Cheek, Martha Butt Photograph Collection, 1850-1977

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator: Cheek, Martha Alberta Butt

Title: Photograph Collection, 1850-1977

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.

Size of Collection: 433 items

Location Number: 008PC25

Scope and Content Note 

Genealogical photos, daguerreotypes and tintypes of Martha Butt Cheek’s family. Families included in the photos are: Butt, Townsend, Offutt, Ewing, De Graffenried, and Sandifer.

Also included are historical photos of Logan County, Kentucky and Red River Church Meeting House.

Biographical Note 

Martha Alberta Butt was born in 1892 to Dr. Albert L. and Elizabeth D. Townsend Butt, possibly in Logan County, Kentucky. Throughout her life, she collected and compiled genealogical data for various Kentucky families, including her own, and collected information on Kentucky state and church history. In particular, she focused on the Red River Church, Graveyard, and Meeting House, where the Great Revival of 1800 occurred. The culmination of her research came in the form of a manuscript entitled The Old Red River Meeting House and Morton Maulding’s Fort, in which she detailed the history of the church, its grounds, and the revival that took place there. Martha B. Cheek, as she was known after her marriage to Francis J. Cheek in 1924, served in the Red River Memorial Association, getting the organization statewide and national recognition. Even in her old age, despite illnesses and injuries, she continued her research by assisting people with their family genealogy. She passed away in 1987, at the age of 94.

Photograph List 

Box 1 

008PC25.1-.3: Martha A. Butt as a child and young woman

008PC25.4: Martha Alberta Butt and her daughter Martha Robertson Cheek circa 1932 or 1933

008PC25.5-.5b: Martha Alberta Butt Cheek and Frank J. Cheek Jr. in their 60s.

008PC25.6-.9: Martha Alberta Butt circa 1920 or 1921

008PC25.10 & .11: Studio portraits of Martha Alberta Butt as an infant and young child

008PC25.12-.16: Penny pictures of Martha Alberta Butt as a girl

008PC25.17-.21: Candids of Martha Alberta Butt as a young woman

008PC25.22: Martha A. Butt Cheek as a middle-aged woman

008PC25.23: Martha Alberta Butt around 5 years old

008PC25.24-.27: Martha Albert Butt enjoying recreational activities with family and friends

008PC25.28: Marth, Winnie, and Amanda Butt drive a carriage across Little Whipporwill Creek. Elizabeth “Bessie” Townsend Butt and the governess (Miss. Mamie Coleman) stand near the covered bridge.

008PC25.29: Dr. Albert L. Butt and wife Elizabeth relax on the front porch of their home in Russelville, Kentucky. They are accompanied by two of their daughters. Amanda is reading in a rocking chair. Martha Alberta Butt sits on the steps. A dog rests near Elizabeth’s feet.

008PC25.30: Photo of Martha Alberta Butt around 5 years old in an oval frame.

008PC25.31a & .31b: Dr. Albert L. Butt (1858-1941) as a boy and his boyhood home near Portland, Tennessee.

008PC25.32: Studio portrait of Dr. Albert L. Butt circa 1900

008PC25.33 & .34: Candids of Dr. Albert L. Butt with family

008PC25.35: Dr. Albert L. Butt standing in a tall corn field in Sleepy Hollow, Logan County, Kentucky

008PC25.36-.41: Penny pictures of Dr. Albert L. Butt

008PC25.42-.50: Pictures of Dr. Albert L. Butt in old age. In some photos he is shown with family members.

008PC25.51: A portfolio of 2 studio portraits, one of Dr. Albert L. Butt the other of Elizabeth “Bessie” Townsend Butt. Both were taking in their later years.

008PC25.52 & .53: Elizabeth “Bessie” D. Townsend as a girl.

008PC25.54: Elizabeth “Bessie” D. Townsend Butt as a young woman

008PC25.55-.57: Penny Pictures of Elizabeth “Bessie” D. Townsend Butt as a middle-aged woman

008PC25.58-.59: Elizabeth “Bessie” D. Townsend Butt in middle age

008PC25.60-.69: Elizabeth “Bessie” D. Townsend Butt in her later years.

008PC25.70: Painting by Elizabeth “Bessie” Davidson Townsend (Butt)

008PC25.71: Winnie, Amanda and Bess at Parson’s Campground

008PC25.72: Winnie and Amanda at old house in Logan Co., 1903

008PC25.73: Winnie Butt

008PC25.74-.77: Amanda Butt

008PC25.78: Richard Calvin Butt, Elizabeth Hinton Butt, and Mary Butt (Buntin). Richard and Elizabeth are the paternal grandparents of Martha Alberta Butt Cheek.

008PC25.79: Elizabeth Hinton Butt

008PC25.80: Alexander “Bud” Butt

008PC25.81-.88: Penny pictures of various Butt family members

008PC25.89: Tintype of Gin (Elizabeth Davidson Townsend’s “servant girl”

008PC25.90a-.90f: Photo of memorial plaque at Franklin-Simpson Memorial Hospital bearing Dr. and Mrs. A. L. Butt’s names.

