Edwin Butterfield, one of eight children of Asaph and Lydia Butterfield, was born September 5, 1825. His mother died in 1836, and his father in 1839. Edwin was raised by his older brother, Charles, in Walnut County, Illinois.

Edwin married Mary E. Chapman on July 20, 1848. She was born May 24, 1829 in New York State. In 1854 Edwin and Mary moved to Hokah, Minnesota. Here they raised a family of eight children, while Edwin built and operated a mill.

In 1879 the family moved to a claim near Valley City; Ira, his brother helping Edwin to build a house.

Edwin died December 9, 1880 of an apparent heart attack. Mary lived to age 74 and died at Mt. Vernon, Washington.

Ira Butterfield had married Annie Selfridge of Illinois, and his family homesteaded in Cuba Township in 1881. Three children were born here, increasing the family to 11. They are Eva (Mrs. Hermon Personius), 7 children: Charles, Harry, Lilly (Mrs. Thomas Ellis), Esther (Mrs. George Albert McCready), Lydia (Mrs. Roy Phillips), Benjamin, Ruth (Mrs. Charles P. Davis), Cassius, Rachel and Bessie (Mrs. Carl Wagg).

The original tree claim is still in the family and is now owned by Mrs. Justus (Ida) Personius.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 42