Monday, December 14, 2020

BUTCH CASSIDY'S BOYHOOD HOME? . . . NOT SO FAST








 

Have you read, or been told that this was “Butch Cassidy’s boyhood home?” For over fifty years, ever since Lula Parker Betenson started showing the cabin to visitors in the mid 1960’s, it has been known as such, possibly even earlier. But did you know that Butch (Robert Leroy Parker) never lived here?



The tale of Butch Cassidy’s early life is fascinating with Butch growing up in Beaver, the family moving to Circleville, Butch working on various ranches, Butch raising and racing thoroughbred horses,  Butch learning the outlaw trade from his mentor Mike Cassidy, Butch having to leave home one step in front of the law. But through it all, Butch never lived here.

Research into the land records indicates that Max Parker, Butch’s father did not even settle on the land where the cabin stands until somewhere between August and October of 1885, over a year after Butch left home in June 1884.



Other records indicate that the family lived first in Beaver, Utah, where Butch was born, then moved to some property Northwest of Circleville in 1879. When Max Parker lost this land the family lived for a while on the James Marshall ranch, twelve miles South of Circleville. When Max was unsuccessful in buying that ranch in 1884 he later settled in 1885 on the property later known as the Parker Ranch and where many people think Butch lived.

Since Butch left home in June of 1884, he never lived in that cabin.