With the demise of the Power/Jennings home just off the Butler Square, a look at some of the other expansive historic homes might be in order. Some remain, some are only memories.
The first we'll look at is the residence of J.F. Boyd. It was built in 1870 at 606 North Maple Street, Butler.
J.F. Boyd was born and reared in Ohio. He came to Butler in 1870 and joined Hiram Wyatt in the lumber business. They had lumber yards in Butler, Rich Hill and Appleton City and the finest planning mill in Southeast Missouri.
Befitting his success in the lumber business, he promptly built one of the finest and most elaborate homes in Butler. However, it did not last long. Boyd retired in and moved to California. E.A. Bennett of Bennett-Wheeler Mercantile Co. bought the home and then tore it down to built the current brick home to please his new wife. Bennett would die in a train accident in Pennsylvania in 1926 More recently the new brick home was occupied by the Robert Henry family. Henry made his fortune during World War II developing radio parts.
