Richard Butler (publisher)
Encyclopedia
Richard Butler, born: 11 November 1834 at Coteau du Lac, Lower Canada
. died: 16 March 1925. Buried in Hamilton Cemetery. Editor
, publisher, journalist
and U.S. vice-consul in Hamilton, Ontario
.
His parents had been born in Ireland and arrived in Canada a few months before his birth. He worked from childhood, so he had little formal education. At first he worked as a confectioner and baker in Montreal. He then managed to secure a job with the Montreal Herald when he was just twelve years of age to help his mother raise family that included 3 siblings after his father died suddenly from serving military time for the British 24th Foot Regiment stationed in Canada
. His experience working for newspapers continued after the family moved to London, Ontario
where he found work there for the London Free Press
. Also gained experience in Hamilton working at the Journal and Express office, all this before the age of 16. Then he moved to the United States
in 1852 at the age of seventeen working in Rochester, New York
for the Rochester Union. 1854 returned back to Hamilton where he helped out with the formation of a Union for the printers. By 1859 he had worked his way up to an assistant foreman at The Christian Advocate.
He returned to the United States in time to be listed in the 1860 census as a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked as a printer.
In 1862 he became editor of the Oxford Citizen, a newspaper in Oxford, Ohio, which he sold in 1870. He also operated a printing business there. During his Oxford years, Butler was active in a fraternal temperance society called the Good Templars and spent a few months in the Union Army. In 1915 he published a short history of early Oxford called Ancient Oxford. First appearing in a newspaper, it later was published as a short book or booklet.
In 1870 bought a newspaper in Oberlin, Ohio
which proved to be a mistake. Oberlin College wanted a religious paper. After two years Butler sold the newspaper. Shortly after became city editor of the Burlington Hawkeye, in Burlington, Iowa
. Eventually moved to Illinois
where he bought the Clinton Public, where he was editor and publisher for twenty-five years.
In 1897, after he sold the Public he returned to Canada once again where (as an ardent Republican) he was appointed the position of U.S. vice-consul in the Ontario city of Hamilton, a position he held there for eighteen years. At the same time was employed by the newspaper in town, the Hamilton Spectator, and wrote a column on the history of Hamilton for the Saturday edition of the paper called, 'Saturday Musings.' The column appeared under the pen name of 'The Muser.'
(north), Rymal Road East (south), Upper Wentworth Street
(west), Upper Sherman Street (east). Landmarks in this neighbourhood include St. Jean de Brebeuf High School and Billy Sherring Park.
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
. died: 16 March 1925. Buried in Hamilton Cemetery. Editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, publisher, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and U.S. vice-consul in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
.
His parents had been born in Ireland and arrived in Canada a few months before his birth. He worked from childhood, so he had little formal education. At first he worked as a confectioner and baker in Montreal. He then managed to secure a job with the Montreal Herald when he was just twelve years of age to help his mother raise family that included 3 siblings after his father died suddenly from serving military time for the British 24th Foot Regiment stationed in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. His experience working for newspapers continued after the family moved to London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
where he found work there for the London Free Press
London Free Press
The London Free Press is a daily newspaper based in London, Ontario, Canada.The London Free Press began as the Canadian Free Press, founded by William Sutherland in 1847. It first began printing as a weekly newspaper in 1849. In 1852, it was purchased for $500 by Josiah Blackburn, who renamed it...
. Also gained experience in Hamilton working at the Journal and Express office, all this before the age of 16. Then he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1852 at the age of seventeen working in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
for the Rochester Union. 1854 returned back to Hamilton where he helped out with the formation of a Union for the printers. By 1859 he had worked his way up to an assistant foreman at The Christian Advocate.
He returned to the United States in time to be listed in the 1860 census as a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked as a printer.
In 1862 he became editor of the Oxford Citizen, a newspaper in Oxford, Ohio, which he sold in 1870. He also operated a printing business there. During his Oxford years, Butler was active in a fraternal temperance society called the Good Templars and spent a few months in the Union Army. In 1915 he published a short history of early Oxford called Ancient Oxford. First appearing in a newspaper, it later was published as a short book or booklet.
In 1870 bought a newspaper in Oberlin, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
which proved to be a mistake. Oberlin College wanted a religious paper. After two years Butler sold the newspaper. Shortly after became city editor of the Burlington Hawkeye, in Burlington, Iowa
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
. Eventually moved to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
where he bought the Clinton Public, where he was editor and publisher for twenty-five years.
In 1897, after he sold the Public he returned to Canada once again where (as an ardent Republican) he was appointed the position of U.S. vice-consul in the Ontario city of Hamilton, a position he held there for eighteen years. At the same time was employed by the newspaper in town, the Hamilton Spectator, and wrote a column on the history of Hamilton for the Saturday edition of the paper called, 'Saturday Musings.' The column appeared under the pen name of 'The Muser.'
Tribute
The Butler neighbourhood on the Hamilton Mountain named after him. It is bounded by Stone Church Road EastStone Church Road (Hamilton, Ontario)
Stone Church Road, is a two-way Upper City east-west arterial road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It starts at Golf Links Road, just east of Meadowlands, and goes across the Escarpment and ends at Upper Mount Albion Road....
(north), Rymal Road East (south), Upper Wentworth Street
Upper Wentworth Street (Hamilton, Ontario)
Upper Wentworth Street is an Upper City arterial road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It starts off at Concession Street in the north and extends southward past Rymal Road. It is a two-way street throughout.-History:...
(west), Upper Sherman Street (east). Landmarks in this neighbourhood include St. Jean de Brebeuf High School and Billy Sherring Park.