Rich and Rachel Butcher

    These good people were among Johnson County's best citizens. Their parentages dates back to the early settlers of this section of Kentucky who have characterized and immortalized themselves as among the greatest of this great nation. The parentage of these good people came from four of Eastern Kentucky's largest families, the Butchers and Music's being the largest.

    The childhood and early lives of these good people were spent in the section in which they were born. They were married August 5, 1913, and their early married life was spent in this county. Some time after their marriage they spent a number of years in the counties of Fleming and Greenup, being very successful in their financial ambitions, but returning to their native hearth to spend their declining years.For some cause rich never attached himself to any church still he clung to the faith of Baptists. Mother Butcher, very early in life, took membership with the Christian Church in which she lived a long and devoted life to God.

    R.E. died very suddenly with a heart attack, April 18, 1939, while Mother Butcher continued the race until April 6, 1942.Both their funerals were held at the home, Brother Butcher's being in charge of Elder Aaron Stepp, a Baptist minister, of Inez, KY.

    Mother Butcher's funeral was conducted by Elders Hershell Short and Honeycutt, preachers of her faith.Their bodies were laid to rest in the cemetery at the mouth of Davis Branch there to await that great promise from God that they shall come forth anew.The following statement was read in the hearing of Sister Butcher's neighbors and friends: Rachel (Cunningham) Butcher was born in Johnson County, Kentucky, on June 29, 1860. She was the daughter of Jonathan and Isabell (Music) Cunningham. The parentage of this good mother came here from the State of Virginia and are Classed with those hearty mountaineers who were known and characterized for their traits of righteousness.Especially the early life and childhood of this good mother were spent in the county and neighborhood in which she was born. She is a specific representative of the early teachings of our early fathers which has proved itself to be of that quality which produced men and women of stern and moral character.

    Early in life, or on April 26, 1883, she met and was married to R. E. Butcher, a son of another large tribe of Eastern Kentucky families. These good people have been among our most energetic and industrious and the fruits of their labors rendered them self-sustaining in their old age.Their entire lives were spent in this county, save a few years that were spent in the County of Fleming. But returning to their native hearth to spend their declining days. "Rich", as he was known to his many friends, preceded Sister Butcher in death some three years ago, and as she often expressed it, as the servant Jobe, was only waiting for the time of her change.

    Early in life or about 1890, she gave herself to God and was baptized into the Christian faith, taking her membership with the Buffalo Church in which she lived a strict and devoted life for God.In the passing of this good mother, we feel that Johnson County has lost one among its best citizens, the neighborhood one of its best neighbors and these men and women a true and loving sister, the church a staunch member.

    She leaves to mourn her going two half-brothers and three half-sisters, Roe and Alex Webb, Mrs. Susan Baldridge, Mrs. Maggie Cumbo and Mrs. Martha Boyd. Sister Butcher had one full brother, the late George Cunningham.

She came to the end of the journey of life, being 82 years, 2 months, and 9 day.