The History of Butler Town in Amite, Louisiana

Butler Memorial Park
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

In Amite, Louisiana, there is a black settlement called Butler Town. Amite is 70 miles north of New Orleans, LA. Lawerence Williams embarked on a genealogy quest to find out how and when this black settlement was established and to discover the ancestry of his maternal line. Almost a decade has passed since Lawerence began researching his family history. My question to Lawerence was how did he start researching his family history? My mother told me we're related to the Butlers. His mother Idella Williams is a 2nd great-granddaughter of Fredrick Butler. As a result, he shares his findings with his mother, who is his motivator. His Butler roots date back to 1808, with Fredrick's father and mother. Winifred Butler and Julia Ann Butler were from the East Coast. But their children was born St. Helena, Louisiana and this is where his Louisiana roots starts. There is something mysterious about Lawerence Butler's Butler family history that led him down the lonely gravel dirt roads of St. Helena Parish, which are filled with whispering pine trees. Fredrick was born in St. Helena Parish, which makes perfect sense. due the fact that Tangipahoa Parish was created  in 1869. 

In 1876, Frederick Butler bought most of the land, which was later named Butler Town. African Americans interested in owning land and building their own houses started buying lots from him. In the 1880 United States Census, Winnie Butler was listed as his spouse. They were the parents of: Waterson Butler, Leander Butler, Julia Butler, Dora Butler, Newsom Butler, William Butler, Minerva Butler, Amanda Butler, Conway Butler, Sherman Butler, and Coot Butler.   A black owned cemetery, Butler A.M.E Church, and Butler Memorial Park can be found inside Butler Town.

Butler A.M.E. Zion Church
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

From slavery to sharecroppers to a large landowner, Fredrick was determine to purchase land as a form of freedom for himself and his family. One year after the issuing the United States Declaration of Independence in July 4, 1776 from Britain. Fredrick embraced what he defined  as freedom in the United States.

Frederick and several of his children signed a Freedmen Bureau Labor Contract with George Phillips McMicheal in 1867 in St. Helena, Louisiana and worked as sharecroppers before purchasing his own land. According to the 1870 United States Census, his Real Estate value was one thousands dollars. The follow people was listed on the Freedmen Bureau Contract: Jack Bulter age 51, Janet Butler age 41, Fred Butler age 48, Winey Butler age 38, Minerva Butler age 17, Amanda Butler age 15, Lee Butler age 11, Judy Ann Butler age 9, Pinky Butler age 7, Steel Butler age 5, Bobby Butler age 4, Joseph Butler age 46,  Waterson Butler age 13, and Emily Butler age 38. 

Fredrick's son William Butler donated the land for Butler A.M.E. Zion Church  in 1894.  On the cornerstone of the church says the church was established in 1874. The  land for the cemetery was donated to the church in 1904 by John Butler and Barrow Butler. John and Barrow descend from Jack Butler lineage. Lawerence believes that Jack and Fredrick were brothers.  Lawerence have spent long  hours in the Amite Clerk's Office looking through hundred of records on his Butler family. He also use the Amite Genealogy Library to help find the missing pieces  to his family puzzle. 

Butler Cemetery in Amite, LA
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Lawerence to  continue researching his Butler family tree. Specifically, he wants to know when Butler Memorial Park was established. It was revealed to him that his grandmother Idella was buried by the church, and that the cemetery had been relocated. People who live next door to the church told him that the cemetery was moved when the new church was built. Lawerence is very proud of his history and want to share it with others. Butler Town is over one hundred and forty years old. 

Tangi Voter Drive Pioneers Honored by Area Citizens (Reprint from the Drum Newspaper)

Alvin Holden

Drummer Publisher Hammond-It was standing room only at the Pear Ridge Church on Feb 21,  the church and the Magnolia Peace  Officer association honored civil rights activist "Bobby" Jackson for his contribution paving the way for American Americans to vote in the Tangipahoa Parish. 

During and prior to the 1950s African American were not allowed to register at the courthouse in Amite. Alvin Holden, the guest speaker for the event. Holden said the framework for the civil right movement in the parish was formed when all the black American Legion posts and agreed to meet and discuss the problems of voter registration. After months of meeting and mapping, and strategizing they finalized a plan that they decided to try. It didn't work and African American were once again denied the right to vote. 

However the efforts continue with the formation on Oct 19, 1945, with the People's Defense League in New Orleans.  A branch of the leagues was formed in "Tangipahoa Parish" according to Holden. Holden was part of the organizations. On Sept 20, 1951, after ra group o blacks was turned away at the registrar's office, the league filed a suit in the Federal Courts in in New Orleans, LA.

Ernest Wright, and attorney was the director for the People 's Defense Fund in New Orleans. Through his efforts the local league was able to contact the proper officials  and the case went to court.  On October 15,

Photo Credit: Library of Congress

1951, the league began soliciting funds to cover the expenses of the case Holden said. He said the league pulled a surprise by filing its case in the U.S. District Court in New Orleans. Louis Berry, a attorney for Alexandria, La was retained by the league to handle the case.

The case was assigned to Judge Hebert Christenberry and was known as Williams vs Williams. But just before it went to trial the parish register of voter resigned and Christenberry ruled in fave of the league. "This wasn't the first time that blacks had tried to vote in Amite and was denied," said Holden. An old man from Independence who was born in Mississippi wanted to dsomethi for his people, so he tried several times to register along with others. They all was denied the right to vote once again.

For nearly 100 years, black in Tangipahoa Parish had been prevented from registering by threats and force.  Holden said black men served in all the wars. They sacrificed and gave their lives for other to be free, yea ye were forcefully prevented from having any parts in determining who would represent them at any level of government.  During 1930s black people became restless. Many attempted to gain their rightful place in society and to benefit the rights guaranteed them by the U.S. Constitution.

Photo Credit: Library of Congress

"Regardless of how hard we tried, it was to no avail," said Holden. After World War II, which  exposed thousands of young black to world affairs. they was compelled with a new determination do so something about the political situation in Tangipahoa Parish. 

The veterans organized with community support. But later, after the committee had been formed and the first attempt to register blacks to vote had been made. "It was learned American Legion Charter forbade the fostering political groups," said Holden. On night of October 20, 1951: Post Commander Alvin K. Holden of officially declare that he could not sponsor a political group under the American Legion, because was against the Legion's Constitution foster political  or religious group. Upon this declaration at this grim period there were very sad expressions on the face of 300 people who jammed the auditorium of the Independence Colored School with much uneasiness this committee was then dissolved. From it on a political  organization called " The Peoples Defense League of Tangipahoa Parish, in which Post Commander Alvin K. Holden was selected parish president. Other officers of this organization were:

Rev. E. M. Booker, Vice President

Mrs. Myrtle Gordon, Secretary

Mr. James Elliott, Treasurer

Mrs. Rovan Stanley, Financial Secretary

The fight to vote was continued by this league. The suit was filed by Attorney Louis Berry of Alexandria, Louisiana against William Mason, Registrar of Voters of Tangipahoa Parish, and State of Louisiana. The case was assigned to the Eastern District Court in New Orleans, Louisiana by Judge Herbert J. Christenberry and Judge J.S. Wright south of New Orleans, Louisiana. The following names signed the complaint:

Burnell Stevens

1. Mr. Armanda Butler

2. Mr. Robert E. Jackson

3. Mr. Alvin E. Holden

4. Mr. Leonard P. Holden

5. Mr. Clarence Bernard

6. Mr. Blanche Mitchell

8. Mr. John Alvin Clark.