John Lowe Butler (1808-1861) was born in Kentucky to John and Charity Lowe Butler. In 1831 he married Caroline Skeen, whose family was originally from Tennessee. In 1835 he and Caroline were baptised into the LDS Church. They moved to Missouri where he was involved in the conflicts with non-Mormons. He was a member of the Danites and was a captain of militia. While living in Nauvoo he was a bodyguard to Joseph Smith. He and his family migrated west and settled in Utah County. He was married to eight women and was the father of fifteen children.