BUTTON, Abraham
Source: Jetmore Kansas Western Herald Thursday 17 March 1904
p 4
The following record of the life of Abraham Button was
written at his dictation, a few days before his death. In the year 1820 Mr. Jesse Button married
Miss Catherine Sanders in Kentucky and lived there until four children were born,
the third son being Abraham who was born on the second day of March 1824. His
father moved his family from Oldham, Kentucky to Fountain County, Indiana in
1831 residing there until 1838 when both parents died. Abraham then lived with his uncle and aunt
until he married Miss Eliza Stevens March 24, 1844. From this union 10 children were born, 8 of
whom are still living. He lived in that place until one child was born to them.
He then moved to Davis County, Iowa with wife and child. In the spring of 1850
he moved to Appanoose County, Iowa. About the first of Oct. 1850 he was
converted and using his own words that we find in his life’s record he says, “I
believe that I through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was made a
new Creature in Christ and that God for Christ’s sake pardoned my sins.” I then became a member of the Regular
Missionary Baptist Church. I have had
many ups and down in this unfriendly world yet the Lord spared me for purposes
best known to himself. I was yet living when in the year 1860 our nation had
gotten into political trouble which resulted in war. North against South, South
against North. I took the North or Union side. The nation was calling for men
to stand for Old Glory the Stars & Stripes that my grandfather helped hoist
as an emblem of Liberty. So I thought in order to keep Old Glory up and to
preserve the nation as our forefathers had given it to us, I should make it
manifest by enlisting. So I went leaving
my wife and six children. I served over
three years and have never regretted that I did go to help keep sacred that
principle that all men are born equal and have certain inalienable rights
towit: Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness… he enlisted on 20 Aug 1861
and was mustered out of service Sept 19, 1864. After returning home he remained
in Iowa until May 1886 when he moved to Hodgeman where he has resided until
March 6, 1904 when the Reaper Death released him from the sufferings of the
body in which the soul has dwelt for 80 years and 4 days. He leaves a wife and
8 children to mourn his loss. A short funeral service at the home conducted by
the writer, Rev. Romine assisting. The remains were then carried by a
delegation of old soldiers and entered in the family lot on the old homestead.
Our beloved brother, lived a noble life, the sole purpose seemed to be to
glorify God. He gave up this world’s goods that the cause might prosper. He was
a staunch republican and an honored citizen. He never upheld vain or idle show
and it was at his own request that the funeral service was very brief. All
honor to the noble ones who, forgetting self, have left a legacy that shall
endure the test of time and whose fruitage eternity alone shall reveal. We join
with his many friends in extending our sympathy to the beloved ones. … Chas. H.
Ruff