(1843
- 1929)
Bose was born into slavery in Tennessee.
When Bose was a young boy, the slave holder
took him to Texas still in bondage to
work on a cattle Ranch. It was in Texas where Bose learned to
ride, rope and right. Bose got his freedom from slavery and became
his own man, He hired out his service to Oliver Loving, Loving
was killed fighting against the Comanches. Bose then hired out his
service to Charles Goodnight. Loving and Goodnight are the namesakes
for the "Goodnight Loving Cattle Trail."
Goodnight said, "Bose surpassed any man I had in endurance and stamina. There was a dignity, a 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."
The
character, Joshua Deets portrayed by Danny Glover in the movie Lonesome
Dove,
is based on Bose Ikard. The story "Lonesome Dove" is taken
partly from the lives of Goodnight and Loving.
The
epitath on Bose's grave transcribed by Charles Goodnight 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
similar reading is done in the movie Lonesome
Dove over Deets grave when he is buried.
The
Texas Historical marker near his grave states:
Born
a slave in Mississippi, Bose Ikard came to Texas as a child with the
family of his owner, Dr. Milton L. Ikard. He remained as an employee of
Dr. Ikard following his emancipation, but in 1866 joined a cattle drive to
Colorado led by Charles Goodnight. and Oliver Loving. Ikard became one of
Goodnight's best cowboys and trusted friend. Following his work in the
cattle drives, Ikard settled in Weatherford (TX). He and his wife Angeline
were the parents of six children when he died in 1929 at age 85. Goodnight
had a granite marker erected at his grave.
Bose
Ikard is buried in the Weatherford Cemetery in Weatherford, Texas