Biography of John Butt, page 850.  History of De Kalb County, Indiana.  
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John Butt, Recorder of De Kalb County, Ind., was born in London, England, 
Sept. 22, 1816, a son of John and Elizabeth (Tranter) Butt.  He was reared 
and educated in his native country, and in November, 1840 was married to 
Delia Buss, also of London.  In 1841 they came to the United States and 
settled immediately in Jackson Township, De Kalb County, Ind., where he 
found employment as teacher in the public schools. In 1842 they moved to 
Auburn, and he was appointed Deputy by Recorder Samuel W. Sprott.  While 
acting in this capacity he also wrote in the Steuben County, Office for the 
Recorder Dr. James McConnell.  In 1844 he engaged in merchandising in 
Auburn, a business he followed till 1856, when he became proprietor of the 
Weaver Hotel that stood on the present site of the Swineford House.  In 
1865 he moved to Waterloo and was employed as bookkeeper for Jacob Kahn till 
1868, when he entered the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern 
Railroad as freight clerk at Waterloo, serving in this capacity till 1870. 
He then purchased the Butt’s Hotel, Waterloo, and again engaged in the 
hotel business till 1882, when he was elected Recorder of De Kalb County 
on the Democratic ticket.  Mr. Butt is the father of  Freemasonry in De 
Kalb County, and is also a prominent Odd Fellow. He has held the important 
offices in his lodge, chapter and commandery, and also in the subordinate 
lodge and encampment of Odd Fellowship.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com