Windham

BUTTERFIELD, Ezra Turner & A. Augustine

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 52-54

Biography of Ezra Turner BUTTERFIELD - pp 52-53 (portrait p 53; father of A. 
A.)

Ezra Turner BUTTERFIELD, late of Jacksonville [Windham County, Vermont], was 
born 14 April 1815 in Dummerston [Windham County, Vermont], son of Deacon 
Zenas and Sally (TURNER) BUTTERFIELD. His education was obtained at the 
little red schoolhouse on the hill, the glory of Puritan New England, and at 
the age of twenty he removed to Wilmington [Windham County, Vermont], where 
he became one of the most progressive farmers. For a short time he was 
engaged in trade, but agriculture was the chief occupation of his life. For 
forty years justice of the peace, he was also assistant judge of the county 
court several years. In 1886 he received an appointment from the Department 
of Agriculture at Washington, which failing health compelled him to decline; 
was representative from Wilmington in the Legislature in 1857.

On 01 January 1835 Judge [Ezra Turner] BUTTERFIELD was wedded to [Miss] Mary 
[LEONARD], daughter of Rev. Abner and Chloe (BUCKLIN) LEONARD, and by her had 
[five children]: Mary Angelia, Sarah Amelia, Oscar E., A. Augustine, and 
Lucius Alonzo. In the old "June Training' days Judge BUTTERFIELD was captain 
of the first company Twenty-seventh Regiment Vermont Militia. In his early 
youth he became a member of the Free Will Baptist church in Dummerston and 
was church clerk at the age of nineteen, and later in Whitingham, and was the 
last clerk of the Whitingham society, but after this denomination had quitted 
their field of labor in the vicinity he attended the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, liberally contributing to its support and laboring for many years in 
the Bible class. He was a man of pleasant address and much given to 
anecdote. He [Ezra Turner BUTTERFIELD] died 01 May 1887.



Biography of A. Augustine BUTTERFIELD - pp 53-54 (portrait p 53; son of Ezra 
T.)

A. Augustine BUTTERFIELD, of Jacksonville [Windham County, Vermont], was born 
25 June 1844 in Wilmington [Windham County, Vermont], son of Ezra Turner and 
Mary (LEONARD) BUTTERFIELD. Educated in the common and high school of 
Wilmington and by private tutors, he read law with the late Charles N. 
DAVENPORT and Hon. Abisha STODDARD, and was admitted to the bar 30 April 
1867. In 1868 he removed to the village of Jacksonvile, where he has since 
resided and practiced law, excepting one year in Massachusetts. 
Mr.BUTTERFIELD has always taken a deep interest in educational matters and 
has held all the district, town, and county offices connected with this 
department. He has also devoted much attention to insurance and for some 
years has been a director in the Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of 
Montpelier [Washington County, Vermont], has been a master in chancery 
twenty-two years, and twenty years justice of the peace. As a Republican, he 
represented the town in 1880-1882, and was the originator of the bill taxing 
telephone and telegraph companies, which was the father of the present 
corporation tax law of Vermont. He was also state's attorney 1882-1884, and 
senator 1888-1890.

On 02 October 1869 he [A. Augustine BUTTERFIELD] married Marcia Sophia, 
daughter of Rufus and Elizabeth (WINN) EDWARDS BROWN, by whom he has had two 
sons and six daughters, two of whom are deceased. [Submitter has assumed 
"EDWARDS" is a previous surname of Elizabeth BROWN nee WINN.] Made a Mason 
at the age of twenty-two, he [A. Augustine BUTTERFIELD] has been several 
times Master of his lodge, was twice district deputy Grand Master, and is now 
chairman of an important committee in the Grand Lodge of Vermont. He is 
deeply interested in genealogy and is preparing a history of the BUTTERFIELD 
family.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly