Local Founder Profile: William Mill Butler
Posted by beachwoodhistoricalalliance on December 16, 2008
From the pages of his own 1924 Beachwood Directory and Who’s Who, here is what William Mill Butler wrote about himself. Click on all the embedded links for a broader understanding of his life and background:
William Mill Butler, New York Times, October 26 1895
Circa 1924.
Butler, William Mill, south side of Bayside Ave., near Harpoon St., Block D-13. All-year resident of Beachwood. Business address, 487 Broadway, New York City.
“Is a native of Rochester, N.Y., where he was for six years connected with the Daily Post-Express, resigning as editor-in-chief when that paper changed its political policy. He was also for several years editor and associate editor of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Later he became editor of the Home Magazine and, still later, chief of the foreign correspondence department of the Philadelphia Commercial Museum, which voted him a diploma for meritorious services in connection with the National Export Exposition in 1900. He was in the consular service for several years, and paid a visit to Paraguay and reported to the State Department at Washington an offer which he obtained from the Paraguayan government of a subsidy for a direct steamship line to that country, if the United States would give similar support. The Congress of Paraguay passed him a vote of thanks and $500 gold for his book on Paraguay. Among his other literary productions are, the Whist Reference Book, Democracy and Other Poems, and a comic opera, The Sea-Serpent, which was set to beautiful music by Clifford W. Walsh. During the war, his poem, Democracy, was set to music by twelve American composers, in a contest which was won by Carrie Jacobs Bond, author of “The Perfect Day.”
“For a number of years past he has been part owner of two trade journals. He is a life member of the New York Zoological Society; a member of the Polyhue Yacht Club of Beachwood, and a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner.” – American Journalist and Author Blue Book, Chicago.
Married to Helen J. Butler, daughter of Judson W. Perrine, one of the lineal descendants of the Huguenots who came to this country after the massacre in France. They have no children. Both have taken an active interest in Beachwood affairs, Mrs. Butler as a member of the Woman’s Club, for which she conducted the annual cake sale for four years with great success. She is also an associate member of the Polyhue Yacht Club and a member of the Property Owners’ Association. Mr. Butler was the first president of the Property Owners’ Association and served a second term. He was also the first president of the Beachwood board of education and the first chairman of the board of trustees of the Beachwood Religious Association; also the first chairman of the committee on the preservation of the pines, and of the recently appointed shade tree commission. Also a member of Beachwood’s first special police reserve, first fire organization, and Rod and Gun Club; charter member Polyhue Yacht Club; member Safety Committee, Automobile Club of New York.
During the war he addressed the House committee on military affairs at Washington, urging humane and sanitary care of the dead on the battlefields.
