John R. Steely and Rev. Madison Butler, also natives of Georgia, came to Coosa in the forties, settling near Poplar Springs. For about a third of a century, Steely was a well known minister among the Baptist of Coosa and surrounding country. He was not educated, nor was he a man of deep thought, but of profound piety, strong magnetism, and wonderful oratory power, and efficiency in prayer. This made his services acceptable to all. He was very useful in revivals, and the number baptized by him was very large. The same may be said of Madison Butler, for except in person, their characteristics were similar. Steely was a man of very large frame - Butler only of medium size. Butler was a man of more mental force perhaps than Steely, but the power of prayer and exhortation in each was remarkable. Butler's career was much shorter than Steely's, dying before reaching the meridian of life, while Steely lived to over eighty. Butler baptized a larger number in his few years than any man of his day.
- Rev. George E. Brewer, History of Coosa County, Alabama (Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, Inc., 1987), p. 231.
Marriages performed by
James Madison Butler
excerpted from Early Records of Coosa Co. AL 1832-1860 compiled by
Edward F. Hull
45 - Kankel, James J. to Atchley, Elizabeth Dec 22, 1848, wit: James M.
Butler
47 - McKinney, Kincheon to Calfee, Rachael Feb 6, 1849, wit: James M.
Butler
51 - Jacks, Green B. to Sconier, Elizabeth Feb 6, 1850, wit: James M.
Butler, O.M.G.
53 - Casey, Joseph to Hasting, Mary Jane Mar 14, 1850, wit: J. M.
Butler, M.G.
Seely, John M. to Palmer, Margaret E. Aug 27, 1850, wit: J. M. Butler,
M.G.
55 - Harmon, Samuel S. to Mooney, Gracy C. Jan 8, 1852, wit: J. M.
Butler, M.G.
57 - Lambert, John S. to Daniels, Martha J. July 8, 1851, wit: J. M.
Butler, M.G.
58 - Garett, John W. to Smith, Martha Sept 11, 1851, wit: J. M. Butler,
O.M.G.
61 - Smith, John to Logan, Nancy Aug 23, 1852, wit: J. M. Butler,
M.G.
Driver, Jesse to Fowler, Mahala Sept. 23, 1852, wit: J. M. Butler,
M.G.
62 - Foster, Wm. A. to Palmore, Nancy N. Oct 14, 1852, wit: J. M.
Butler, M.G.
Ford, Nathaniel to Screagg, Ann Sept 22, 1852, wit: J. M. Butler,
O.M.G.
64 - Ham, Mickleberry B. to Murphy, Amanda L. Dec 22, 1852, wit: James
M. Butler
Burt, John W. to Caffee, Sary A. Dec 16, 1852, wit: J. M. Butler,
M.G.
73 - Thompson, Lafayette to Martin, Susan Sept 17, 1854, wit: J. M.
Butler