John's Family and Early Years
John Francis Butler was born in Rockaway, New York, on January 6, 1927, to Bernard Bradley Butler and Beulah Belle Benton Butler. Bernard and Beulah grew up in the same town, Potsdam, New York (near the Canadian border), shared the same initials, "BBB," and had the same birth date, a year apart. Beulah was born September 7, 1898, and Bernie in 1899. Beulah died January 1, 1977, at age 78. Bernie died January 31, 1988, at age 88. They married on November 30, 1922.
Bernard's father was John Francis Butler. Bernard's mother was Etta (Ettie) Adele Bradley Butler (1862 - 1942). Bernard's paternal grandparents were Ann Cummings and David Butler. Bernard's maternal grandparents were Adeline Manchester and Truman Galucia Bradley. Truman's parents were Lucius and Mary Bradley.
Beulah's parents were Nolton E. Benton and Eva Fuller. Her siblings were Gerald, Lloyd, and Justine. Lloyd's son, Byron S. Benton, authored a 700-plus-page Benton-Fuller Family History, tracing their ancestry from England to Connecticut and French Canada over about four centuries.