Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 692. GEORGE O. BUTLER at present the clerk of Wheeler county, was appointed by Governor Geer, at the organization of Wheeler county and since has been kept in this position at the hands of his fellow citizens. He is a very efficient officer, a first class business man, and one of the real progressive citizens of the county. George O. Butler was born in Tennessee in 1852. His father, Hon. R. R. Butler, who was born in Virginia, in 1837, was one of the prominent men of Tennessee. He was a skillful and leading attorney, having a large practice. When twenty-one years of age, he was elected judge of Johnson county and then was a member of the legislature several times. At the beginning of the Civil War, he enlisted, receiving the position of lieutenant-colonel and served for the stars and stripes two years. Then, owing to poor health, he resigned his commission. Immediately after the war, he was appointed judge of his county and in 1866, was elected to the United States congress, where he served eight years. Shortly afterwards he was elected again, serving one term. At the times he was not serving in the United States congress, he was a member of the Tennessee legislature, having been in both branches of the house. At the time of his death, on August 16, 1902, he was a member of the state senate. Mr. Butler was widely known and respected as a man of ability, honor and integrity. He was very useful in the halls of legislature, and ever labored for those measures which benefit and build up. Fraternally, he was a member of the Masonic lodge, while in politics he was a Republican, and in religious persuasion, he was a Methodist. He had married Emmeline Donnelley, a native of Johnson county, Tennessee, the wedding occurring in 1833. Her people were well to do farmers and one brother, Alfred, was a captain in the federal army. Two of his brothers were physicians. Our subject received his early education in the public schools of his native county, then studied in the Preston and Olan institute at Blacksburg, Virginia, and afterwards completed in the preparatory school at Sing Sing, New York. He engaged then in the iron manufacture business of Tennessee and also taught school some. In 1884, accompanied by his brother, John B., he came west to Grant county, locating in that portion that now forms Wheeler county. He immediately took up school teaching, while his brother herded sheep. They husbanded their wages carefully and began to purchase sheep and then took up stockraising for themselves. They have now over four thousand sheep and three thousand acres of land and are doing a very prosperous business. In December, 1885, Mr. Butler married Miss Jessie Brown, who was born in Wasco county, Oregon, on March 12, 1868. Her father, Jonathan P. Brown, was born in Tennessee, in 1840. He was a pioneer to Oregon, crossing the plains in 1852, and died in 1890. Our subject's brothers and sisters are named as follows: John B., a stockman of this county; R. H., a business man of Johnson county, where he has constantly held some county office since he was twenty-one years of age, being now chairman of the county court; James G., a physician and surgeon in the home county; W. R., a physician at Butler, Tennessee; Samuel G., a farmer in Johnson county, Tennessee; Edward B., an attorney at law and revenue collector of the second district of Tennessee; Mrs. Virginia L. Church; and Mrs. Bessie Keys, whose husband, W. R. Keys, is post-office inspector at Cleveland, Tennessee. To Mr. and Mrs. Butler, three children have been born; Samuel J., aged seventeen; George Brown, aged seven; and Hollis, three years of age. Fraternally, our subject is a member of the. K. P, the A. O. U. W. and the I. O. O. F. Politically, he is a stanch Republican and during his career in Wheeler county has manifested ever those qualities of the upright man, the broad minded and progressive citizen, and the generous and faithful friend. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.