What’s in a name? General W.O. Butler

In case you didn’t know, there is a museum here in Poplar Bluff. It has tales of us, our family and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls.

Why do we live in Butler County? More specifically, who was Butler County named after? The answer might surprise you as it did me. The county was named after General William Orlando Butler (1791-1880) and he never came to Missouri!

W.O. Butler was born in Jessamine County Kentucky. His profession was a lawyer. He was called up twice to serve in the War of 1812 and later in the War with Mexico. He rose to the rank of general. W.O. Butler always returned to being a lawyer between the wars. In 1848, he ran for vice president of the United States.

In 1849, many Missouri settlers and politicians had migrated from Kentucky. When it came time to name the new Missouri county, they decided to honor a hero from their home state.

A photo of Butler is on display in the Butler County Historical Society Room, located in the Poplar Bluff Museum. The museum is open every Sunday, free of charge, from 1-3 p.m. at 1010 Main St., Poplar Bluff (Formerly the Old Mark Twain School). Tell them Mike sent you!

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.