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John Newton Butler (1841-1923) was born near Cincinnati, Ohio to Isaac Newton Butler (circa 1805-1882) and Nancy Gibson Butler (circa 1815-1850). During the American Civil War Butler enlisted for a three year period and was assigned to Company G 39th, Ohio Infantry. While serving in the US Army, Butler was under the command of General Grant with the western army, and was wounded on July 4, 1864 during General Sherman's famous march to the sea.

Butler then returned home and married Jennie Dickey (1844 -1911) on December 24, 1867. They had four children who lived to adulthood: Cora A. Butler Gage (1869-1958), Frank G. Butler ( -1944), John Butler (1872 -1896), and Alfred Dickey Butler (1878-1941). John Butler taught classes in Eugene, Oregon for a short period of time before relocating his family to a farm in Spokane, Washington in 1877. Between 1900 and1906, he served as a County Commissioner of Spokane County, Washington. Following his wife's death in 1911, Butler remarried in 1914 to Rebecca J. Brown.

Cora A. Butler Gage (1869-1958) graduated from Cheney State Normal School and began a teaching career. She taught in Honolulu, Hawaii for five years before moving to the State of Washington. She married Andrew J. Gage (1861-1951) and served as principal of the Garden Springs Elementary School in Spokane, Washington.

Alfred Dickey Butler (1878-1941) graduated from Spokane High School and attended Washington State College, where he earned his degree in civil engineering. He worked for the Great Northern Railway engineering department before becoming the Spokane City Engineer, a position he held for 24 years. He was married to Zella Elvira Bisbee Butler (1881-1941) who also attended Washington State College, 1901-1904.