John Butson was born at St Anns, Cornwall and arrived in Victoria in 1855 on board the Omega.  He came to South Australia in 1858 first going to Burra then Moonta.  He married Grace Martin daughter of John Berriman and Jane nee Martin at Moonta in 1862 and they had nine children.  John held the responsible positionof foreman pitman for the Wallaroo and Moonta Company for many years and for two years represented the South Ward in the Moonta Council.  He took active interest in the AH &F Society and exhibited in the floral sections.  His health had been failing for some time and he died at his home in Caroline Street, Moonta.  The Mayor and Councillors of the Moonta Corporation, representatives from the Mining Company and members of the Moonta M.U. Lodge attended the funeral.  He is buried in the Moonta Cemetery Row 13 Grave East609.