Orleans

BUTTERFIELD, Franklin George & Frederick David

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 54-57

Biography of Frederick David BUTTERFIELD - p 54 (portrait p 54; brother of 
Franklin George)

Frederick David BUTTERFIELD, of Derby Line [Orleans County, Vermont], was 
born 14 May 1838 in Rockingham [Windham County, Vermont], son of David and 
Elmira Ward (RANDALL) BUTTERFIELD. He was educated at the common schools and 
the Saxton's River Academy. Choosing a practical business education rather 
than a college course, he at the early age of sixteen entered the hardware 
house of A. & J. H. Wentworth of Bellows Falls [Windham County, Vermont]. In 
1859 he removed to Derby Line and became connected with the house of Foster & 
Cobb.

At the breaking out of the Rebellion he gave up his business prospects and 
entered the Union army, enlisting as a private in Company B, Eighth Vermont 
Volunteers, and was successively promoted to second lieutenant, first 
lieutenant, and captain. The original term of service for the regiment 
expired 01 June 1864; Col. BUTTERFIELD however remained in service some time 
thereafter, but after his campaigns in Louisiana and Texas, he became to 
utterly broken in health that an immediate return to the North was the only 
means of saving his life. He accordingly resigned his commission 06 August 
1864. Early in 1862 he was detached from his regiment and appointed to a 
position in the signal corps, where he remained during the balance of his 
military service. In the capacity of a signal officer he was attached to the 
personal staff of General Godfrey WEITZEL, General BUTLER, General FRANKLIN, 
and General DANA. At the battle of Labadieville, Louisiana, while carrying 
an order under a terrific fire he had his horse shot from under him by a 
shell from the enemy, narrowly escaping instant death. For his gallantry on 
this occasion he was complimented in general orders. His services were 
highly appreciated in the signal corps.

In 1888 he was appointed an aid-de-camp with the rank of colonel on the staff 
of Gov. William P. DILLINGHAM. On his return from the army he engaged in 
business at Derby Line until 1866, when he was appointed deputy collector of 
customs for that port, which office he retained until 1872, when he resigned 
to engage in the manufacture of the Reece sewing machine. On account of the 
panic of 1873-1875, this business failed of success, and in 1879 he commenced 
the manufacture of taps and dies. Beginning with a small force of men, by 
careful and painstaking efforts, he gradually built up a large and important 
industry. The works are located at Derby Line, with a second complete plant 
at Rock Island, Province of Quebec. The firm is known as Butterfield & 
Company, and they manufacture taps and dies and tools for use by engineers 
and steam fitters. In 1888 his younger brother, Gen. F. G. BUTTERFIELD, 
became associated with him in business.

On 08 October 1868 at Stanstead, Province of Quebec, he [Frederick David 
BUTTERFIELD], married Ellen Jeannette MORRILL, daughter of Ozro and Charlotte 
Juliette (WAY) MORRILL, who died 05 July 1874, leaving two daughters: 
Charlotte and Ellen. Colonel BUTTERFIELD is a member of Golden Rule Lodge, 
Free & Accepted Masons, of Stanstead, Canada, a member of Golden Rule Royal 
Arch Chapter, at Sherbrooke, a member of Sussex Preceptory Knights Templar of 
Stanstead, of which he has been Eminent Commander; is a member of Baxter 
Post, Grand Army of the Republic at Newport, a charter member of the Vermont 
Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, U. S.; member of the 
Vermont Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and numerous other 
military and social organizations.

Biography of Franklin George BUTTERFIELD - pp 54-57 (brother of Frederick D.)

Franklin George BUTTERFIELD, of Derby Line [Orleans County, Vermont], was 
born 11 May 1842 in Rockingham [Windham County, Vermont], son of David and 
Elmira Ward (RANDALL) BUTTERFIELD. He attended the common schools and 
Saxtons River Academy, and entered Middlebury College in 1859. Entering the 
army in the fall of his junior year, he did not graduate with his class. 
After the war of the Rebellion, however, Middlebury College conferred on him 
the degree of Master of Arts.

On 04 October 1861 he [Franklin George BUTTERFIELD] enlisted at Middlebury 
[Addison County, Vermont] as a private in Company A, Sixth Vermont 
Volunteers. He was promoted successively to second lieutenant, first 
lieutenant, captain; on 21 October 1864 to lieutenant colonel, commanding the 
regiment, at the age of twenty-two years. Having been seriously wounded, he 
was obliged to relinquish his command and tendered his resignation. He 
served with his regiment, which was part of the "Old Vermont Brigade," in the 
Sixth Army Corps though its campaigns in Virginia with he Army of the 
Potomac, participating in all its battles up to 1865. He was first in battle 
at Lees Mills, 16 April 1862, where he distinguished himself by carrying off 
the field Capt. E. F. REYNOLDS of Rutland, who had been mortally wounded. 
Later in the Peninsular campaign, he was mentioned in general orders for 
conspicuous gallantry at the battle of Golding's Farm and also two days 
later at White Oak Swamp, both engagements being a part of the seven days of 
fighting.

