) Sclieu, both deceased.

Mrs. Buttron has grandchildren as follows: Kathrine. Rosa and Henrietta Kamnier ; Henry Buttron's children, three, Clarence, Esther and Ruth: Fred Buttron has three children, Karl, Ralph, Mildred; Mrs. Anna Schulz has two children, Gilbert and Karl : Mrs. Rosa Gerhardt has one son, William ; Karl Buttron has one child, Edward; Jacob Buttron has four children, Bertha. Emma, Alice and John.

Henry Buttron died February 8, 1913. During the Civil war he was a member of the Kansas State militia, and was in the engagement fought at Westport, and which resulted in the rout of the forces of the rebel general. Price. Mr. Buttron always took a keen interest in local and county affairs, and took a prominent part in affairs of importance to the well being of the people. He was always modest and unostentatious in his conduct, and was greatly respected by the people of his neighborhood for his cool judgment and patriotism at all times. Henry Buttron was a good citizen, and a kind parent who was highly esteemed by all who knew him.