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JOHN DUVALL BOUTILLIER by Mary Corcoran  John Duvall Boutillier was a Williamsport general merchandiser and grocer, as well as having the contract for the Williamsport-Steele mail route. He was born in May 1847 in St. Ouen, Petite, Jersey, Channel Islands, a much-disputed British crown dependency off the western coast of France. He migrated to the U.S. where he served four months in the Civil War as a private in the Iowa 45th Infantry in 1864.
His name was originally LeBoutillier, but he served under the alias of Butler. He came to Emmons County around 1890 with his wife Martha “Mattie” Alice Long (1852-1899), whom he married in 1872 in Crawford County, KS.. The Boutilliers had nine children. His older sons helped him deliver groceries, as well as his “first class smoked meats,” which could be ordered through his mail delivery wagons.
Boutillier also served as Deputy Sheriff for Williamsport, and one 1896 newspaper article cites him as arresting a saloon owner of “a blind pig” near Lisbon. ND. “Blind pigs” were the favored name for illegal saloons, going back to a Massachusetts custom where a proprietor would collect money to see “a blind pig,” and then surreptitiously give the customer a drink of whiskey.
Boutillier moved to Bismarck in 1899, where his wife Mattie died very suddenly. Son Daniel had volunteered to serve in the Philippine Insurrection. Son Charles joined the U.S. Army at Ft. Yates to serve in the Spanish American War. Boutillier and his five remaining children then moved to Spokane, WA by 1900. Son Walter and Peter moved to Kootenai, ID where they worked in a logging camp.
John Boutillier was listed as a Railroad Engineer in the 1900 Census. He died in 30 December 1916 in Spokane, WA. His career as farmer, soldier, entrepreneur, mail route owner, lawman, and lastly, railroad engineer, was typical of the many, varied roles of early pioneers.
Click photos for a larger view. They are the courtesy of Bob Shorman Additional Boutillier Information John's original surname was LeBoutillier. Across the years, records have indicated a middle name of Lee instead of the Le part of his surname. He also used John L. Butler and John Butter as alias' in the Civil War.
He enlisted on 4 May 1864 as a Private into Company B, Iowa 45th Infantry Regiment and mustered out on 16 September 1864 at Keokuk, Iowa. He has two pension records; one is under the name John Butter and the other under John L. Butler and both have him starting to receive his pension in North Dakota on 3 August 1890.
John and Martha's children included:
John Walter (16 Mar 1870-7 Oct 1952),
Charles,
Daniel Lee,
William L.,
Emma (1885 ND - 26 May 1960, married H. H. Hull),
Frank,
Peter,
and Iva.
In the 1890 Veterans Federal Census he is living in Emmons County. In 1880 he is living in Kansas and in 1900 he is in Spokane, Washington.
Click for Large View John's Burial, Family and Tombstone Pictures Martha's Burial |
