Catherine Bonnet Butts Grave

Catherine Butts Gravesite from:  GRAVES AND SITES ON THE OREGON AND CALIFORNIA TRAILS
by Randy Brown and Reg Duffin
Oregon-California Trails Association; Independence, MO

Forty-four descendants from points as diverse as Alaska, Oregon, California, and Washington, and ranging in age from two to ninety-one, attended the dedication of the marker at the Catherine Bonnett Butts grave on June 4, 1988.

Robert P. Head, who owns the land on which Catherine Bonnett Butts is buried, welcomed preservation efforts at he Butts grave, but has a landowner's natural caution about permitting entry on his land. A practical arrangement has been worked out whereby OCTA members may obtain permission to visit the gravesite by producing a current OCTA membership card.

Use Exit 87 off I-84 two miles east of The Dalles, Oregon, to reach US 197. drive south on 197 about 32 miles to Oregon 216 at Tygh Valley. Turn east and drive about 4 miles and turn left on Conroy Road, shortly after passing a sign for white river State Park. Drive north for a half mile to a locked gate and farmhouse. this is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ward from whom permission to visit the grave must be obtained. Ben Ward --- 58133 Conroy Road --- Tygh Valley, Oregon --- 541-483-2476

Full text of OCTA Marker

CATHARINE BONNETT BUTTS

 This is the grave of Catherine Bonnet Butts, who died here on October 2, 1845. she was on the Meek Cutoff  Route of the Oregon Trail, descending Hollenbeck Hill to the Deschutes River. This quote is from the diary of a family friend, Samuel Parker:

"October 5 ... Heare we beried
Missis Butts and 3 more"

There are other graves in the immediate vicinity, all unidentified.
Mrs. Butts was born in 1812 on Little Skin Creek, Weston, Virginia,

Signing by
OREGON - CALIFORNIA
TRAILS ASSOCIATION
   

Research and Funding by

MR. & MRS. L. ROBERT TEMPLEMAN
PALISADE, NEBRASKA

1987
     
This is a part of your American heritage. Honor it, protect it, preserve it for your children

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