Alabama Genealogy

Butler County Alabama History and Profile:

Butler County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Captain William Butler, who was born in Virginia and fought in the Creek War, and who was killed in May 1818. As of 2000 the population was 21,399. Its county seat is Greenville.

Butler County was formed from Conecuh County, Alabama, and Monroe County, Alabama, by an act passed December 13, 1819, by the Legislature while in session at Huntsville. This was the first session of the Legislature of Alabama as a State. The name of Fairfield was first proposed for this county, but was changed on the passage of the bill to Butler, in honor of Captain William Butler.

The exact date of the first settlement made by white people in the limits of Butler County is not exactly known. Some records have it as early as 1814, but the earliest settler of no dispute is James K. Benson, who settled in the Flat in 1815, and built the first house ever erected in Butler County. It was built near where Pine Flat Methodist Church now stands, and was made of logs. Shortly after, William Ogly and John Dickerson came with their families and made a settlement on the Federal Road, about three miles south of where Fort Dale was later erected. In the fall of 1816, a party from the state of Georgia came to settle in Pine Flat, including Thomas Hill, Warren A. Thompson, Captain John Watts, and Benjamin Hill. In 1817, many more settlers arrived, since the hardest work had already been done by these brave original souls.

Captain William Butler, native of Virginia, previous member of Georgia Legislature and captain of Georgia militia, came to Butler County in search of adventure, but was soon killed by native Americans near Butler Springs on the morning of 20 March 1818. While on his way from Fort Bibb to Fort Dale with four other men, Captain Butler was wounded and thrown from his horse, but attempted to make his escape. Seeing that this was impossible, he resolved to die fighting his enemy, and succeeded in killing one of Savannah Jack’s bravest warriors, and after severely wounding several others who attacked him, was overcome by the number of Native Americans who were present. He was left mangled, scalped, and with his ears and privates stuffed into his mouth.

Warren A. Thompson was a noted explorer and original settler of the county, and was locally known as the strongman of the original Butler County pioneer settlers.

Hank Williams was born in Butler County in 1923.

Source: Wikipedia.

Cities and Towns of Butler County, Alabama:

* Georgiana
* Greenville
* McKenzie (part of McKenzie is in Conecuh County)

Government

Butler County Alabama Vital Records
Butler County Clerk
700 Court Square
P.O. Box 756
Greenville, AL 36037
Phone: (334) 382-3512

Greenville-Butler County Public Library
309 Ft. Dale Street
Greenville, Alabama 36037
Phone: (334) 382-8813

Historic Places

W.S. Blackwell House
Buell-Stallings-Stewart House
Butler Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church
Commerce Street Residential Historic District
Confederate Park
Dickenson House
East Commerce Street Historic District
Evens-McMullan House
First Baptist Church
First Presbyterian Church
Fort Dale-College Street Historic District
Gaston-Perdue House
Graydon House
Greenville City Hall
Greenville Public School Complex
Hawthorne-Cowart House
Hinson House
House at 308 South Street
John W. Howard House and Outbuildings
King Street Historic District
Lane-Kendrick-Sherling House
Little-Stabler House
McMullan-Skinner House
Oakey Streak Methodist Episcopal Church
Post Office Historic District
South Greenville Historic District
South Street Historic District
Theological Building-A.M.E. Zion Theological Institute
Ward Nicholson Corner Store
West Commerce Street Historic District
Wright-Kilgore House

Genealogy Resources

Butler County Alabama Genweb

Butler County Alabama GenWeb Archives

Butler County Historical and Genealogical Society
P. O. Box 561
Greenville, Alabama 36037
Telephone: (334) 383-9564
E-mail: historyroom@camelliacom.com
The Butler County Historical & Genealogical Society’s RESEARCH COLLECTION
is housed at the public library in Greenville (309 Fort Dale Road).

Vital Records

If you are outside the state of Alabama and are looking to request copies of vital records you must contact the statewide office of vital records:

Alabama Vital Records
P.O. Box 5625
Montgomery, AL 36103-5625
(334) 206-5418
Fax: (334) 262-9563

You can also call (334) 206-5418

There were no birth certificates prior to 1908, some counties may have recorded births in a ledger however. One way to search this centrally is by contacting:

Department of Archives and History
624 Washington Ave
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-4363

Birth and Death Records have been recorded in Alabama since 1908, Marriage Records since August 1936 and Divorces since 1950.

Census

1850 Federal Census Index & Transcription

1860 Federal Census Index

1860 Federal Census Transcription – Precinct 9

1860 Federal Census Transcription – Precinct 10

Tax Records

Cemeteries

USGS listing of Cemeteries in Butler County

Butler County Cemetery Transcriptions
Cemetery Transcriptions (Although both are usgenweb this seems a slightly different listing.)

Query Forums

Genealogy Forums can be a great way to find other people that are researching the same ancestors as you are. Even if they may be not be researching the same direct line but related lines you may find information that is useful in your own research. Make sure to verify any other research that you add to your own research and try to document it well. If asking questions in genealogy forums it is good to provide as much information as possible and in the subject of the posting try to give name and a date or range of dates to help make your query more likely to be found. Posts with titles like “looking for family” or “help!” are too generic and something along the lines of “John Smith b. abt 1828 md. Hannah Jones” would be more helpful to get your post read by those that are interested in the John Smith/Hannah Jones family.

Butler County, AL at
genforum

News Related to Butler County, AL

“Butler County” al – Google News

Scale Back Alabama Underway In Butler Co. – WAKA

Scale Back Alabama Underway In Butler Co. WAKA CBS 8 News is covering Butler County where the 10 week weight loss program "Scale Back Alabama" is underway this week and this year, several of the local schools are taking part. Organizers tell us participation in the program has started to dwindle …

Recruiting: Troy expecting big day – Dothan Eagle

Recruiting: Troy expecting big day Dothan Eagle Xavier Melton, a defensive tackle from Butler County (Kan.) Community College, committed on Monday after taking an official visit to Troy last weekend. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Melton was a second-team all-conference selection at Butler, which went 11-1 … and more »

UAB looks to add some size with this football recruiting class – The Birmingham News – al.com

The Birmingham News – al.com

UAB looks to add some size with this football recruiting class The Birmingham News – al.com By Steve Irvine — The Birmingham News BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Time will tell how Garrick McGee's first recruiting class at UAB will fare on the field. But it's evident from the start he was looking to add size to the program. The Blazers are expected … and more »

Civil Rights Activists throughout the nation say “Do Not Deport” Yanelli Hernández – La Prensa

La Prensa

Civil Rights Activists throughout the nation say “Do Not Deport” Yanelli Hernández La Prensa By La Prensa Staff COLUMBUS: Undocumented immigrant Yanelli Hernández is facing deportation to Mexico and has allegedly undergone multiple suicide attempts while being held in a detention facility in Butler County, Ohio. She is set to be deported, … and more »

Rollover Simulator Comes To Butler Co. – WAKA

Rollover Simulator Comes To Butler Co. WAKA CBS 8 News is covering Butler County where children and parents get a real life look at what could happen if they're not properly buckled in when riding in a car. The Department of Public Safety uses the rollover simulator to demonstrate an accident …

Overland Park man, 38, sentenced to 18 months in prison for battery – Lawrence Journal World

Overland Park man, 38, sentenced to 18 months in prison for battery Lawrence Journal World Kittel also ordered Largent to pay $962 restitution to the Douglas County Sheriff's office, the cost of transporting him here from Alabama after his warrant arrest. He also likely will serve an additional eight-month sentence for the Butler County …

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