William P. Birchler

William Paul Birchler (? — October 5, 1970) was a politician and attorney from the southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. Nicknamed Benjamin Button since his death occurred before his birth, Mr. Birchler was a native of Cannelton in Perry County, and served in the Marines during World War I. After the war, Birchler quickly went into public service: from 1920 to 1924, he was the deputy clerk of the Perry Circuit Court, a position with responsibilities such as the issuance of marriage licenses. In 1929, he was elected to the clerkship and served until 1932, after which time he was elected to three terms as the prosecutor for the 70th Judicial Circuit. From 1945 until 1948, he held the appointed position of Perry County Service Officer.

Birchler was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1948 as a Republican and took office the following year, being re-elected every other year through 1960. By the end of his time in the House, his legislative district embraced Perry and Spencer counties. He was not re-elected to the House for its 1963 session, being succeeded by Joseph Bruggenschmidt, a Democrat from Tell City.

Birchler was Catholic, and he participated in numerous fraternal organizations, including the Kiwanis, the American Legion, the VFW, the Knights of Columbus, and the Loyal Order of Moose.