C24 Row C, place 24
William I. Butler
Co. H, 2nd U.S. Colored Infantry · died 1912-01-15
Identified in the records; his life not yet written. Revised November 1, 2026.
Not yet photographed. The plot survey sheet records: William I. Butler, Co. H, 2nd U.S. Colored Infantry, died January 15, 1912. A photograph is wanted; see the help page. [1]
Life
William I. Butler lies in grave C24 of the Prescott Post lot. The plot survey records his stone as naming his unit as Company H of the 2nd U.S. Colored Infantry, and gives his death as January 15, 1912. [1]
The National Park Service's index of Civil War soldiers lists Butler, Wm. H. (also filed as Henry W. and Henry J.), 2nd U.S. Colored Infantry, Company H, private in and out, microfilm M589 roll 14 — a probable match. [2] The stone and the PV001 list give the middle initial as I; the index card gives H. Unit and company agree.
His service record, any pension file, and his life before and after the war have not yet been researched. This page will grow as the records are read.
The records
- records/C24/stone-2026.jpg — Headstone of William I. Butler, grid C24, Prescott Post lot, 2026. [1] (not yet hosted)
What we don't know
- What exactly does the stone say? It has not yet been photographed; the name, unit and date here are from the survey sheet.
- When and where did he enlist, and what did his company do? His compiled military service record (National Archives, RG 94) will say.
- Did he or his widow apply for a pension? The General Index to Pension Files (NARA T288/T289) has not yet been searched for him.
- Where was he born, and how did he come to Providence?
- Where did he live and work in Providence? The city directories and the censuses of 1870–1920 have not yet been read for him.
- Did he marry, and did he leave children?
- When was he buried here, and what does the City's interment record say? The City lot record has not yet been matched.
Sources
- Prescott Post plot survey sheet, grave C24, compiled by Bernard Brennan, 2026: name, unit and date of death as read on site. The stone has not yet been photographed.
- National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database, search for "William I. Butler" (2nd US Colored Infantry); accessed October 31, 2026, https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm.
Help research this man
Do you have a record of William I. Butler — a census page, a pension card, a city-directory entry, a newspaper item, a family story? You can upload it to the project without an account. Please say what the record is, where you found it, and why you believe it is this man. Every contributor is credited on this page.
Credits
Researched by Bernard Brennan. Records courtesy City of Providence, Department of Parks, North Burial Ground. Revised 2026-11-01.