008PC25.91-.98: Misc. unidentified human subjects from Butt family photos

008PC25.99-.102: Butt family dogs

008PC25.103-.106: Misc photos

008PC25.107-.124: Unidentified Butt family photos, including people, houses and landscapes.

 

Box 2

008PC25.125-.147: Photos of Alleyne “Amanda” Butt deGraffenried and Anthony F. deGraffenried family.

008PC25.148-.165: Photos of Winnie Butt Sandifer and Henry Sandifer family.

008PC25.166: Presely Ephraim Townsend (b. 1823) and Amanda Offutt Family (b. 1824)

008PC25.167 & .167A: Presley Townsend on horseback

008PC25.168: Home of Presley Townsend with family members (listed on back)

008PC25.169-.171: Presley Townsend

008PC25.172: Martha Jane Townsend (Penick) (1848-1942), Elizabeth “Bessie” Townsend Butt (1863-1961), and Robert Townsend (1848-1929).

008PC25.173: Martha Jane Townsend (Penick)

008PC25.174: Tintype of Thomas J. Townsend (1846-1931) and G. Ewing Townsend (1858-1926)

008PC25.175: Thomas J. Towsend

008PC25.176: Thomas and Benttie Townsend

008PC25.177: Thomas J. Townsend

008PC25.178-.180: Home of T. J. Townsend

008PC25.181-.185: Robert Townsend (1892-1955)

008PC25.186N: Negative of Roberta Townsend Schlesinger

008PC25.187 & .188: Thomas Wooten Townsend

008PC25.189: Grace Lee Brown Townsend

008PC25.190: Home of Presley Townsend Jr.

008PC25.191: Presley Townsend, Jr. and Oscar Campbell

008PC25.192: Presley, John and Till Townsend

008PC25.193: Presley Townsend, Jr. in his store in Alabama

008PC25.194 & .195: Presley Towsend, Jr.

008PC25.196: Sabrea E. Townsend Campbell and her Father Presley E. Towsend, Jr.

008PC25.197: Sabrea E. Townsend

008PC25.198: Richard Townsend

008PC25.199: Edmund, Sabrea and Richard Townsend

008PC25.200-.217: Sabrea Townsend Campbell and her children

008PC25.218 & .219: Edmond Porter Townsend (1890 – 1944) and Sadie Louise Anderson (b. 1891) family

008PC25.220 & .221: Joe and Lena Townsend family

008PC25.222: Tilghman O. Townsend (b.1880; d. 1965) and wife Myrtle Davis

008PC25.223: Virgil Townsend and family (1946)

008PC25.224-.247: Misc. Townsend family photos

 

Box 3

008PC25.248-.251: Moye, Barker, and Green family photos

008PC25.252-.254: Aunt Kate Butt Barker Moye’s home in Portland, Tennessee and farming photos

008PC25.255: Carrie Wall

008PC25.256 & .257: The Tilghman Offutt home, Logan Co., KY

008PC25.258-.260: Joseph Faulconer home, Lexington, KY

008PC25.261: Flora Offutt Sanderson, Chris Burst, Betty Lee McKenzie,  Hazel Turner and Lena Mae Offutt Harrison.

008PC25.262 & .263: Julia Robards Nichols, photo of painting

008PC25.264: Dr. Robert M. Ewing, photo of painting

008PC25.265: The Peaks of Otter, near Ewing’s Mountain and Justice Robert Ewing’s home

008PC25.266: Cedar Glen, home of Justice Robert Ewing, and later home of William Ewing

008PC25.267-.281n: Ewing family homes and persons

008PC25.282: John Casey McClendon

008PC25.283: Un-identified men with family crest

008PC25.284: Old Simmon’s Mill at the crossing of Red River

008PC25.285 & .286: Home and office of Dr. James Butler Bowling

 

Red River Church – Red River Meeting House photos

008PC25.286: Reverend McWilliams and wife. Rev. McWilliams preached at Red River circa 1887-1888.

008PC25.287-.288N: Group meeting at the Covington’s house. Butt family member including Martha Butt are present.

008PC25.289-.296: Martha Butt Cheek at various Red River Meeting House ceremonial function.

008PC25.297-.318N: Group photos from Red River Meeting House

008PC25.319 & .320: Commemorative Plaque at Red River Meeting House

008PC25.321-.332: Red River Meeting House Cemetery photos

008PC25.333-.336N: Evan McPherson tombstone featuring Gailic inscriptions at Red River Meeting House Cemetery.

008PC25.337-.340: Wilderness and landscape photos

008PC25.341-.342c: Red River Meeting House building and cemetery in Autumn.

008PC25.343-.350n: Red River Meeting House buildings

 

Sections of a book Martha Butt Cheek was compiling on Logan County History

008PC25.351: First Capitol of Kentucky in Danville, Kentucky

008PC25.352: Logan County Court House

008PC25.353-.355: Reverend William J. Hayden

008PC25.356: Minister Hiram A. Hunter

008PC25.357-.359: The Church through the Years

008PC25.360: Red River Meeting House Plaque

008PC25.361 & .361N: Map of Cumberland Country, areas of modern-day Tennessee and Kentucky in 1785 showing white settlements.

