Census: 1880 Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin: age 55

Residence: 25 Jul 1842 Rock Co., Wisconsin
Census: 1880 Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin

"The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis.",1889, p 696, 697.
EZRA G. BUTEN, a farmer residing on section 8, in the town of Milton, is numbered among the honored pioneers of Rock County. But few have longer been residents of the community, and none have been more prominently identified with the history of MiltonTownship. The 25th day of July, 1842, witnessed his arrival,and since that time he has been an active participant in the rapid growth and progress which have since been made. Mr. BUTEN is a native of the old Bay State, having been born in Berkshire County on the 25th day of May, 1818, and is a son of Emmanuel and Betsey (CROCKER) BUTEN, who were also born in Massachusetts. They were reared, married and died in their native State, the mother having departed this life in 1832, the father in 1844, at the age of sixty-three years. Unto them was born a large family of children, only three of whom are now living - George W. and William, who are engaged farming in Dane County, Wis., and Ezra, of this sketch. Those who are deceased are Horace, Almira, Frederick, Orrin, and Dorothy.
Our subject was reared to the occupation of farming, and received such educational advantages as were afforded by the schools of his native State at that early day. He began business as a farm hand, working for various persons in his native State until 1842, when he emigrated to the West. Previous to that time, on the 3d day of September, 1841, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Lucy W. GREEN, their marriage being celebrated in Allegany County, N.Y. The lady was born in Madison County, of that State, and is a daughter of Alpheus M. and Abbie (WELLS) GREEN, who were natives of Rhode Island. In 1844 her parents came to Rock County, and for some years resided in Milton, but subsequently removed to Albion, where they passed the remainder of their days. Both were members of the Seventh Day Baptist Church.
In the spring of 1842, with his young bride, Mr. BUTEN came to this county and made his first location in the town of Milton, purchasing a small farm on section 18. Life on the frontier was there begun, but after four years he sold out and bought another farm in the same township, which he continued to make his home until November, 1888, when he became the owner of his present farm on section 8. As the days passed by, Mr. and Mrs. BUTEN saw their possessions increase, until they are now numbered among the well-to-do citizens of the community. Their home was blessed with the presence of nine children, who made the pioneer cabin echo with their shouts and merry laughter. They were all born in this county, were here reared to maturity, and later left the parental roof for homes of their own. Lucy, the firstborn, is now the wife of Berry KEATH, of Milton, and to them have been born three children - Eldredge, George and Lucy; Alpheus, the second child, is now deceased; DeForrest is a contractor and builder; Addis, who wedded Mary BOWERS, is a railroad employe, and resides in Milwaukee; Helen, widow of A.B. CLARK, resides in Chicago, Ill.; Adelbert is still with hisparents; and Arthur is now deceased. This family has beenidentified with the best interests of Rock County for the long period of forty-seven years, and in their hospitable home friends and neighbors are always sure of a hearty welcome.
The upright lives of Mr. and Mrs. BUTEN have won for them the entire confidence and respect of the people of the community,and they are numbered among the valued citizens. Many changes have taken place since their arrival in the county, and they have borne no inconsiderable part in the noble work of progress and advancement. Janesville, now a populous and thriving city, then contained but one store, behind the counter of which Thomas LAPPIN dealt out groceries, measure off dry-goods, sold shoes,and otherwise administered to the wants of his customers. When a cabin was to be erected, the entire neighborhood would assemble and assist the newcomer in making a. The people lived for one another, and the command "Love thy neighbor" was fully carried out. Each shared with the other the joys and sorrows, the pleasures and pains, and the feeling of goodwill pervaded the entire community. But two of the old neighbors are now left to tell the story of pioneer life when Rock County was situated on the western frontier. The red man had not yet left his haunts at the time of the coming of Mr. BUTEN, and he settled in the midst of their old hunting grounds. The beautiful Lake Koshkonong, situated within a half mile of his home, was one of their favorite resorts, and when they were compelled to leave for the reservation beyond the Mississippi, the night was made hideous by their wild yells. The religious services of the Seventh Day Baptist Church, of which Mr. and Mrs. BUTEN are devoted members, were, in those early days, held in the barns of the settlers, where all congregated each Sabbath. To the noble band of pioneer men and women who left comfortable homes in the East and settled on the Western frontier, enduring trials and hardships of which noting is known by the youth of the present generation, all credit is due, and to them the country owes a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid. No praise is too great for them, yet words fail us in our efforts to express our admiration of their self-sacrificing and noble lives. In his early years Mr. BUTEN cast his ballot with the Whig party and voted for William Henry Harrison, the hero of Tippecanoe, at whose death the country was draped in emblems of grief for thirty days. When the Republican party sprang into existence, he joined the ranks of that great organization, and deposited his last ballot up to the present time, for the Hon. Benjamin Harrison, the illustrious grandson of that old hero.