ɪn ɐ lˈɛɾɚ tʊ ˈɛdɪɾɚ wˈɪljəm ˈɛs. spˈɪɹ, hˌuː wʌz kəmpˈaɪlɪŋ ˌɪnfɚmˈeɪʃən fɔːɹ hɪz bˈʊk, skˈɛtʃᵻz ʌv pɹˈɑːmɪnənt tˈɛnɪsˌiənz, bˈʌtlɚ stˈeɪɾᵻd:
In a letter to editor William S. Speer, who was compiling information for his book, Sketches of Prominent Tennesseans, Butler stated: