On this day in 1929, cowboy folk hero Bose Ikard died in Weatherford, Texas. Ikard (left) was memorialized by trail drive legend Charles Goodnight and entered into popular culture in the 1989 television mini-series “Lonesome Dove.”
Born a slave in about 1843, it was probably in Mississippi, although some sources say Tennessee. He came to Parker County, Texas with his owner, Milton Ikard. As a young boy he learned to ride, rope and work cattle.
Following the Civil War, he put his frontier skills to good use. He served as a trail hand, first for Oliver Loving until Loving was killed by Comanches in 1867 and later as Charles Goodnight’s most able ally. “I trusted him more than any other man. He was my detective, banker and everything else in Colorado, New Mexico and the other wild country I was in,” Goodnight said. (Goodnight, right)
The adventures of Goodnight, Loving and Ikard were the basis for the mini-series “Lonesome Dove” and Larry McMurtry’s 1985 Pulitzer Prize-
winning novel by the same name. Ikard’s character, TV’s Joshua Deets, was portrayed by Danny Glover (right). Loving, named Woodrow Call in the series, was played by Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall was Charles Goodnight’s “Gus” McCrea.
McMurtry first envisioned their story as a screenplay in the 1970s. The project was shelved, however, when Western superstar John Wayne turned down the role of Woodrow Call and Jimmy Stewart then said no to playing “Gus.”
Winning the Pulitzer breathed new life into the trail drive tale, eventually finding its way to the small screen. Perhaps the most successful mini-series ever, it won seven Emmy’s and a dozen more nominations.
Unlike the TV version that ended Joshua Deet’s life, Ikard’s didn’t end at the hands of the Comanch. The real Ikard and his wife, Angeline, settled on a ranch in Weatherford in north central Texas. Several sources report they were parents to 15 children. The majority list the number at the more reliable figure of six. Two daughters, Easter and Annie Mae are buried at Weatherford’s Greenwood Cemetery and daughter Saline is buried in El Paso.
The legendary cowboy died of the flu at age 85 and was laid to rest in Green-wood near his children and wife. Angeline died at just 40 in 1902. Learning of his death, Ikard’s 90-year-old former trail boss, Charles Goodnight had the following epitaph inscribed on his tombstone: “Served with me four years on Goodnight-Loving trail. Never shirked a duty or disobeyed an order. Rode with me in many stampedes. Participated in three engagements with the Comanches. Splendid behavior.”
Today the Bose Ikard Elementary School in Weatherford is named in his honor and he was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame in 1979. The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City included him in its Hall of Great Westerners in 1999.
The George West Trail Drivers Gallery at the Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas, pays tribute to the Texas cattle industry and all the Texans who helped blaze the way north. Filled with artifacts, portraits and biographies of the legends of the era, the gallery is just a part of the 
Witte’s extensive collection of Texas art, natural history, science and South Texas heritage. The Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg collection of regional artifacts includes spurs, saddles, branding irons and historical clothing. In addition, it’s home to the Harry Hertzberg Circus Collection.
Hours are 10 to 5, Monday through Saturday, open until 8 on Tuesday and noon to 5 on Sunday. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and military with ID, $9 for children ages 4 to 9 and children under 4 are free. Admission includes most other exhibits with the exception of some special exhibits that may require an additional fee. For more information go to wittemuseum.org, call (210) 357-1900 or write The Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway St, San Antonio, TX 78209.
© Text Only – 2017 – Headin’ West LLC – All photos – public domain or fair use.