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About, Sixty Attend Saturday~ at south Edmeston the 2th Annual Reunion+of Button Descendants Coming from Utica, Pharsalia, Columbus,Norwich, Ilion, and sur rounding places, 60 or more de scendants of Givenitt Button, signer of the Declaration of Independence, gathered Saturday at the country home of Lafara ‘Button at S. Edmes ton to spend the day. The weather man not Ucting in a good mood sent a little rain, that helped to keep many away. Upon arriving at the home it was plain to be seen that many a good cook tuns in’ this grand old family The fable shining with spotless linen and silver, was tempting in the start, but at 1:30 nothing could hold back the hungry visitors. A de licious dinner consisting of meat pies, scalloped corn, potatoes, salads, pickles, beets, cheese, baked beans, rolls, coffee, tea, cake, pie, and ice creame graced the table. ‘After this wonderful dinner a social hour was enjoyed, then’ the business m ¥ fetting was called to order by Arthur H.Button. Arthur L. Barker Constblétied chairman of the medizani-the minutes of last meeting were read and approved. The election of officers for ensuing year was held with the following re sult: Mrs. B. F. Lamb, president; Harvey Wheeler, vice president; Mrs. Arthur L. Barker, secretary, treasurer, and historian. The next reunion will be held with Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Lamb on the Reuben Button farm at North Phar salia, the time to be decided by the president. A vote was taken to pur chase from Charles F. Jenkins the complete genealogy of Givenitt But ton. ‘Two marriages occurred during the year, that of Miss Myrtle Clap per and Cliford Button, and Miss Mary Button and Floyd Terk; one death during the year of Silas But ton and three births, a son Raymond to Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Button; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Oliver, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Walling. A dark horse contest was held and Walter Button won the prize of a nice Turkish towel. A brief sketch, of Givenitt Button was read by Mrs. Barker as follows: Givenitt, Button came from Eng land with his three brothers over 160 years ago. The family formerly of France, came into England to teach the new Christian faith. They were men of great wealth and it is recorded that a loan of millions was given the king of England. It was never paid back, 8d the Button family asked for payment of same. It was taken into court and left with the Chancery courts of England to Sattler fequa, ‘Ele Astitae ‘ woe Sir Frances Button, Bishop of Exeter, England, in the 13th century was appointed by the Normans to go to England with William Duke of Normandy. ‘They were men of great influence up to the time of Thomas Button 1612-1614. Sir Thomas But ton was successor to Henry Hudson the first white man to stand on Manitobian soil. He returned to England and was knighted in 1614. Afterwards he quarreled with the royality of England and then lived a retired life, dying in 1635. Mathias Button, brother of Givenitt, Button, came over with Endicott4 in 1626 and went to Har ville, Mass., where he married. It is claimed they had a family of 20 chil dren. Givenitt Button married at the age of 22 to Miss Nancy Brown, in the cowt of England. They had one son, Elias. Givenitt Button after marrying and coming from England settled In St. Catherine Island giv ing a note for same. By signing this note and a few other documents his name became famous. He was one of the first 56 men of Georgia to march forth for liberty and our country’s cause. His army life was excellent and he was cited to be brigadier general, but a man named McIntosh through jealousy beat him out of it. Button challenged Mc Intosh to a pistol duel in which Givenitt Button received his fatal blow, but died for honor sake. Before his death at one time,he was governor of Georgia and in honor to him and two other Georgia patriots a monument is erected in Court Square at Atlanta, Georgia. He was the third signer from Georgia on the Declaration of Independence. He was a man of keen sense of judg ment, also a very valuable adviser in important offices. After his death his wife’s whereabouts became un known. His son Elias Button had a son whom he named for his father, Givenitt Button Jr. Elias had moved to Virginia, then to Dover, Dutchess county, N.Y. He had , besides Givenitt Jr., three other sons, Or rin, Blevitt, and Russell, and two daughters, Mrs. George Champlin, and Mrs. Gideon Thorton. Judge Champlin is a relative on this side. Elias Button moved to Pharsalia in 1810. Givenitt Button Jr., mar ried Nancy Baker. They had seven sons and three daughters, Hannah, Lenora, Jane, Ambrose, Bryant, Gus sie, Frank, Edwin, George and Wil lian Nelson. He was born in Edmeston, N. Y., March 12, 1832 and married my grandmother's sister, Clarissa Gil lett. They had 13 children, by name, Decatur, John, Orlando, Leander, Raphael, Delos, R. Devi ry, Chalphine, Caroline, Jessie a nd Fidela, mother of Herbert Barr, the glove manufacturer and William Henry. He is the father of Mrs. Tessie Franklin at North Pharsalia who still lives in the family home. William Henry Button died Dec. 16, 1925. There are about 75 direct descendants of the famous Givenitt, by name; Givanitt. Button, Elias Bul
Newspaper Details
Norwich Sun
Norwich, New York, US
Tue, Aug 28, 1928
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
James S.
USA 09 Jul 2026
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