First
Generation: James Butler
(b. 1826 Ireland – d. 1881 Green Island, NY) m. Rosanna Lamb (b.
1827 Canada – d. 1901 Green Island).
They had 4 children:
James, Edward, Emily and Martha. James and Rosanna are buried
in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Troy.
From The Troy
Daily Times, Oct. 29, 1881, p. 3, col. 3:
A Singular
and Distressing Accident—The Death of James Butler
James Butler,
who was hurt at the Delaware and Hudson car shops, Green Island,
about 4 o’clock yesterday morning, died of his injuries at 7
o’clock this morning, at his residence in that village. As related
in the Times yesterday he was struck at the pit of the stomach
by a large poker. The poker or "hoe" is a heavy iron
rod about eight feet long, used in stirring a furnace fire.
Butler had been using the poker, and as it was heated so that
he could hold it only at one end he let the hot end rest on
a rail and pushing it before him started on a run to take the
poker to its place. The rod caught in the flooring, and Butler
came violently in collision with the end of it. He reeled and
called for help. An old gentleman named Snow, who was in the
shop, heard Butler’s cries, and helped him to the office, where
the wounded man seemed to revive a little, and he soon started
alone for home on foot. His house is near the Delaware and Hudson
freight house, at the lower end of Green Island, and a mile
from the car shops. He soon became exhausted, but tottered toward
home, and about 5 o’clock his wife heard someone at the front
gate and recognized his moaning as her husband’s voice. She
found him lying at the side of the gate unconscious. Dr. Steenbergh
was summoned and he at once decided that Butler’s liver was
dangerously lacerated. This morning Dr. Bontecou was called
in conjunction with Dr. Steenbergh, but the case was hopeless.
Butler died in terrible agony. Mrs. Butler was overcome by the
sad fate of her husband and suffered a severe attack of convulsions.
The deceased leaves two daughters, who lived with him, and a
son, James Butler, recently married. He was 55 years old.
Second
Generation: James Butler, a painter for the Delaware
& Hudson Railroad, Green Island, (b. 1852 Watervliet, d. 1921
Green Island) m. Mary Elizabeth (Libbie) Steinway (b. 1859 Troy,
NY, d. 1933 Green Island).
They were married
in St. Peter’s Church, Troy, on Oct. 18, 1881. They had 4 children:
James, Caroline, Harold and Charles. James and Mary are buried
in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Troy.
Third
Generation: James Butler
(b. 1882 & d. 1958, Green Island), an optician for 50 years
at Plumb Optometrists, Troy, m. Anna Driscoll (b. 1883 & d.
1953, Green Island). James served as Town Supervisor of Green
Island from 1937 to 1949 and Trustee of the Village of Green Island
for several years prior to that.
James and Anna
had one child, still living. They are buried in St. Agnes Cemetery,
Cohoes.
Researcher: Donna
Vaughn
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