During 1863, including the Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and Mine Run 
campaigns, he served as an aid-de-camp on the staff of Maj. Gen. Lewis A. 
GRANT, commanding the Vermont Bridgade. In May 1863 at Banks Ford he again 
attracted notice by his bearing under fire. The following year, at the 
battle of the Wilderness, though his command was literally cut to pieces, he 
brought off his surviving troops in good order, and was promptly engaged with 
the enemy in the advance at daylight the following morning. Throughout his 
service his conduct was such as to win the commendation of his superiors, 
and he was awarded a medal of honor from Congress "for gallantry at Salem 
Heights." The general commanding the army, in making the recommendation, 
said: "The record of Lieutenant Colonel BUTTERFIELD is an exceedingly 
brilliant one, his conduct on several separate occasions well merited a medal 
of honor, but the affair of 04 May 1863, is probably the one most worthy of 
such special recognition, since Colonel BUTTERFIELD not only displayed there 
his accustomed bravery, but also soldierly qualities of a high order." After 
the close of the war, the Legislature of Vermont in joint assembly 
unanimously elected him judge advocate general of the state, with the rank of 
brigadier general, as a recognition of his faithful service with his command 
and his gallant conduct in the field.

From 1865 to 1877 he was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Saxtons River 
[Windham County, Vermont]. In August 1877 he commanded a brigade of veterans 
at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the battle of Bennington. In 
that year he returned to his original intention, broken up by his army 
service, the study of law. In 1880 he was appointed by President HAYES 
supervisor of census, and had charge of the state of Vermont in the taking of 
tenth census; on completion of this work was selected by the President, the 
Secretary of the Interior, and Gen. Francis A. WALKER, superintendent of the 
tenth census, to take charge of the investigation of the alleged census 
frauds in the state of South Carolina. Leaving Vermont early in November he 
remained in South Carolina until 01 February 1881, when he returned to 
Washington and made his report. A previous investigation had been made 
which had proved unsatisfactory. General BUTTERFIELD's report settled this 
vexed question to the entire satisfaction of all parties. He was urged by 
General WALKER to remain in Washington to assist in completing the work of 
the tenth census, and consented. In 1882 he was transferred to the Bureau of 
Pensions, where he served through all the various grades and became a 
principal examiner in July 1884. In 1890 he was made chief of the special 
examination division, and during that year had 350 special agents in the 
field and an office force of upwards of 100. Finding the work much in 
arrears, he brought it up to date and in a period of three yeas had reduced 
the expenditure of that division in the handsome sum of $426,000. In 1888 he 
formed business connections in Vermont and in July 1892, after great 
reluctance on the part of the Secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of 
Pensions, his resignation was accepted, and he returned to Vermont to devote 
his entire time to private business. He is associated with this brother, 
Col. F. D. BUTTERFIELD, under the firm name of Butterfield & Company, in the 
manufacture of taps and dies and other thread cutting tools at Derby Line.

On 01 June 1866 he [Franklin George BUTTERFIELD] married Maria Smith FROST, 
only daughter of Benjamin and Phebe Ann (SMITH) FROST. They have two 
children: (1) Benjamin Frost, U. S. Consular Agent at Stanstead, Province 
of Quebec, born 25 April 1867; and (2) Esther Elmira, born 04 August 1871. 
General BUTTERFIELD is a charter member of Lodge of Temple, No. 94, Free & 
Accepted Masons of Bellows Falls; charter member of Abenaqui Royal Arch 
Chapter No. 19, of the same place, of which he has been High Priest; member 
of Hugh de Payn's Commandery Knights Templar of Keene, New Hampshire; member 
of E. H. Stoughton Post Grand Army of the Republic of Bellows Falls; has been 
a member of the Department and National staff; is a charter member of the 
Vermont Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U. S., 
having previously been one of the offices of the District of Columbia 
Commandery of Washington, D. C.; member of the District of Columbia Society 
of the Sons of the American Revolution, having served as vice president of 
the same, and for several years one of the board of managers and was a member 
of the National Congress of the order; was vice president of the Society of 
the Army of the Potomac in 1893, and is also connected with various other 
social and military societies.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly