Sacramento County
Biographies
GUY W. BUTLER
The
untiring perseverance and determined will characteristic of the English race
form noticeable attributes of the character of Mr. Butler, while his American
nativity is indicated by his resistless energy that knows no weariness. Success
to him has come solely through the exercise of his inherent qualities.
Extraneous circumstances have not contributed to his aid in the forward
struggle. Orphaned by the death of his father when he was quite young, forced
to make for himself every opportunity to advance, and handicapped by lack of
thorough educational advantages, he nevertheless rose out of obscurity into
prominence and out of poverty into prosperity. When therefore any mention is
made of the deserving citizens of Folsom his name stands foremost in the list.
Several
generations of the Butler family have made their homes in America.
Richard T. Butler, who was born at Liverpool, England,
in 1854, came across the ocean about 1861 in company with his parents and
settled in Iowa. During early
years he attended school and also learned the machinists
trade. In his chosen occupation he became unusually skillful. Few excelled him
in expertness with machinery and with tools. For a considerable
period he followed his trade at Marshalltown, Iowa,
where he married Miss Flora Fagg, a native of Iowa,
and where their son, Guy W., was born October 16, 1883. From Iowa
he removed to Albuquerque, N. Mex., where he died in 1889. Up to the time of
his demise and for a long period he had been engaged as
master mechanic for the Santa Fe Railroad. Through skilled workmanship he
gained a high reputation among other employes and
also with the officials of the road. After he had passed away his widow came to
California and settled in San
Francisco, where she continues to make her home.
The
various removals of the family and the death of the father, upon whom had rested the burden of the support of wife and
children, prevented Guy W. Butler from acquiring the education which he
desired, but habits of reading and observation partially have atoned for his
early deprivations. At the age of fourteen years he left school to earn his own
livelihood. In a very humble capacity he secured employment in a clothing store
in Sacramento. Chance indicated his
life occupation, but none could have been better adapted to his natural tastes
and unexpressed preferences. After he had worked for a long period in the
employ of others he began to desire a business of his own. That purpose brought
him to Folsom, where he arrived November 7, 1907, and where he has since
resided. By diligent application he has built up a clothing business that is
known for miles in every direction. The honorable business principles of the
proprietor have won the confidence of customers. It has been his aim to treat
every customer with such honesty and square dealing that they repay his efforts
by becoming regular patrons of the store. The demands of business keep him
closely occupied and leave no leisure for participation in politics, but he is
a liberal Republican and a well-informed man. Various fraternities have
received his allegiance and helpful co-operation, the leading organizations of
his association being the Eagles and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 870-871. Historic
Record Company, Los
Angeles,
CA. 1913.
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.