Bose Ikard
Weatherford, Parker County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(July 1834 - January 4, 1929) 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 a trusted friend. Following his work in the cattle drives, Ikard settled in Weatherford. 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. (1990)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born into slavery in Mississippi in 1834, Bose Ikard came to Texas as a child and stayed on as an employee after emancipation. In 1866 he joined Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving's famous cattle drives, becoming one of Goodnight's most trusted cowboys and closest friends. He later settled in Weatherford, raised six children, and at his death in 1929 was honored with a granite headstone that Goodnight himself erected.
Why it matters
Ikard's life reflects the too-often-overlooked role of Black cowboys on the cattle frontier, and the deep bonds of trust that crossed racial lines on the trail.
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Related people
- · Bose Ikard
- · Charles Goodnight
- · Oliver Loving
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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