Springfield State Capital clipping

Another well known colored man, who is a member of the lower house, is George William Butler. Mr. Butler was born in Port Gibson, Miss., May 1, 1855. He removed to Vicksburg when 11 years old, together with his parents, where he attended the public schools until 1871, when he received from the state a free scholarship in the Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College, near Rodney, Miss. He remained a student there until May, 1875, when he was graduated with honors. He then taught school in Warren and Rankin counties until 1877, when he became a citizen of Sharkey county. He was elected assessor of his county in 1880 and to represent Sharkey in the lower house of the legislature in 1884-90, and at present is serving his third term of four years in that body. He has been honored by the speaker of the present house with an appointment on the committee on levees, one of the most important in the house, and is secretary of the committee on federal relations and a member of the public education. He is a member of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, and being a modest, unobtrusive gentleman, he has made many friends among both races.