Butz, Julia (Died)

The death of Mrs. Julia Butz, widow of the late Caspar Butz, which occurred shortly after midnight, Tuesday May 29, marks the passing of one of the early pioneers of Chicago, with the growth of which her life and that of her husband were closely identified.

Mrs. Butz was 95 years of age. Her death occurred at the home of her grandson, H. R. Butz, 627 Sheridan road, Winnetka, following an illness of several months.

She was born in Germany, coming with her parents to this country in 1848, soon after which she was united in marriage to Caspar Butz, with whom she came to Chicago in 1850.

For some time Mr. Butz was engaged in the wholesale hardware business, but later, for several years, was prominently associated with the Chicago Inter-Ocean, the Illinois Staats Zeitung, as Sunday editor, and also as Chicago correspondent for the Westliche Post, of St. Louis.

The family home, back in those early days was at 127 North La Salle street, which was in the path of the great Chicago fire from which the family suffered heavy loss.

The home was rebuilt and for many years continued to be, as it had been before, a center of social and particularly literary circles.

Mr. Butz served his district as a member of the Illinois legislature and campaigned for Abraham Lincoln in that now historical Lincoln-Douglas epoch.

Mrs. Butz, during the Civil war, was president of a bazaar organized to raise funds with which to outfit the Union soldiers.

Two sons, Walter of Chicago, and Emil of Wilmette, and one daughter, Mrs. Emily G. Behn, of Winnetka, survive. Two sons have preceded their mother in death, Alvin J. and Otto C., the latter a well known attorney in Chicago and an intimate friend of the late Theodore Roosevelt.

Funeral services were held Friday morning at Graceland chapel conducted by the Rev. James Austin Richards of the Winnetka Congregational church. Burial was at Graceland.