Maude Kimball Butler: a story of her own

Many of us are familiar with Julia Butler Hansen, Cathlamet businesswoman, state legislator and United States congresswoman, and namesake of the diminutive white house at the corner of Main and Butler in Cathlamet.

The more historically inclined among us probably know something about Julia’s mother, Maude Kimball Butler. Thanks to Emily Kintigh, a senior at the University of Denver, Colorado, visitors to the Julia Butler Hansen Heritage Center can learn more about the pioneering family from Maude herself.

For the past several months, Kintigh has been sifting through papers, photographs and other artifacts stashed away in the historic house as part of her college internship. She has been surprised at the depth of the personal history.

“I started perusing through old boxes and dressers and found letters, journals, and even dance cards from 1913 left by the people who lived in this house,” Kintigh said.

“There were three generations who lived here before David Hansen, Julia’s son,” Kintigh explained. “Julia’s grandparents – James and Julia Kimball – moved to Cathlamet in the 1880s because James wanted to have a hand in creating the nation.”

They came to the West coast by train from New Hampshire. After arriving in Cathlamet, James managed logging camps in the Elochoman Valley and Julia was the first woman bookkeeper for the operation. Kintigh found postcards and letters that were sent to the Kimballs from their home state in the 1870s.

Maude Kimball was born to James and Julia in 1880, an only child. She became a teacher in Skamokawa at age 16, superintendent of Wahkiakum County schools at age 23 and served on the ration board during the first World War. When she lost her husband in 1916, she raised her three children – Julia, Donald and James – by herself.

Maude eventually lost her youngest son, Donald, when he was struck by a delivery truck driven by a neighbor. According to her, it was the first fatal car accident in downtown Cathlamet.

A group called American Mothers named Maude Washington State Mother of the Year in 1961. She was also a prolific writer and artist, as Kintigh discovered.

“She wrote so many manuscripts, short stories and poetry,” she said. “Her journals were her thoughts on things like the beginning of World War I and politics. She wasn’t allowed to vote, but she loved to debate with her dad and her husband.”

Kintigh also found an autograph book from the 1890s, with short poems and signatures by familiar names like Louise Scarborough.

“It’s amazing to go through these papers and see the ties to other people we’ve heard of,” added Marti Kintigh, Emily’s mother and Chamber Coordinator for the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce.

Kintigh has been scanning and archiving all of the materials in order to preserve the history of the Kimball family, and has sent copies of some items to the Washington State Historical Society for their archives.

She has approached local organizations like the Wahkiakum Historical Society to raise awareness of the project and to raise funds. Private donors have made it possible for her to buy archival supplies, so that papers can be kept in the house without being lost to mold and insects.

Kintigh is returning to Denver in January, but plans to continue her work there. David Hansen recently gave her a copy of Maude’s autobiography, which she is editing and hopes to publish in the near future.

In the meantime, all of the materials that have been archived are available for public viewing at the Julia Butler Hansen Heritage Center, located at 35 Butler Street in Cathlamet. For hours of operation, or to learn how you can help preserve history, call (360) 795-9996.