Excerpts from Memorial Addresses
Memorial Addresses - In Joint Session of Senate and House, Fourteenth Legislature of the State of Washington, 1915, pp. 55-58.
************************************************************
SENATOR WELLS SPOKE AS FOLLOWS:
Dr. Edward Everett Butler was a native son of the state of Washington. He was born on the 5th day of January, 1866, in what is now Walla Walla County. He received his early education in the public schools of Walla Walla, was graduated from Whitman College at the age of 18, and afterwards entered Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, from which latter institution he graduated in 1889.
Shortly after receiving his medical degree he came to Anacortes, having chosen that section of the state as the field for the practice of his profession. In 1891 he was married to Miss Catherine M. Benn, who with her group of seven surviving children, is residing in Anacortes. As a professional man Dr. Butler stood at the head of the profession in the city and community in which his lot was cast. Had his environments been that of a large city I believe he still would have ranked with the foremost.
In politics he was a Republican of the staunchest kind, having served several terms as Chairman of the Republican Central Committee of Skagit County, and again as a member of the Republican State Central Committee, which place he occupied at the time of his death. He served his city several terms as its councilman, and one term as its mayor. At the 1903 session of the Legislature he represented the Fifty-first District in the House.
I don’t believe the measure of a man’s worth is taken so much from the amount of property wealth he may have accumulated or the amount of power he may have had at his command during the brief span of his existence, as from those things he did in pouring happiness and good cheer into the cups of those upon whom fortune has looked less favorably or unto whom misfortune has come. I have known no man of a keener or deeper sense of sympathy than Dr. Butler. He would part with his last dollar to assist an unfortunate being. He was not of a sturdy physique, yet no day was too stormy or night too dark that a call from some unfortunate being, from whom he might expect no remuneration, did not receive a willing response. The good Dr. Butler did in strewing the flowers of love and sympathy upon the pathways of the needy and unfortunate will live in the hearts and memories of those who knew him as a benefiting and enduring monument. He was a thorough believer in the tenets of the several secret orders to which he belonged. The teachings of fraternity, benevolence, charity and brotherly love were so embedded in his nature it could be said of him, he was one who loved his fellow man.
I say these things of Dr. Butler, not because he was my friend, not because he has passed to the great beyond, and as it sometimes happens we think up good things to say, I speak only those things which are justified by the broad, sympathetic and loving character that was possessed by the deceased. The last three years of Dr. Butler’s life was spent in almost silent but intense grief over the loss of his eldest son, which by those who knew the doctor best, was regarded as the primal cause of his death, which occurred on the 8th day of March, 1913.
MR. ROBINSON SPOKE AS FOLLOWS:
The news of Dr. E. E. Butler’s death came as a ruthless shock to those who loved him for his kindly, cheerful nature and his gentleness and sympathy as a practitioner. He was 46 years nine months and three days of age at the time of his death; was born near the Idaho line in Walla Walla County. He was the son of one of the earliest settlers and leading citizens of the state.
Dr. Butler graduated from Whitman College and by thrift and hard work obtained the funds necessary to attend the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, recognized as one of the foremost of the country. On graduating he at once came West, finally locating at Anacortes, where he soon after married Miss Catherine M. Benn, December 19, 1889, who survives him. Dr. Butler was a great lover of children and was happy in being the father of a large family. Those who knew him intimately declare he never recovered from his grief over the death of his eldest son, Edward E. Butler, Jr.
Though he was a deep student and skilled in his profession, he took a deep interest in political affairs and in all movements for the betterment of his home community, of the helping of unfortunate humanity, giving his time and his money without any thought of recompense excepting the pleasure of doing a kindly act.
His cheerfulness, tenderness and broad sympathy for the afflicted has brought a ray of sunshine into many a home darkened with sickness and trouble.
In politics he was a Republican. In 1897 he filled the position of Mayor of Anacortes, Washington, in a capable manner, after serving as a member of the council. In 1903 he was elected to the State Legislature as a representative from Skagit County and was one of the most influential members of that body. Since then he has been Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee and has taken an active part in political affairs of the Northwest.
Dr. Butler was a man whose disposition was such as to make lasting friendships. He was always willing to impart any information he possessed that would, in his idea, lead to the benefit it was intended for, never for a moment failing to exercise such conservatism as such cases required, and many have profited by his judgment. He has passed the portals; from earth he came, to earth he has returned, but the memory of his good deeds will live on forever.
