Martin Butterfield

Martin Butterfield (December 8, 1790 – August 6, 1866) was a United States Representative from New York.

Martin Butterfield
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 25th district
In office March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861
Preceded by	Edwin B. Morgan
Succeeded by	Theodore M. Pomeroy
Personal details
Born	December 8, 1790 Westmoreland, New Hampshire
Died	August 6, 1866 (aged 75) Palmyra, New York
Political party	Republican
Occupation	farmer

Born in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, he attended the common schools, farmed, and was active in the Grafton Agricultural Society. In 1828 he moved to Palmyra, Wayne County, New York. He engaged in the hardware business and also in the manufacture of rope and cordage. Butterfield continued to farm, was active in Palmyra's Union Agricultural Society and served as its president.

He was active in the Episcopal Church and was a delegate to diocese conventions and other meetings. In 1843 he was one of several Palmyra residents who signed a public letter stating that they personally knew Joseph Smith, and that in their view he was not trustworthy, and that his claims of religious visions and revelations leading to publication of the Book of Mormon should not be believed.

Butterfield was a presidential elector on the Whig ticket in 1848 and was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth Congress, holding office from March 4, 1859 to March 3, 1861; he was chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.

Butterfield declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1860 and resumed his former business and agricultural pursuits. He died in Palmyra on August 6, 1866, and was buried Palmyra Cemetery.

Sources

• Journal of the Annual Convention, Episcopal Diocese of Western New York, Volumes 25-28
• History of Mormonism, by Eber D. Howe
• The New Hampshire Annual Register and United States Calendar
• Transactions of the New-York State Agricultural Society, Volume 16

External links

• United States Congress. "Martin Butterfield (id: B001199)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Martin Butterfield at Find a Grave