The First Lady of Butterworth Center

Katherine Butterworth

Katherine Mary Deere was born on October 13, 1866 in Moline, Illinois, to Charles and Mary Deere.

At the age of six, Katherine, her parents and her older sister Anna moved to Overlook, the family's new home high on a hillside in Moline. Katherine attended Ericsson Elementary School in Moline. After completing elementary school, she attended Miss Ann Brown's School for Young Ladies in New York, N.Y.

In 1890, Katherine's sister, Anna, married William Wiman. Katherine was a bridesmaid in the wedding party, and William Butterworth, a college classmate of Wiman, was a groomsman. Butterworth was originally from Ohio. He was the son of Benjamin Butterworth, a U.S. congressman from the state. In 1892, Katherine Deere and William Butterworth were married in Moline.

The newlyweds moved into "Hillcrest", now known as Butterworth Center. The home was given to them by Katherine's father, Charles as a wedding gift. Charles guaranteed that his beloved daughter would remain close to him when he chose the site for the house, across the street from his home.

After their marriage, William Butterworth began working for Deere & Company. He eventually became president of the company after his father-in-law's death in 1907.

Like her mother, Katherine was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and many other patriotic organizations, including the Colonial Dames, Daughters of the Founders and Patriots of America, Daughters of Colonial Wars, Vermont Dames, Mayflower Dames, and Cape Cod Association.

Katherine Butterworth continued to be active in the community until her death in 1953. In her will, she created the William Butterworth Memorial Trust, and donated her home to the organization. Eventually her girlhood home, Overlook, which is now known as the Deere-Wiman House, was also donated to the Trust.

Today, according to Katherine Butterworth's wishes, the Trust offers the use of both homes and their adjacent carriage houses as meeting centers for local non-profit organizations that benefit the arts, health, education and recreation.