Images from Memorial Addresses:
<Cover> <Title Page> <In Memoriam> <List of Illustrations> <Portrait>
[P. 55] [P. 56] [P. 57] [P.58]
************************************************************
SENATOR WELLS SPOKE AS FOLLOWS:
Dr. Edward Everett Butler was a native son of the state of Washington. He was born on the 5th day of January, 1866, in what is now Walla Walla County. He received his early education in the public schools of Walla Walla, was graduated from Whitman College at the age of 18, and afterwards entered Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, from which latter institution he graduated in 1889.
Shortly after receiving his medical degree he came to Anacortes, having chosen that section of the state as the field for the practice of his profession. In 1891 he was married to Miss Catherine M. Benn, who with her group of seven surviving children, is residing in Anacortes. As a professional man Dr. Butler stood at the head of the profession in the city and community in which his lot was cast. Had his environments been that of a large city I believe he still would have ranked with the foremost.
In politics he was a Republican of the staunchest kind, having served several terms as Chairman of the Republican Central Committee of Skagit County, and again as a member of the Republican State Central Committee, which place he occupied at the time of his death. He served his city several terms as its councilman, and one term as its mayor. At the 1903 session of the Legislature he represented the Fifty-first District in the House.
I don’t believe the measure of a man’s worth is taken so much from the amount of property wealth he may have accumulated or the amount of power he may have had at his command during the brief span of his existence, as from those things he did in pouring happiness and good cheer into the cups of those upon whom fortune has looked less favorably or unto whom misfortune has come. I have known no man of a keener or deeper sense of sympathy than Dr. Butler. He would part with his last dollar to assist an unfortunate being. He was not of a sturdy physique, yet no day was too stormy or night too dark that a call from some unfortunate being, from whom he might expect no remuneration, did not receive a willing response. The good Dr. Butler did in strewing the flowers of love and sympathy upon the pathways of the needy and unfortunate will live in the hearts and memories of those who knew him as a benefiting and enduring monument. He was a thorough believer in the tenets of the several secret orders to which he belonged. The teachings of fraternity, benevolence, charity and brotherly love were so embedded in his nature it could be said of him, he was one who loved his fellow man.
I say these things of Dr. Butler, not because he was my friend, not because he has passed to the great beyond, and as it sometimes happens we think up good things to say, I speak only those things which are justified by the broad, sympathetic and loving character that was possessed by the deceased. The last three years of Dr. Butler’s life was spent in almost silent but intense grief over the loss of his eldest son, which by those who knew the doctor best, was regarded as the primal cause of his death, which occurred on the 8th day of March, 1913.
MR. ROBINSON SPOKE AS FOLLOWS:
The news of Dr. E. E. Butler’s death came as a ruthless shock to those who loved him for his kindly, cheerful nature and his gentleness and sympathy as a practitioner. He was 46 years nine months and three days of age at the time of his death; was born near the Idaho line in Walla Walla County. He was the son of one of the earliest settlers and leading citizens of the state.
Dr. Butler graduated from Whitman College and by thrift and hard work obtained the funds necessary to attend the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, recognized as one of the foremost of the country. On graduating he at once came West, finally locating at Anacortes, where he soon after married Miss Catherine M. Benn, December 19, 1889, who survives him. Dr. Butler was a great lover of children and was happy in being the father of a large family. Those who knew him intimately declare he never recovered from his grief over the death of his eldest son, Edward E. Butler, Jr.
Though he was a deep student and skilled in his profession, he took a deep interest in political affairs and in all movements for the betterment of his home community, of the helping of unfortunate humanity, giving his time and his money without any thought of recompense excepting the pleasure of doing a kindly act.
His cheerfulness, tenderness and broad sympathy for the afflicted has brought a ray of sunshine into many a home darkened with sickness and trouble.
In politics he was a Republican. In 1897 he filled the position of Mayor of Anacortes, Washington, in a capable manner, after serving as a member of the council. In 1903 he was elected to the State Legislature as a representative from Skagit County and was one of the most influential members of that body. Since then he has been Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee and has taken an active part in political affairs of the Northwest.
Dr. Butler was a man whose disposition was such as to make lasting friendships. He was always willing to impart any information he possessed that would, in his idea, lead to the benefit it was intended for, never for a moment failing to exercise such conservatism as such cases required, and many have profited by his judgment. He has passed the portals; from earth he came, to earth he has returned, but the memory of his good deeds will live on forever.
Images from Memorial Addresses:
<Cover> <Title Page> <In Memoriam> <List of Illustrations> <Portrait>
[P. 55] [P. 56] [P. 57] [P.58]
posted by Mikey | 10:07 AM
<< Home