Interview with Edith Reva Walker by Ron Anderson

Editor’s Note: The man who was born as George LeRoy Parker, became better known to the general public as “Butch Cassidy.” He and his associates used a number of aliases during the time they spent in Star Valley, Wyoming. Though the gang apparently felt quite safe and at home while living in the isolated and mostly-Mormon ( a common nickname for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) community in the late 1880s. For many years, many members of the church had openly, and legally, practiced polygamy in harmony with then-current church doctrine, but the practice was extremely unpopular with the general public.

After Congress passed the Edmunds–Tucker Act of 1887, making polygamy illegal, a high percentage of Star Valley’s local population was considered “criminal,” since they practiced plural marriage. Parker, who was born into the church, was well-known and liked in Star Valley, so he and his buddies must have felt quite secure among a community largely regarded as “criminal.” Locals were not anxious to cooperate with federal authorities for any reason. But, ever-careful, the wary gang mostly kept their true identities hidden; using aliases, for the benefit of all.
Local historian Ron Anderson interviewed Albert Waite’s daughter, Edith Reva Walker before she passed away 21 May 2017. As noted below, her father, Albert Waite, was four-years-old at the time of the following story.
Note: The first time in history that “Butch” & “Cassidy” were used together to name the unknown person who was the leader of “The Wild Bunch” was September 1896
In 1888, George Waite moved to Star Valley Wyoming & entered his homestead in Jone of that year. He was engaged in stock raising & farming, also freighting Afton & Montpelier. He prided himself in driving excellent teams of horses, often the best in the valley. George soon became acquainted with Mary Isabell Reed, who’s father had homesteaded less than a mile west along the Salt River. They were married 22 September 1889 in the Logan LDS Temple. They became the parents of 3 sons & 2 daughters while living on the ranch that was located between Afton & Grover along the North branch of Swift Creek.
George had many interesting experiences while freighting through the mud & snow of the Crow Creek Road over Beaver Dive to Bear Lake of Idaho 50 miles away. The most repeated tale happened 13 August 1896 when George Waite along with his 4 year old son Albert entered the Montpelier Band to make a deposit. Albert often related this exciting experience to friends & family. “Both George & young Albert recognized George Cassidy who had wintered in a cabin on their ranch a long with some of his friends. The group had a summer camp in a canyon north of Grover, Wyoming. They would ride down to the Waite Ranch to trade for milk, eggs & butter. At times they would help out with haying for the whole neighborhood.”
Cassidy ordered everyone in the back to face the wall except for the young lad, Albert. He gave him a penny and told him to “ get out & go across the street & buy himself some candy!! Then George Cassidy & Etzy Lay made an unauthorized withdrawal of $16,000 from the bank!! The robbers must have had concern for the safety of the boy when they satisfied his sweet tooth. After the robbery at the Montpelier Bank 13 August 1896 “Butch Cassidy & the Wild Bunch never returned to their camp in the canyon north of Grover.”
Mary Isabell passed away 2 days following the birth of their youngest son, Joseph Ira, at the home of her parents. Her death prompted George to move to Bountiful, Utah to reside with his father and unmarried sister Mary Jane who helped care for the children. In 1904 George purchased a ranch in the Lost River Valley. This ranch near Arco, Idaho was passed on to his son George Albert Waite and would be the location where Reva, daughter of George Albert & Olga May Waite spent her early childhood. Even though Reva was born & raised in the Lost River Valley in Idaho she felt a bond to Star Valley in Wyoming where her father was born & her grandmother is buried in the Afton Cemetery. Reva was dedicated to honor her grandmother by an annual visit to that grave site.
Source: Ron Anderson Interview with Reva Waite Walker