The
Butler Family Papers document the history of a local Walla Walla family. Norman
Francis Butler was born in Maine in 1829. He was apprenticed to a carpenter there,
but in 1849 he left for Boston. He took the ship Eudones around Cape Horn to
California where he tried gold mining.
With the slowdown of the mines, Butler moved to the Walla Walla Valley in 1861. He
was the builder of some of the early Fort Walla Walla buildings, many of the older
buildings in town, and four of the first five buildings on the Whitman College
campus.
Norman Butler married Rebecca Westall Boggs in 1865. She died in 1885, leaving three
children, Belle, Ed and Stella.
In 1891, Stella married John Jacob (Jake) Kauffman. Kauffman served as Chief of the
Fire Department in 1894 and 1895 and was appointed Chief of Police the following
year and was elected until 1903. He became chief at the age of 26, one of the
youngest in the history of the area. He later co-founded a local ice and fuel
business, Tausick and Kauffman.
The Kauffman’s daughter Josephine married Ewing W. Stephens in 1922 and the ceremony
was officiated by Whitman College President Dr. S.B. Penrose.
The Stephens’ had two children, John W. and Elizabeth. Elizabeth married Howard
Martin in 1945. He served as a judge in the area for nearly thirty years until his
death in 2008. Mrs. Martin died in 2007.
Content Description
The Butler Family Papers includes biographical information, correspondence, newspaper
clippings, photographs and memorabilia about the Butler, Kauffman, Stephens, and
Martin families and information on Butler House, an historic Walla Walla home built
by Norman Butler in
1882.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available :
Restrictions on Access :
None.
Restrictions on Use :
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. for copyright not
held by Whitman College.
Preferred Citation :
Butler Family Papers, Whitman College and
Northwest Archives.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
By series.
Location of Originals :
Acquisition Information :
Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives by Shaun Martin in June
2008.
Separated Materials :
Related Materials :
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series 1: Rebecca Westfall Boggs Butler and
Norman Francis Butler material
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Box 1
Abstract of Title, Woodward and Stearns,
SE4 18 71 23, Charlton, Iowa
1854-1876
Marriage Certificate, Officiant P.B. Chamberlain, first principal
of Whitman Seminary, Walla Walla, Washington Territory, recorded on
certification page of "The Christian Minister's Affectionate Advice to A
Married Couple" by Reverend James Dean, A.M.
May 16, 1865
Rebecca Butler to "brother and sister" Granville and Jeanetta
Westall
Febrary 1, 1870
Rebecca Butler to "brother and sister" Granville and Jeanetta
Westall
January 1, 1871
Rebecca Butler to "brother" Granville Westfall
June 3, 1871
Rebecca Butler to "brother and sister" Granville and Jeanetta
Westall
October 1, 1871
Memorium Concert, General U.S. Grant, Second Cavalry Band, Fort
Walla Walla, Washington Territory
circa 1885
Funeral Notice, Rebecca Butler, in Walla Walla, Washington
Territory
May 27, 1886
Commencement Exercises of Whitman College, of Park Weed Willis
May 31, 1888
"Sister" Jane Groggins, to N.F. Butler, death of sister
March 2, 1890
Norman F. Butler, obituary
1913
Whitman College Fifty-year Plus News, Letter from S.B.L. Penrose
re Norman F. Butler, Memorial Hall and Billings Hall construction
superintendant tribute
