John Ammi Butler was born October 14, 1851 to Ammi Ruhamah Robbins (A.R.R.) Butler
and Orvilla Lurana (Tanner) Butler. He was a significant figure in the civil service
reform movement in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Tutored at home, John then attended
Phillips Academy at Exeter. He was forced to withdraw from Yale after his sophomore
year due to ill health. Butler continued his legal training at Gottingen and Leipzig
Universities and earned his degree at Columbia Law School. In 1879, Butler and his
father formed Butler and Butler Law Firm.
John A. Butler married Frances Louise Dana of Bangor, Maine on October 25, 1877 and
had three daughters, Mary, Katharine and Frances. In 1886, he was severely injured
when thrown from his horse and his doctors advised him to travel to Europe to
recuperate. Accompanied by his family, Butler acted as special correspondent for the
Chicago Times as well as publishing a book titled
Pen Pictures of Dresden’s Past.
In 1891, Butler returned to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He quickly became closely
associated with the civil service reform movement and in 1893 established the
Milwaukee Municipal League. He was also involved in the National Civil Service
Reform League, the National Municipal League, serving as president for eight years
and the founding of City Club of Milwaukee. The Civil Service Law of Wisconsin was
passed in 1905, which Butler actively advocated for many years prior. Butler
developed and maintained many close friendships through his reform work. Chief among
these friendships were Charles Joseph Bonaparte, the grandnephew of Napoleon
Bonaparte, Clinton Rogers Woodruff, secretary of the National Civil Service Reform
League and Richard Henry Dana III, son-in-law of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
In 1910, Butler resigned from the Board of the City Club. In the summer of 1913,
Butler made his final trip to Europe. He remained until the advent of the Great War
in 1914 forced his departure. Butler underwent the first of several operations for
cancer in 1915. John A. Butler passed away on June 17, 1922 at his summer home
“Crooked Lake Farm” near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Ammi Ruhamah Robbins (A.R.R.) Butler, Jr. was born in Vermont on September 4, 1821.
In 1822 his parents, Dr. Ammi Ruhama Robbins Sr. (1795-1858) and Matilda (Stone)
Butler moved to Genesee County, New York; Dr. Butler was a successful physician.
After passing the bar exam in 1846, A.R.R. Butler, Jr. moved to Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. He went on to become a notable and well-respected lawyer. He was elected
and re-elected Milwaukee County District Attorney, became president of the Milwaukee
County Bar Association and was twice elected mayor of Milwaukee in 1876 and in 1877
as a Democrat. He continued to work in the community until his death in 1901.
Dr. and Mrs. Butler, in addition to A.R.R, Jr., also had a son, Washington Irving
(1834-1885) and a daughter, Elvira (1829-1861). Washington Irving Butler married
Amanda Elmore (1833-1862) and one of their children was a son named Walter Percy
Butler, born January 25, 1856 in Milwaukee, WI. Walter traveled extensively
throughout his life working on engineering, surveying and prospecting projects
including working for the United States Surveyor Office. He passed away in 1939.
