bˈʌtlɚ wʌz ᵻlˈɛktᵻd tə ðə tˌɛnəsˈiː hˈaʊs ʌv ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntətˌɪvz ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti nˈaɪn, ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntɪŋ dʒˈɑːnsən ænd kˈɑːɹɾɚ kˈaʊntiz, ænd wʌz ɹiːᵻlˈɛktᵻd ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti wˈʌn.
Butler was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1859, representing Johnson and Carter counties, and was reelected in 1861.