Butler, Charles, 1802-1897

Charles Butler was a New York lawyer whose activities included New York politics; anti-Masonry; western state bond issues and speculation; New York Life Insurance and Trust Company loans; canal, road and railroad construction; and philanthropy.

From the description of Charles Butler Papers, 1817-1908. (New York University, Group Batchload). WorldCat record id: 58788229

Entrepreneur, lawyer, and philanthropist.

From the description of Charles Butler papers, 1819-1929 (bulk 1825-1894). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70979858

New York capitalist and philanthropist who operated extensively in western lands.

From the description of Charles Butler papers, 1839-1840. (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 319057838

Biographical Note

• 1802, Jan. 15: Born, Kinderhook Landing, N.Y.
• 1819: Clerk, law office of Martin Van Buren, Albany, N.Y.
• 1822: Appointed deputy clerk, New York State Senate
• 1824: Admitted to New York bar
• 1825: Married Eliza A. Ogden
• 1826 - 1827 : Prosecuted the kidnappers of William Morgan, a Freemason
• 1829: Appointed postmaster, Geneva, N.Y.
• 1830: Agent, New York Life Insurance and Trust Co.
• 1833: Michigan Michigan Indiana Indiana Illinois Illinois Traveled in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois
• 1834: Moved to New York, N.Y.
• 1836: New York, N.Y. New York City Chelsea New York One of twenty-four founders of Union Theological Seminary, New York, N.Y., and a member of its first board of directors Member, Council of the University of the City of New York, N.Y.
• 1862, circa: President, St. Louis, Alton, and Terre Haute Railroad Co.
• 1870 - 1897 : President, Board of Directors, Union Theological Seminary, New York, N.Y.
• 1897, Dec. 13: Died, New York, N.Y.

From the guide to the Charles Butler Papers, 1819-1929, (bulk 1825-1894), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

During his lifetime, Charles Butler was involved in many endeavors. For a time he was employed as an agent for the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company, and held various positions in the transportation industry working with canals, roads, and railroads. He was also involved in New York politics, anti-Masonry, and state bond investment and land speculation in the antebellum west. One such interest was in the Wabash and Erie Canal, the construction of which Congress authorized in 1827. When completed in 1853, the Wabash and Erie Canal was the longest man-made waterway in the Western Hemisphere and extended nearly 500 miles. By 1860, however, after a short time in use, the canal was incrementally abandoned in response to the proliferation of railroads.

Butler's other accomplishments are outlined in the following chronology

• Jan 15, 1802: Born, Kinderhook Landing, N.Y.
• 1819: Employed as clerk in the law office of Martin Van Buren at Albany, N.Y.
• 1822: Appointed deputy clerk of New York State Senate
• 1824: Admitted to New York Bar
• 1825: Married Eliza A. Ogden
• 1826 - 1827 : Prosecuted the kidnappers of William Morgan, a Freemason
• 1829: Appointed postmaster at Geneva, N.Y.
• 1830: Became an agent of the New York Life Insurance and Trust Co.
• 1833: Traveled in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois
• 1834: Moved to New York City
• 1836: Became a member of the Council of the University of the City of New York Became one of twenty founders of the Union Theological Seminary and a member of its first Board of Directors.
• ca. 1862: President of the St. Louis, Alton, and Terre Haute Railroad Co.
• 1870 - 1897 : President of the Board of Directors for the Union Theological Seminary
• Dec 13, 1897: Died, New York City

From the guide to the Charles Butler Papers, Bulk, 1837-1882, 1817-1908, (Bulk 1837-1882), (New York University Archives)