When Orilous Robert Butts was born on 23 May 1873, in Kansas, United States, his father, John Mathew Keough, was 24 and his mother, Julina McClung, was 22. He married Ethel Gertrude Thexton on 15 September 1897, in Rathdrum, Kootenai, Idaho, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 1 daughter. He died on 10 February 1910, in Twisp, Okanogan, Washington, United States, at the age of 36, and was buried in Beaver Creek Cemetery, Twisp, Okanogan, Washington, United States.