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James N. BUTLER, farmer and lumberman,
Pine Grove, Ark. What is usually termed
genius has little to do with the success
of man in general. Keen perception sound
judgment and a determined will, supported
by persevering and continuous effort, are
essential elements to success in any calling.
Mr. BUTLER, was born in Mecklenburg County,
Va., in 1839, and was the eldest of four
children born to John W. and Eveline S.
(HUTCHINSON) BUTLER, only one besides our subject
now living, John W. The parents were natives
of Virginia, where they were reared and married
and where Mr. BUTLER's death occurred about
1845. Two years later the family removed to
Carroll County, Tenn., and January, 1850, they
came to Dallas County, settled in the woods,
and the children, all sons, improved a good
farm. The mother died August, 1867, and was
for many years a worthy member of the Methodist
Church. She was the daughter of Joseph HUTCHINSON, who
died in Virginia. James N. BUTLER was reared by his widowed
mother mostly in the wilds of Arkansas, received a good
education in the county schools, and later attending school
at Tulip, where he studied numerous higher branches. He
taught school for one year and was married in 1861, to
Miss Laura PRIDE, a native of Virginia, and the daughter
of William & Caroline
PRIDE, natives also of the Old
Dominion. They came with Mr. BUTLER’s people to Arkansas, and there
the father died in 1860. Both were members of the Methodist Church, and
the mother is still living. To the marriage of Mr. & Mrs.
BUTLER were born six children,
two sons and one daughter now
living, all married and residing
near where they were born. Since
1850 Mr. BUTLER has lived in
his present neighborhood, with
the exception of two years, when
he resided in Arkadelphia to
educate his children, and is
the owner of about 2,000 acres
in different tracts and several
hundred acres in Texas, with
about 500 acres under fence and
part cultivated. He is one of
the leading farmers of Dallas
County, and from 1865 to 1874
was engaged in merchandising
on the farm. He ran a good gin
for many years, and is now the
owner of two and also has a good
saw-mill. He established and
named Pine Grove post-office,
of which he was postmaster until
his removal to Arkadelphia. In
politics he is Democratic. Socially
he was a member of the Masonic
fraternity, demitted from Manchester
Lodge, No. 16, and now a member
of Russell Lodge. He and wife
have been members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church from childhood.