Isaac Butterworth, a retired engineer, now following agricultural pursuits in Newberry township, was born in the silk- manufacturing town of Macclesfield, England, July 9, 1838. His father, William Butterworth, was a native of Manchester, England, born in December, 1803. At an early day he was left an orphan and thus thrown upon his own resources he made his way unaided, and whatever success he achieved was due to his own well-directed efforts. He became a silk-weaver, following that pursuit in his native land. There he wedded Mary Kelford, a daughter of James Kelford. She was born on the Thames river, in England, in 1810, and by her marriage she became the mother of six children: Mary, who was drowned in the Mississippi; Charles W., who died in Alabama, in August, 1893; James, who died in infancy; Isaac; Helen E., who died in infancy; and Maria C., wife of William Lazure, of Silver City, New Mexico. In 1840, when our subject was only two years old, the parents brought him with their other two children to the United States, making the passage from Liverpool to New Orleans. The vessel was engaged in the cotton trade and reached the harbor of the Crescent city after a voyage of seven weeks. The Butterworth family then proceeded up the Mississippi river to St. Louis and on their way thither they met with a sad misfortune, their little daughter falling overboard into the river. Their destination was Nauvoo, Illinois, where they intended to join the band of Mormons. A missionary of that faith had met Mr. Butterworth in England and had persuaded him to come to the United States, picturing in glowing terms the opportunities he would have by joining the Mormons in America. Nothing was said of their polygamous practices. Of this Mr. Butterworth was ignorant until he reached their settlement. On learning of this deplorable state of affairs he denounced them vigorously and was set upon and nearly killed by those whom he talked against. However, he escaped and took his family to Mount Pleasant, Ohio, soon afterward locating in Jeffersonville, in that state. Later he removed to Wellsburg, West Virginia, where he secured work in a woolen mill, and, on severing his business connection at that place, he took up his abode in Steubenville, Ohio. In 1885 he went to Silver City, New Mexico, where his death occurred in October, 1889, his wife surviving him until 1896, when she died in the same place.

Isaac Butterworth, of this review, pursued his studies in the public schools until thirteen years of age, after which he served an apprenticeship at the shoe making trade, becoming a journeyman before he was seventeen years old. In 1861 he attempted to enlist in the Union army, but was rejected on account of his delicate appearance. In 1862, however, he made a more successful attempt and was mustered into the service on the 13th of June as a private in Company G, Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three years, being honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tennessee, on the 10th of June, 1865. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Resaca and the engagements before Atlanta, and at the battle of Mission Ridge he was wounded in the thigh, almost bleeding to death before being taken to the hospital, but his wounds were eventually dressed, and for twenty days he remained in the First Baptist church of Chattanooga, which was then used for hospital purposes. At Chickamauga one hundred and ninety of his comrades were taken prisoners, but he managed to escape. They were some distance from the main army, which they attempted to rejoin. Mr. Butterworth and one or two companions chose one direction, while the majority of the others chose another route and were captured.

At the close of the war our subject returned to his home and accepted a position as fireman on the Panhandle Railroad, in which capacity he served for two years and a half. He was then promoted to engineer on the Indianapolis division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, acting in that capacity until December 29, 1897, when he resigned and returned to his farm in Newberry township. He purchased that in the summer of 1894 and became the owner of sixty acres which is now under a high state of cultivation and is improved with good buildings. Prior to his removal to the farm he made his home in Columbus, Ohio, for twenty-eight years.

Mr. Butterworth was married in Bridgeport, Ohio, on the 12th of October, 1865, to Miss Anna M.. Guthrie, a daughter of James W. and Elizabeth (Albright) Guthrie. She was born in Hanoverton, Columbiana county, Ohio, August 28, 1839, and by the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Butterworth five children have been born, namely: Mary E., wife of Elmer Smith, of Columbus; Lilian, L., wife of the Rev. John I. Wear, who is now living in Ada, Ohio; Elmer J., who married Etta Stump, of Columbus, Ohio; and Anna Maud, at home. The family is one of prominence in the community and the members of the household occupy a high position in society circles. Mr. Butterworth is a valuable member of J. M. Wells Post, G. A. R., of Columbus, and in his political affiliations is a Republican. He is today as true to his duties of citizenship as when he followed the starry banner on the battlefields of the south. His success in business is creditable, having been acquired along legitimate lines, and as the result of his own industry he is now numbered among the substantial farmers of Miami county well worthy of representation in this volume.