Albert Israel Butner was born on this day in 1821, in Bethania, to Heinrich H. and Salome S. Butner.
When he was 12 years old, he entered the Salem Boys School and attended school there until he was sent to the Moravian Theological Department of Nazareth Hall at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He spent about five years in Pennsylvania, then returned to Salem. He taught in the Boys School for about eight years, then went to Huntsville and taught school there. Later, he accepted the position of principal of a school in Whiteville, then left to pursue a different line of work.
He returned to teaching at the Bethania Academy, and served on the board of examiners of county public school teachers. When a school board was formed, he was elected county superintendent of the public schools. He served in this capacity from 1885 to 1896, until another superintendent was chosen. He continued teaching, although he was in his 80s, until he retired due to poor health.
He was married first to Johanna Sophia Zevely and second to Sarah Carrie Stoltz.
Albert passed away in 1914.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
