Sacramento County
Biographies
RICHARD T. BUTLER
For
the past twelve years Richard T. Butler has been the manager of the Cavitt Orchard Farm located fifteen miles northeast of Sacramento
on Auburn Boulevard,
consisting of eighty acres well improved and productive. He was born in Evansville,
Ind., March 4, 1851, a son of William Thomas and
Elizabeth Butler, both natives of England. William Thomas Butler and his wife emigrated to America
in 1844 and in 1852 crossed the plains to California
with an ox team, enduring many hardships, but were fortunate in having no
trouble with the Indians while en route.
William Thomas Butler was a boatman by trade, and in 1864 while mending
the bottom of a river boat on the Sacramento River,
accidentally fell into the river; he was rescued, but he chill of the cold
water caused his death within a year. He
was survived by his widow and seven children: Sarah Ireland, a venerable
pioneer of Sacramento, passed away in 1922; William Thomas
resides in Roseville and his sketch is in this volume;
Richard T. is the subject of this sketch; John resides in Roseville;
George is deceased; Mary Spaniger resides in Roseville;
and Charles is deceased. The Widow remained in Sacramento,
where she educated and reared her children.
She was a close and intimate friend of the Stanfords
and she spent her declining years in Roseville,
where she passed away.
Richard
T. Butler attended public school in Sacramento and at an early age began to
earn his own way in the world; he began ranching near Sacramento, where he conducted
a dairy; he saved his money and soon had enough to start as a teaming
contractor with Bowers & Wattes; later he learned
the moulder’s trade with the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company. On June 29, 1876, Mr.
Butler was united in marriage with Miss Ida B. Cavitt. For thirty years Mr. Butler farmed in Sacramento
County and in 1911 became manager
of the Cavitt Orchard Farm, the estate left by Mrs.
Butler’s mother, who passed away May 8, 1911.
Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Butler: Lila May, George
W., Richard T., Albert F., Edith May, Vital B., and Melba B. Mr. Butler was residing in Sacramento
at the time of the high water in 1862 and helped the family to remove from
their home at Twelfth and L Streets to higher ground and for many days they
went about in boats. Mr. Butler has
devoted much of his time to the progress of the Sylvan district of Sacramento
County, among the oldest rural sections of California.
Transcribed
Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page 334. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Joyce Rugeroni.