"April 9, 1827 -- August 18th, 1902" Roderick Randum Butler was a(n) tailor, lawyer, postmaster, soldier, public servant, judge, and American politician. He was born in Wytheville, Virginia and moved to Taylorsville, Tennessee. Roderick studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1853. He was delegate to the Republican National Conventions (1864,1872, and 1876), delegate to the Tennessee state constitutional convention (1865), county judge, judge of the 1st circuit of Tennessee, chairman of the first state Republican executive committee of Tennessee, delegate to the Baltimore Border State Convention, president of the Republican state conventions (1869 and 1882), and member of the Tennessee state house of representatives (1879-1885). Butler served as a major of the First Battalion of the Tennessee Militia, in the Union Army as lieutenant colonel of the 13th Regiment of the Tennessee volunteer Cavalry (November 5, 1863 - April 25, 1864). Roderick also served as postmaster of Taylorsville and a member of the Tennessee state senate (1859 -1863 and 1893 -1901). Roderick was elected as a Republican to the 40th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, and 50th Congresses (March 4, 1867 - March 3, 1875 and March 4, 1887 - March 3, 1889). Butler was censured by the U.S. House of Representatives (March 17, 1870) for selling an appointment to the United States Military Academy West Point. He was not elected to the 44th of 51st Congresses. During his time on Congress he served as chairman on the Committee on the Militia (43rd Congress). [Source: 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774 - Present', available at https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=B001188]"