Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2865»MAJ. GEORGE PHINEAS BUTLER. The Academy of Richmond County,located at Augusta, Georgia, holds a reputation that is the pride of this partof the state. Since 1898, the leading mind and guiding hand in the conductof this institution have been those of Maj. George Phineas Butler.The Butler family has been closely identified with the life and activitiesof Georgia for several generations, though originally of Maine. GeorgePhineas Butler, the major's grandfather was from his youthful days a resident of Augusta, Georgia; and here it was that his son, our subject's father,was born, in 1845. George Butler, as he was named, grew up in Augusta,where he' received adequate educational advantages, and became interestedin vocational activities of a mercantile nature. He chose and won as his wifeMiss Eli$ Moragne, daughter of one of Augusta's well known physicians.The Moragne family were earlier of Lincolnshire (Georgia) residence, alsothe home of Mary Fleming, who had become the doctor's wife. Augustabecame their home and the scene of Doctor Moragne's medical career andhere it was that the marriage of Marguerite Ella Moragne and George Butleroccurred. They too settled in Augusta. George Butler entered the Confederate service with the rank of captain and served nobly at a cost of fourwounds, in addition to the usual deprivations and severities of army life.After the years of conflict were ended, Captain Butler turned his attentionto banking affairs, and accepted a position as cashier with the Georgia Railroad Bank of Augusta, in which connection he continued for many years.Religiously Capt. George Butler was affiliated with the Methodist EpiscopalChurch. His wife, like all the Moragne family, was an active member of thePresbyterian Church. The only children of George and Marguerite EllaButler were our subject and Mary Moragne Butler, his sister who died in1884. Capt. George Butler passed away from this life in 1882, while hiswife died on April 13, 1915, at the age of sixty-seven years.It was on January 30, 1875, and in Augusta, that our subject, GeorgePhineas Butler, made his entrance to life and to the family above noted. Hiswere the advantages of private tuition from Miss Lucy Fleming, by whom hewas prepared for Summerville Academy, where he was a pupil for a time,later entering the Academy of Richmond County, Augusta. Here he completed the prescribed course. Intellectual occupation had proved to be hisnatural element and the next step was matriculation in the University ofGeorgia at Athens. In 1894, -Mr. Butler received from that institution thedegree of Bachelor of Engineering. He was made assistant principal of theAthens High School for the ensuing year, and having won a fellowship inmathematics, continued work in the university as a graduate student. In1895 he was called to a chair in a neighboring state university. As instructorin mathematics at North Carolina University he established a most substantialreputation for scholarship and teaching power,- and meanwhile, ever athirstfor more and yet more knowledge in his chosen line, he pursued advancedstudies in the graduate department. In the summer of 1896 he was honoredby receiving appointment as an engineer of the United States TopographicalSurvey. In 1898 he was elected associate professor of mathematics at NorthCarolina University. That same year, however, he accepted instead a call tothe faculty of the Academy of Richmond County, in his home city. Asinstructor in mathematics and physics and as incumbent of the office ofcommandant, Mr. Butler entered in a responsible capacity the academy wherehe had in boyhood been a student, continuing in the position from 1898 until1910. In the latter year he was made principal of the academy and in thathonored and most useful office he still continues, with continued and increasing credit to the institution and to himself. Mr. Butler is popularly knownas "Major" Butler, through his thorough military training and distinguishedcadetship.The felicitous home life of Major Butler began in 1905. On July 26 of