Gresham Historical Society · Northwest Digital Heritage

Description

Black and white photo of the Euphemia Butler homestead in the Pleasant Valley area. Two-story farmhouse with pyramid hip roof and a woodshed stands at left of photo and a barn at the right further in the distance. Cleared land in foreground; possibly cultivated but type of crop is unclear. Photo is a c.1980s reproduction. People: Butler, Euphemia; Clinton, Ralph

Provenance

According to notes on the envelope and back of the photo, the Butler family applied for land under the Homestead Act in 1873 and was approved in 1878. However, they first arrived on the property as squatters, clearing the land and building a house before officially laying claim to the property. George Butler died soon after, leaving his wife Euphemia a widow with four young children. Two other children are believed to have died earlier and are buried on the property. Euphemia, who was illiterate, learned to read and write, then applied for and was awarded two homesteads. She and her children sold lumber to local sawmills for their income. The barn was built around 1875 and the house in about 1882. The woodshed visible behind the house was the original cabin. Her daughter, Ida, and son-in-law George purchased part of the property in 1903, and the rest was divided among Euphemia's children when she died in 1906. Ralph Clinton, a great-grandson of Euphemia through her daughter Ellen, grew up on the Butler homstead and eventually bought Ida's property in 1945 with his wife Bessie. It became a Century Farm in 1985. Over the years, the Clintons and other descendants sold pieces of the property, which became housing developments and Butler Creek School. Today only a small piece of the property remains.

Euphemia Butler Homestead

More about this item