William Butler (judge) explained

William Butler
Office:Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Term Start:February 19, 1879
Term End:January 31, 1899
Appointer:Rutherford B. Hayes
Predecessor:John Cadwalader
Successor:John Bayard McPherson
Birth Name:William Butler
Birth Date:2 December 1822
Birth Place:Upper Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death Place:Chester County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting Place:Oaklands Cemetery
Education:read law

William Butler (December 2, 1822 – November 2, 1909) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Education and career

William Butler was born on December 2, 1822, in Upper Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania. He read law and was admitted to the bar on December 14, 1845. He was in private practice in West Chester, Pennsylvania and was district attorney of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from 1856 to 1859. He was presiding judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Harrisburg from October 8, 1861, to his resignation on February 17, 1879, whereupon he was succeeded by West Chester attorney and historian J. Smith Futhey.[1]

Federal judicial service

On February 12, 1879, Butler was nominated by President Rutherford B. Hayes to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by Judge John Cadwalader. Butler was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 19, 1879, and received his commission the same day. Butler served in that capacity until his retirement from the bench on January 31, 1899.

Death

His son William Butler Jr. was also a judge.[1]

Butler died on November 2, 1909, in Chester County. He was interred at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester.[2]

His younger brother was Samuel Butler, who served as a Pennsylvania state representative and state treasurer.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Book: West Chester, Past and Present; Centennial Souvenir . 1899 . Daily Local News . 98 . . 2023-11-27.
  2. News: February 2, 1891 . Samuel Butler Dead - The Ex-State Treasurer Passes Away After Much Suffering . 1 . Pittsburgh Dispatch . November 14, 2022.
  3. Web site: Kestenbaum . Lawrence . Darlington-Butler family of West Chester, Pennsylvania . www.politicalgraveyard.com . The Political Graveyard . November 14, 2022.