George W. Butler followed the calling of a planter the greater part of his life, and as an independent tiller of the soil his career was a successful one. He was born in Lauderdale county, Ala., December 23, 1839, being the fifth of six children born to Thomas F. and Mary E. (Ingram) Butler, natives of Tennessee and Alabama respectively. The father was a very extensive and successful physician, in connection with which he followed planting. He came to Mississippi in 1840 and located near Sardis in Panola county, where he became an eminent medical practitioner, and resided until his death in 1851. His paternal ancestors came from England and first settled in Virginia, but gradually became scattered throughout the South and West. George W. Butler bas been a resident of Mississippi from the time he was one year old, and was given the advantages of the schools of Sardis. He began making his own way in the world at the age of eighteen years, and upon the opening of the Rebellion, in 1861, he enlisted in company E, Twelfth Mississippi regiment, Sardis Blues, and took an active part in the battles of Richmond, Seven Pines, second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg and many others. He was captured just before the close of the war at Selma, Ala., but managed to make his escape and returned home, where he was at the final surrender. Soon after the close of the war he came to Coahoma county and became manager for D. L. Childress, continuing with him for about six years, after which he began opening up his own plantation. Although he began the battle of life with no capital he did well for himself and family, and was the owner of eight hundred acres of land, three hundred of which were under cultivation, the majority of which he cleared and improved himself. He was quiet and unobtrusive in manner, and aspired to no higher honor than to be a good citizen, to follow the teachings of the golden rule and to rear his children to useful citizenship. He not only was a model citizen but he was an exemplary Christian and a faithful and kind husband and father. He was married in 1869 to Miss Sallie A. Brown, a native of Mississippi and a daughter of J. D. and Sarah (Hastings) Brown of Louisiana, by whom he had eight children: Mary B., Benjamin B., Robert H., George W., Sarah F., Martha A., Dixie and Thomas D. Mr. Butler, his wife and two sons were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he was a Mason, a member of the Knights of Honor and Knights of Pythias. Four of his brothers served in the Confederate army during the Rebellion, his brother Robert was a flag-bearer in his company. His father was a soldier during the Mexican war.