Bluff in San Juan County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Butt Families

Photographed by James Hulse, March 28, 2025

1. The Butt Families Marker

Inscription.

The Butt Families. . Parley Butt, at age 17, participated in the five-month expedition to locate a site for the settlement and a route to it. Upon his return to his family in Parowan, Utah, he and his brother Dick (Willard) Butt journeyed to Bluff with the other Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers. As they made the difficult journey, Parley went from camp-to-camp assisting families with their children, cooking, and doing other camping chores. Dick, age 21 and single, was assigned to oversee the herding of the company's large collective cattle herd., After one year in Bluff, Parley returned to Parowan where he courted his sweetheart, Ency Bayles. After marrying in the St. George Temple, the young couple made Bluff their home. Ency was a dedicated mother. In 1897 at age 33, Ency was playing one evening with their seven children, ranging in age from 1 to 14, when she developed a cough. Shortly after going to bed, she went into convulsions and died. Once again a family and the community had cause to mourn., Parley married Edith Bayles, Ency's sister, in 1898. Edith lovingly cared for her sister's children, and she and Parley had five children of her own. Three of her children reached adulthood. Parley and his brother Dick farmed, raised cattle, and established a dairy and sawmill. They also helped establish the communities of Verdure and Monticello, north of Bluff., Dick Butt fell in love with Julia Nielson, one of Jens and Elsie Nielson's daughters. Wanting the blessings of a temple marriage, they traveled 400 miles to and from the St. George Temple. They had four children; all lived to adulthood., Dick became the first county-appointed sheriff around 1889. His compensation was $100 per year. Prior to Dick's appointment, the position of sheriff was unpaid, temporary, and rotated among the men. Due to its remoteness, San Juan County was a sanctuary for men avoiding the law. Dick's bravery, wisdom, and fairness as sheriff is legendary. His home became a place where arrested criminals were generously fed and cared for by Julia. Julia and Dick were also quick to assist weary travelers without thought of compensation., Captions , (Photo #1) Parley about 1879 , (Photo #2) Ency about 1883 , (Photo #3) Edith and Parley 1898 , (Photo #4) Julia and Dick about 1899

Parley Butt, at age 17, participated in the five-month expedition to locate a site for the settlement and a route to it. Upon his return to his family in Parowan, Utah, he and his brother Dick (Willard) Butt journeyed to Bluff with the other Hole-in-the-Rock pioneers. As they made the difficult journey, Parley went from camp-to-camp assisting families with their children, cooking, and doing other camping chores. Dick, age 21 and single, was assigned to oversee the herding of the company's large collective cattle herd.

After one year in Bluff, Parley returned to Parowan where he courted his sweetheart, Ency Bayles. After marrying in the St. George Temple, the young couple made Bluff their home. Ency was a dedicated mother. In 1897 at age 33, Ency was playing one evening with their seven children, ranging in age from 1 to 14, when she developed a cough. Shortly after going to bed, she went into convulsions and died. Once again a family and the community had cause to mourn.

Parley married Edith Bayles, Ency's sister, in 1898. Edith lovingly cared for her sister's children, and she and Parley had five children of her own. Three of her children reached adulthood. Parley and his brother Dick farmed, raised cattle, and established a dairy and sawmill. They also helped establish the communities of Verdure and Monticello,

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north of Bluff.

Dick Butt fell in love with Julia Nielson, one of Jens and Elsie Nielson's daughters. Wanting the blessings of a temple marriage, they traveled 400 miles to and from the St. George Temple. They had four children; all lived to adulthood.

Dick became the first county-appointed sheriff around 1889. His compensation was $100 per year. Prior to Dick's appointment, the position of sheriff was unpaid, temporary, and rotated among the men. Due to its remoteness, San Juan County was a sanctuary for men avoiding the law. Dick's bravery, wisdom, and fairness as sheriff is legendary. His home became a place where arrested criminals were generously fed and cared for by Julia. Julia and Dick were also quick to assist weary travelers without thought of compensation.

Captions
(Photo #1) Parley about 1879
(Photo #2) Ency about 1883
(Photo #3) Edith and Parley 1898
(Photo #4) Julia and Dick about 1899

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.

Location. 37° 17.017′ N, 109° 33.173′ W. Marker is in Bluff, Utah, in San Juan County. It is at the intersection of Black Locust Avenue and 5th E Street on Black Locust Avenue. The marker is located at the Bluff

The Butt Families Cabin and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 28, 2025

2. The Butt Families Cabin and Marker

Fort Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 550 Black Locust Ave, Bluff UT 84512, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Navajo Nation

and in Canyon Country.

It is also in the American Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: F.I. Jones & Mackelprang Families (here, next to this marker); Parley R. & Ency Camilla (Bayles) Butt (here, next to this marker); Henry & Sarah Ann Robinson Holyoak Wagon Encampment Display (a few steps from this marker); The San Juan Gold Rush (a few steps from this marker); Irrigation - The San Juan Pioneers Greatest Challenge (within shouting distance of this marker); Bayles Family (within shouting distance of this marker); Josephine Catherine Chatterley Wood (within shouting distance of this marker); Barton Family (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bluff.

Also see . . . Bluff Fort Visitor Center. Hole in the Rock Foundation website entry (Submitted on April 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The Ency C. Butt Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 28, 2025

3. The Ency C. Butt Marker

The inside view of the Butt Families Cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 28, 2025

4. The inside view of the Butt Families Cabin

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 198 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 22, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.