008PC25.362: 1904 photo of the Red River Meeting House

008PC25.363: 1953 monument dedication

008PC25.364: Judge Henry P. Broadnax (1769-1857)

008PC25.365: Silver communion set

008PC25.366 & .367: Evan McPherson monument

 

Misc. Photos

008PC25.368 & .369: Plaque and monument

008PC25.370: King’s Bridge and Mill 1924

008PC25.371 & .372: Logan County Court House on commemorative plates

008PC25.373: Logan College Class of 1902, Spring 1900 (Winnie Butt’s class)

008PC25.374: Home of Caleb Baker Wallace and Magdelan McDowell in Danville

008PC25.375: New Music-Arts Building to replace old Tunis residence

008PC25.376: Lynching in Russellville

008PC25.377: Photo of a book

008PC25.378: Revolutionary War soldier William Hancock

008PC25.379-.381: William Hancock Homestead in Adair County

008PC25.382: Daughters of the American Revolution monument to Mary Desha

008PC25.383: Presley O’Bannon and Dr. Bibb home in Russellville

008PC25.384: Old home of Jimmie Duncan 8 miles southeast of Russellville

008PC25.385-.387: The Simmons Mill

008PC25.388: Polly Hawkins Craig

008PC25.389: Julia Shaw

008PC25.390: Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Cheek

008PC25.391: Dr. Green Simmons

008PC25.392: Dr. Robert P. Townsend

008PC25.393: Dr. Robert P. Towsend’s daughter Roberta Townsend

008PC25.394: John J. Craig and Amanda R. Goodloe

 

Miscellaneous Negatives

008PC25.395N-.397N: “Martha’s films of “mama and papa”; envelope contains calling card of Mrs. Albert L. Butt

008PC25.398N-.404N: “Amanda, etc.”

008PC25.405N-.409N: Monument with plaque

008PC25.410N-.413N: churchyard after first cleaning, 1946/47

008PC25.414N-.415N: The “Forrest” in 1947 at Red River

008PC25.416 N: Monument with its plaque and the many stones beyond it, many of which have been vandalized, since 1953

008PC25.417N: 1847 Church with Martha B. Cheek and Thomas J. Townsend III, both age 14

008PC25.418N: Sketch of Red River Meeting House

008PC25.419N-.425N: Unidentified book

 

Box 4

Tintypes, Daguerreotypes and Photograph Albums

008PC25.426: Photo album with tintypes and photos from the 19th century.  People include: Dr. Cardwell, Amanda Offutt Townsend [Mrs. P.E. Townsend] (1824-1890), Presley Ephraim [P. E.] Townsend  (1826-1896), Mrs. Tivic, Lola M. Penick, Claude Townsend, Thomas M. Penick, Mattie “Martha Jane” Townsend Penick, Tilghman Townsend, Tilghman Offutt II, George Cregor, Rubye Crocker, Tilghman Offutt, Susan Faulconer Offutt, John Edwards, Creed Penick, Henry Conn, Matti Grim Conn, Virgil Townsend, Mr. and Mrs. James Monroe Pence, Nannie Pence, Saphonia Ewing Bowling, Patsy Boyd Pence, Florence M. Judkins Moore, Roy Moore, John Judkins, Mary McCutcheon Sugg, Annie and John Edwards, Elijah Faulconer, Josh Mock, Jennie Huey, J.M. Penick (1809-1877), Margaret Penick (1813-1873), Randolph Moore, Gilbert Moore, Joe Link, Jesse McFerrin, Bill Cartwright.

008PC25.427: Photo album with many 19th century photos. People include: Bob Beauchamp (1850-1925), Tilgman Townsend (1850-1890), Pres Townsend Jr. (1852-1931), Tilghmann Offutt Jr., Bob Offutt, Mrs. Bob Offutt, Dr. Pence, Ananias Pence, Patsy Boyd Pence, Reasonable Boyd, Liz Boyd, Thomas J. Townsend (1846-1931) and Robert Presley Townsend (1848-1929), Bob Offut and wife, Mr. George Hall, Joseph Link, Jane Pamelia Townsend Bowling Link,  Joe Link Jr., Joe Offutt, Tilghman Offutt, Ann Offutt McCarley, Jimmie Offutt, Miss Susie Dorsey, Annie Knotts, Bill Stewart, Maraduke Morton, Dr. Stevenson.

008PC25.428: Tintypes of Richard Calvin Butt (1820-1899) and Elizabeth Hinton Butt (1820-1893) in frame.

008PC25.429: Daguerreotype of Elizabeth Davidson Ewing Townsend (1788-1867) in embossed case with maroon velvet interior lining.

008PC25.430: Daguerreotype of Dr. John P McClendon with wife Mary Townsend and son Horace Eugene in embossed case with brown velvet interior.

008PC25.431: Tintype of Tilghman Offutt in embossed case with royal blue velvet interior.

008PC25.432: Tintype of Susannah Faulconer Offut in embossed case with blue velvet interior and embossed floral motif.

008PC25.433: CDV of John Hunt Morgan and his wife, Mattie Ready Morgan; removed from Presley Townsend Scrapbook, vol. 1351.