From Broken Wheels to Big Business: The Enduring Legacy of South Side Lumber
The Butler chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the
Butler Business of the month and provide you with the rich history of this
business that is hidden away in the southwest corner of butler.
and now we feature “ South Side Lumber of Butler in our local news.
Sometimes, the best-laid plans are no match for a broken wagon wheel. In the
1850s, Richard Westover was Iowa-bound for Oklahoma when his wagon gave out
near Passaic. Looking at the Bates County landscape, he decided it was as good
a place as any to settle. That moment of serendipity planted the seeds for what
would become a cornerstone of the Butler business community: South Side Lumber
Company.
The Westover family’s transition from farming to milling
began in earnest with Ebert Westover. After a stint in Lebanon, Missouri, Ebert
and his wife, Phebe, returned to Bates County to cut lumber. By 1945, Ebert
moved the operation into Butler.
The company’s name actually stems from a family
disagreement. Ebert wanted to call it "Westover’s Sawmill," but his
father, Arthur, found the idea of a sawmill in town "crazy" and
didn’t want the family name attached to it. Respecting his father’s wishes,
Ebert named it South Side Lumber Company, though locals have affectionately called
it "Westover’s" for decades.
Resilience Through Relocation and Transition
In 1958, the town of Butler requested the mill’s original
site to build a new high school, prompting a move to its current location on
South Rice Road. Throughout these years, Phebe Westover served as the company’s
backbone, managing the office and sales while Ebert handled the milling.
The business eventually passed to their sons, Marvin and
Ivan, with Ivan taking full ownership in 1988. Under their watch, the mill
modernized—moving from tractor-powered flywheels to electric and hydraulic
systems—and shifted focus toward high-quality furniture grade lumber and
flooring
The next major chapter began in 2007 when Ron Jones, a
long-time employee of Ivan’s, purchased the company. His tenure was tested
almost immediately. Shortly after the purchase, the original 1945 sawmill
building burned to the ground.
Facing a total loss with no insurance on the historic
structure, Jones’s commitment to his team never wavered. He spearheaded a
lightning-fast rebuild, managing to get the mill back on its feet so quickly
that not a single employee missed a paycheck.
A Modern Powerhouse with Small-Town Roots
Today, South Side Lumber has expanded its reach far beyond
Bates County. While they still provide the high-quality oak lumber the
community has relied on for generations, they now ship products across the
Upper Midwest and as far as California.
True to their "waste-nothing" philosophy, every
part of the log is utilized:
* Lumber: Used for high-end furniture, cabinets, and
flooring.
* Slabs: Processed into fuel for Northwest Missouri
State University.
* Bark: Sold as mulch for landscaping.
* Sawdust: Donated locally to the Bates County Fair,
as well as local 4H and FFA youth for animal bedding.
From a broken wagon wheel in the 1850s to a multi-state
supplier in 2026, South Side Lumber remains a testament to the grit and
community spirit of Butler.
Congratulations
South Side Lumber as the Butler Business of the month.
