William B Butt

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Source: Report of the Proceedings of the Annual Bar Association of Georgia, 1905

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William Burlington Butt, was born in Marion County Georgia, March 14, 1840.  His parents were William Burlington Butt, formerly of Warren County Georgia and Elizabeth Butt (nee Campbell) of Louisville, GA. 

Judge Butt enlisted in the Confederate Army during the Civil War in 1861, Second Georgia Infantry Regiment (Buena Vista Guards).  Afterwards he enlisted in the Third Georgia Cavalry, in which he served until the end of the war.  He received a wound, fracturing his ankle, and at the time of surrender, he was home on furlough.  He was a color bearer in the cavalry company.

Judge Butt was elected to the legislature from Marion County, Georgia in 1869 to fill the unexpired term of W E Butt.  he was re-elected in 1870 and 1871.  He was elected the judge of County Court of Marion County in 1874 and served until the Court was abolished.  In 1880 he was elected State Senator from the 24th Senatorial District and served therein two years.  In 1884 and 1885 he represented Marion County in the Legislature.  He was again elected State Senator of the 24th Senatorial District in 1886, serving in the Senate for 2 years.

Judge Butt married Miss Annie Tillman of Columbus Georgia, September 1885.  He moved to Columbus from Buena Vista in November, 1889.  He was elected Judge of the Superior Courts of Chattahoochee Circuit by the General Assembly in Fall of 1892.  He was reelected by the same body for a term of four years in 1896.  He was re-elected by popular vote in 1900 for a term of 4 years, and then again re-elected in October 1904 for a term of four years.

Judge Butt was admitted to the bar in 1866, at Ellaville, GA.  He studied law in the law office of the late Mark Blanford, who was at the time was engaged in the practice of law at Buena Vista.  He was a law partner of Major E W Miller, deceased, at Buena Vista for a number of years.

Judge Butts health began to fail in the spring of 1904, and though suffering from Bright's disease. he continued to discharge his duties until last fall when he became to sick to preside on the bench.  As late as the fourth Monday in February of this year he convened Chattahoochee Superior Court and delivered a very strong charge to the grand jury.  On account of his physical condition, both the grand and traverse jurors  together with the lawyers and officers of the court, request that he adjourn court until the first Monday in May, with a hope that he may be stronger and be in a better position to discharge the trust imposed upon him.  Instead of getting better, however, he continued to grow worse, and on the 10th of March he had to succumb to the ravages of the dreadful disease he had been battling and go to bed.  He was never strong enough after that to leave his home, although he was able to sit up at times.  Death came April 1, 1905.  J H Merrill, Chairman.