Butler - Pleasant - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

The life of a prominent Franklin Township resident reached four score and 11 years and spanned throughout two centuries. On April Foll’s Day in 1816, the year our great state was admitted to the Union in Dinwiddie County, VA the Butler household had a “pleasant” surprise (no foolin’) and thus, Pleasant Butler was born!

91 years later, June 21, 1907, Dr. Peacock pronounced “Uncle Pleasant,” as everyone affectionately called him, dead of general debility.  However, when our young man was five, the Quaker Butlers travelled to the Milford Monthly Meeting in Wayne County, Indiana later coming to Darlington in 1834.  His parents were Lemuel and Jane Durham Butler.  He had four sisters: Mary, Jane, Tacy and Martha and four brothers: Thomas D, Joseph Fleming, Lemuel Jr and Mahlon, all growing up in a loving and pleasant atmosphere. The whole Butler family lived in the Gravelly Run area.  Pleasant lived there for 66 years. In 1900, due to failing health, he moved to 301 S. Franklin St, Darlington where Ramona Ainsworth now lives.  He owned a large farm in Sec 19 of Franklin Township.  His first wife, Margaret Ann died Nov 9, 1852 and was buried in the Quaker section of Greenlawn Cemetery.  In the Quaker Church, Pleasant was married Nov 16, two years later to Mary E. Cloud daughter of Joel and Hannah. She lies besides his first wife having died in her 53rd year May 7, 1871.  He later married Ruth Griest. His home was blessed by two daughters, Mrs. HS Johnson and Mrs. WR Lynch.  In 1881, he became one of the original stock holders of the Citizens National Bank which did business at 118 E. Main St, long after Pleasant’s banking career ended with his death.  Pleasant’s obituary (Crawfordsville Journal 24 June 1907 p 2) sums up his life “Uncle Pleasant was a man noble, courageous and progressive.  He was noted for his generosity, especially in the Friends Church of which he was a member.  He always carried with him a little token of love for children.  They hallowed his presence and cherished his name. The boys and girls admired him for his pleasing manner and interest he had in them. The young men sought his counsel and advice for he was able and willing to impart his worthy knowledge to others. Uncle Pleasant was the leading farmer in his community, a staunch Republican, an ideal man and exemplary citizen.”