Butler County, Alabama - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 35 of those read), 1885

Board Of Commissioners

It was the intention of the author to have portraits engraved of the first three officers of the county, but he has been unable to procure the photographs from any except Mr. Scale, a very neat engraving of whom the reader will find on the following page. We will now proceed to notice these three officers briefly.

Judge Jonathan L. Powell was born and raised near Monterey, in the western part of the county. His father was one of the early settlers, and was a practical farmer and good neighbor. His son, Jonathan, however, did not inherit his father's tastes for agricultural pursuits, and, at an early age, he abandoned the farm in search of an education to fit him for a public life. He soon began the study of law in Greenville, and was in due time admitted to the bar to practice his profession in all the courts of the State. His earnest efforts were constantly rewarded with marked success, and it was not long before he ranked high among his legal brethren. He was for a while in partnership with Colonel Hilary Herbert, but spent the last years of his practice with Captain John Gamble.

His easy manners and friendly disposition won for him many warm friends, who soon pressed him into the service of his county in an official capacity. In 1870, he was elected to represent the people of his native county in the House at Montgomery, making a useful member in that time of great confusion. Desperate efforts were made by the people of the county to throw off the yoke of Radicalism in 1874, and elect the county officers from the Democratic ranks. Mr. Powell, being one of the strongest men in the county, was placed at the head of the Democratic ticket for Probate Judge, his many friends doing everything in their power to secure his election, and restore harmony to the people. Beyond the earnest expectations of his friends, he was elected by a large majority to the highest office at the hands of the people of his county, and has performed the duties of this office ever since, having been re-elected in 1880.

Judge Powell is kind-hearted, social, hospitable, and free and open in all his manners, and makes a good, careful, agreeable officer. Possessing all the essential qualities for success, both in public and private life, he has a wonderful influence upon the voters of the county, always receiving their cordial support in times of need.

Captain Ira Y. Traweek, the present Sheriff, was born near Monterey, and has spent all of his life at this pleasant little country village. His father, Hon. William H. Traweek, came to the county about 1820, being one among the county's first settlers. Like a great many of the first settlers, he spent the most of his time in farming and raising stock, but, at the same time, not forgetting the interests of the people. He was elected to the Legislative Halls at Montgomery in 1852, but retired from public life after serving one session. His son, Ira, adopted farming as his occupation, and has made it quite a success. His friends urged him into politics in 1884, and he was elected to the office of Sheriff of the county by a very handsome majority. Being straightforward and prompt, he discharges the duties of his office as efficiently as the people could wish. He is tall, stout, well proportioned, and has a commanding appearance; is polite, obliging, cheerful and agreeable in his manners, making friends wherever he goes. He married a daughter of Mr. Thomas Smith, one of Monterey's cleverest citizens.

Ransom Scale, Clerk of the Circuit Court, was born near Rocky Creek Beat, and spent the early days of his life in this locality. His good father paid special attention to the careful training of his son's mind, giving him every advantage that a man in ordinary circumstances could well give. This course consisted of the branches generally taught in our best high schools. Thus equipped. Ransom starts out as a school-teacher, and meets with great success in every respect. He was a natural teacher, possessing that great faculty of easily imparting his knowledge to others - the thing most essential for the success of any teacher. He possessed another essential to success in teaching, as well as in any other vocation in life, that is a strong will and powerful executive ability - these form the basis of all true success, and no man can be truly great if he is lacking in this particular.

Mr. Seale spent several years in teaching in different localities, and made many friends wherever he stopped. It was while he was teaching a flourishing school at Monterey that he received the nomination in 1874 for Clerk of the Circuit Court, and was elected to that office ; which position he still holds, having been again elected in 1880. He is honest, conscientious, and as sound as a silver dollar; is energetic, particular and prompt in the discharge of the duties devolving upon him as an officer of the people. He is competent to fill any office in the gift of the people.