Charles H. Butterfield, whose distinguished services in war and in peace made a notable figure in the history of this city, was a native of Maine, born in Farmington, May 17, 1834. He remained at home until he was 17, assisting his father and attending the winter schools. He then entered the Farmington Academy, and in 1855 completed a preparatory course for college. In the fall of that year he entered Bowdoin College, and graduated in 1859. His favorite studies were Latin and natural sciences, in which he particularly excelled. In August of the same year he came to Evansville and became the principal of the High School, in which capacity he had acted three years with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the patrons of the school, when the dire necessities of the national government, assailed by rebellion, called upon him irresistibly to drop all civil pursuits and go to the front. In the spring of 1862 he assisted to recruit the Sixty-fifth Regiment, expecting to go with it, but was detained by circumstances beyond his control. He then raised the Ninety-first, and was appointed its major, later being promoted to lieutenant colonel. His command saw active and important service. The first exciting duty was the chasing of the guerrillas in the vicinity of Henderson, and where they were then engaged in the expedition after the Morgan raid in the spring of 1863. In the fall and winter of 1863-4 the regiment was a participant in all the battles of the East Tennessee campaign, and in the spring of 1864 it formed a part of the Twenty-third Army Corps, under the general command of Gen. Sherman, and made the march from Chattanooga to Atlanta. This famous campaign ended, the regiment returned to Nashville to fight under Gen. Thomas and destroy the hopes of the confederacy in the crushing defeat of Hood. Then the Ninety-first was transferred to Washington, and took boat for Fort Fisher, North Carolina, landing in time to join Sherman at Goldsboro, and in the final battles and skirmishes that followed the regiment gallantly did its duty. Col. Butterfield was in command at Salisbury the first day after the entry of the Union Army. In July, 1865, he returned to Evansville, and resumed the study of law. He was soon appointed superintendent of the schools, and he held this position one year, meanwhile improving whatever opportunity offered to keep up his study of the law in the office of Hon. Conrad Baker. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1865, and soon after engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. In 1869 he was elected judge of the Criminal Court, but resigned the position in 1871 to accept the mayoralty to which he was elected at the death of Hon. William Baker. He served for nearly three years as mayor, since which he has up to the present time been engaged in the practice of law in Evansville. When Mayor Hawkins was elected, he was appointed judge of the Police Court, and had since held that position with credit to himself and the administration. He has long been a trustee of Willard Library, to which duty he gave much time and thoughtful care.
Col. Butterfield was a Mason of high standing, being a member of Reed Lodge, Evansville Chapter, Royal Arch Masons and LaValette Commandery. He was a past eminent commander of the latter body. He was also high in the council of Farragut Post, Grand Army of the Republic.

-Excerpted from the Evansville Journal, January 14, 1897