From Proud Heritage, Vol 1 by DCPA, not currently in print.
When George Butcher moved his family to Dallas County in 1854 he settled just north of the Ellis County line between Red Oak and Lancaster.
George Butcher was born in Monroe County, Indiana 4 August 1820, son of Solomon Butcher and Katherine Stephens. He represented a fourth generation of this Butcher family in America. He married Mahalia Barrow, daughter of David Barrow and Elizabeth Young, on 7 September 1840 in Monroe County, Indiana.
George and Mahalia were living in Brown County, Indiana by 1843 where he bought land and later served as Commissioner in 1853.
When the family left for Texas in 1854, there were seven children, ranging in age from 13 to a baby less than a year old. A number of other friends and relatives also came to Texas at the same time. The Butcher home built ca 1857 is still standing just west of I-35 E north of the Dallas County line. The present owner, whose family bought the house and land from the Butcher family, stated that the original walls were hand-hewn logs fastened with wooden pegs. George acquired several hundred acres of this rich blackland, most of which was in Ellis County northwest of Red Oak. Several sons and one daughter also bought land near by. George and Mahalia had four more children before Mahalia’s death on 5 April 1878.
Besides farming, the Butchers were carpenters and woodworkers. George and his sons built a number of houses in the area for themselves and their neighbors. One son, David W., was a wagon wright and built wagons of bois d’arc. Another son, Lewis, later moved to Ft. Worth where his sons were in construction.
George Butcher served in Independent Texas Mounted Guards of Ellis County under Capt. Franklin L. Farrar, enlisting on 15 June According to family tradition, he also worked at the gun factory in Lancaster which built Colt Dragoon revolvers for the Confederacy. A son, Solomon Marion Butcher, enlisted in Co. F, 12th Texas Cavalry Parsons’ Regiment Mounted Volunteers, 4th Texas Dragoons and served throughout the Civil War.
Living on the Dallas-Ellis County line the family members were active in both Lancaster and Red Oak. George and his son Solomon M. were listed as early trustees for the Lancaster Methodist Church along with George L. Parks, Robert George, William and James Sprowls and James Swindell. (One of George’s daughters, Martha Ellen, married Joseph Sprowls.) The Pastor, T. W. Hines, married several Butchers including Solomon M., and Lewis M. and wrote the touching obituary of David W. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Bells Chapel, near Red Oak, was organized about 1871; and G. C. Parks, George Butcher, William and James Sprowls, S. M. Butcher, Robert George, Samuel Uhl, and J. H. Swindell were named as Trustees. Andrew Davis, a minister, was one of the first presiding Elders and married several of the Butchers. His daughter, Annette, married Daniel W. Butcher. Several of the Butcher family are buried at the Bells Chapel Cemetery.
By 1880, George Butcher had married Elizabeth Glandon Parrack and had moved to Wheatland. The home he built there still stands behind the Wheatland Cemetery where he, his second wife and several other family members are buried. There were three children born of this marriage. George built several cotton gins in the area.
Issue of George Butcher and Mahalia Barrow:
Nancy (Nin) born 8 July 1841, Monroe County, Indiana; married (1) John R. Kelly, 1862, Dallas County, married (2) Orville Finley; died January 1919, Duncanville.
Solomon Marion born 11 July 1843, Monroe County, Indiana; married (1) Julietta M. Davis, 1869, Ellis County, married (2) Carrie Short 1876 Dallas County, married (3) Lue Smith after 1885. This Butcher family later moved to Iowa Park, Texas. Solomon M. died 22 April 1914.
David Washington born 14 September 1845, Brown County, Indiana; married Sarah Jane Burkhead, daughter of Dr. William A. Burkhead and Sarah Love, on 19 March 1865; lived at Red Oak until his death in 1869 of Typhoid Fever. One son, George A. Butcher spent his 93 years in the Sterrett-Red Oak Area.
Lewis McDonald born 14 March 1848, Brown County, Indiana; married Nancy Caroline Kelly, 10 June 1868, Ellis County; lived near Lancaster until he moved his family to Ft. Worth sometime after 1900. He died in Ft. Worth 20 April 1921.
Elizabeth Ann born 22 April 1850, Brown County, Indiana; married Henry Stephen Carr, 23 Feb. 1869, Duncanville, Dallas County; died 11 July 1921 at Duncanville. This family was related to most of the early residents of Duncanville. D. L. Hopkins, Jr., first mayor of Duncanville, was her grandson.
James born 17 August 1852, Brown County, Indiana; died 20 September 1852. Mary Catherine born 24 January 1854, Brown County, Indiana; married Jess B. Hinkle, 20 March 1881, Dallas County; died 2 February 1938.
Marthey Ellen born 11 November 1857, near Lancaster, Dallas County, married (1) Joseph Sprowls, ca 1871, Dallas County; married (2) Albert Allen. Lived near Wheatland until after 1880 and later moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas; died after 1925.
Daniel W. born 3 June 1859, near Lancaster, Dallas County; married Annette Davis 8 November 1880; farmed near Lancaster until after 1900 when he moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma; apparently served as a Marshal in the Indian Territory; died 11 Sept. 1929.
Margaret “Maggie” born 11 November 1861 near Lancaster, Dallas County; married James Monroe Wilson 23 October 1879, Dallas County; died 15 May 1894.
John W. born 27 October 1865 near Lancaster; taught school in Wheatland area; later opened a business college in Reno, Nevada. He was living in Allyn, Washington before his death.
Issue of George Butcher and Elizabeth Glandon Parrack:
George K. born 26 February 1881, Wheat land, Dallas County, Texas; married (1) Hattie Mae Wescot, 29 April 1901, Dallas County; he married (2) Mrs. Roberta Williams, 26 April 1938, Dallas. After serving in the Philippines during the Spanish American War, George K. made his home at 4215 Cabell Dr. in Dallas until his death in He was very active in Dallas city politics in the 1920’s and 30’s. He had two daughters by his first marriage, Mildred (1902-1941) and Grace Ruth (1904 – ) who married Ralph E. Biggs.
Sarah “Sadie” born 1883, near Wheatland, Dallas County, Texas; married Mr. Cherry, divorced. Sadie worked for many years for Sanger Bros. She died in 1940 and is buried in Wheatland Cemetery.
Grace “Gracie” born . 31 August 1885, Wheat land, Dallas County, Texas; married (1) H. Elmo Young, 25 April 1901, Lancaster, Texas, divorced, 3 children; married (2) Henry Sewell Dearborn, 17 February 1909, Ellis County, Texas; died December 1959. Henry Sewell Dearborn was Sheriff from 1914 to 1918 in Ellis County. Henry Sewell Dearborn, Jr., a son of the second marriage resides in Dallas.
By George H. Carlton, Waxahachie
