Have you ever wondered???

[Uncle Russ]

I hope Craig TX doesn't mind a little company here on the Plainsmen Forum?......

I suspect my all time favorite movie has always been Lonesome Dove.
And, like many others, I have wondered just how all that came about, and was it a play-out of a real life situation?
Who were the real characters whose names have long been lost in the history and writings of the plains?

Here's one for you....Bose Ikard bigger than life itself.

More than a quarter of the cowboys in the 19th century were black and Bose Ikard became one of the most famous frontiersmen and trail drivers in Texas. Born on a Mississippi slave plantation in 1843, Bose Ikard moved to Texas when he was nine years old with his master Dr. Milton Ikard. The family settled in Parker County, just west of Fort Worth, where Bose learned to farm, ranch, and fight the ever-present Indians.   Even after becoming a freedman at the end of the Civil War, Bose stayed with his master’s family until 1866 when Dr. Ikard wrote a letter of recommendation for Bose to work as a trail driver for Oliver Loving and his partner Charles Goodnight. Bose joined the already famous Goodnight-Loving Cattle Trail over which about eighteen men drove cattle more than 2,000 miles from Texas through New Mexico to Colorado.

After Loving’s death from injuries in an Indian fight in 1867, Bose continued to work for Goodnight and earned his employer’s respect and abiding friendship. Goodnight is quoted as saying: “Bose surpassed any man I had in endurance and stamina. There was a dignity, cleanliness and reliability about him that was wonderful. His behavior was very good in a fight and he was probably the most devoted man to me that I ever knew. I have trusted him farther than any man. He was my banker, my detective, and everything else in Colorado, New Mexico, and the other wild country. The nearest and only bank was in Denver, and when we carried money, I gave it to Bose, for a thief would never think of robbing him. Bose could be trusted farther than any living man I know.”

(Larry McMurtry patterned Lonesome Dove after the adventures of the Goodnight-Loving Trail, modeling the character Deets (played by Danny Glover) after Bose Ikard.)

When Bose decided to leave the trail and marry in 1868 Charles Goodnight advised him to settle on a farm near Weatherford, an area west of Fort Worth that continued to be plagued by Indian attacks. In 1869 Bose rode with his former master Dr. Milton Ikard in a running battle against Quanah Parker, leader of the aloof and warlike Quahada Comanches who for a decade had refused to move to a reservation.

Bose and his wife Angelina had six children and continued over the years welcoming Goodnight to their home. After Bose died on January 4, 1929, Charles Goodnight had a granite marker placed at his friend’s grave in Greenwood Cemetery.
It reads: “Bose Ikard served with me four years on the Goodnight-Loving Trail, never shirked a duty or disobeyed an order, rode with me in many stampedes, participated in three engagements with Comanches, splendid behavior.”

A Texas Historical marker also stands beside Bose Ikard’s gravesite.

Bose Ikard, a American Plainsman.

[Bigsmoke]

Great post, Russ.
I have always had a fascination with that part of Texas and the men who were a part of it "in the day".  Rugged men, all of them, red or white or black.
I am sure Craig has no problem with that post.
John

[Two Steps]

Enjoyed the read Russ  

[Riley/MN]

[rollingb]

An interesting read Russ,.... thanks!  

[ridjrunr]

Thanks Russ, very interesting. During the seven yrs that we lived in Fort Worth, at least once a month I would run out to Weatherford. One of the best fleamarkets is called "first Monday" its on whatever weekend conects to the first Monday of the month. This tradition has been going on since about the Civil War when folks would come to trade produce and goods.
Anyways,one of my first times there, I was chattin with one of the local old timers and he was saying that one of the cemetaries in town had at least one of the family members from the LD story. Lots of western artifacts could be had at this market,especially spurs.
Thanks again, neat info.

[R.M.]

Thanks Russ. I agree, Lonesome Dove is the best. I was sure upset when Guss was killed off.

[greyhunter]

I have read where the one cattle man was transported back home from Co. by his partner after he died. Good read Uncle Russ!

[Roaddog]

One of the alltime grates.Thanks Russ for sheding a new light on it.