Robert Leroy Parker (1866-1908?), later know as Butch Cassidy, was born 13 April 1866, in Beaver, Utah. His parents were Maximillian and Annie Gilles Parker, who had both come to Utah with their parents during the handcart migrations. The Parkers came from England and Scotland, respectively, as converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
Robert Leroy was the first of eleven children, and when he was thirteen years old, the family moved to Circle Valley along the Sevier River, south of Circleville Utah. Their first winter there proved to be the most severe ever recorded, and they lost all but two head of their cattle. Maximillian had also homesteaded additional land, but the claim was "jumped" by another, more wealthy and influential Mormon. Since there was no civil law in the area, the case was heard in a Bishop's Court of the LDS Church, and the Parker's lost the land.
Robert was the eldest and shared greatly with his father in the back-breaking work of supporting the family. He was incensed about the decision of the Bishop's Court, and there is some speculation that the Bishop's decision prompted Cassidy's strong feelings about bankers and other wealthy men cheating poor, hard working men out of their land. Cassidy later gave money he had gotten from a robbery to the widow and children of a friend to keep the bank form foreclosing on their farm, saying "The only difference between him [the banker] and myself is that he uses the law when he holds people up, and I use a six-shooter."
After the harsh winter of 1879-1880, the Parker family's financial situation became grim, and Robert was hired out to the Marshall Ranch, about twelve miles from home. It was there, according to Lula Betenson, author of
In June, 1884, Robert left home hurriedly. According to Betenson, it was because he signed a false bill of sale for two local men who had rustled a number of cattle. The cattle were traced to them and they produced the phony document for the sheriff. Since young Parker was the only unmarried man, he decided to take the blame and then leave the area so that the other men might continue their lives unaffected. He had a close and loving relationship with his family and it was painful for him to leave, but Cassidy's stories had by this time stirred his wanderlust, and it seemed an opportune time to go.
Robert then changed his name to George Parker and went to Telluride, Colorado, where he worked in the mines. He met Matt Warner there, and toured with him, racing horses. In 1892, calling himself George Cassidy, Robert and a friend, Al Hainer, set up a small horse ranch in Wyoming. They were arrested and tried for horse theft: verdict, not guilty. Charges were brought again the following year, and this time Hainer was found innocent and released, but Cassidy was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison.
Upon his release, Cassidy began his career of bank and train robberies. There is still controversy over the exact number and location of the robberies he planned and participated in. News reports of the day were notoriously inaccurate, partially due to the fact that there were only the descriptions provided by witnesses and victims to identify the bandits. Many hold-ups were attributed to Cassidy that he probably did not commit, while others that he did plan and direct were blamed on other bandits. Adding to the confusion was the fact that Cassidy had a reputation for being an amiable and generous man, and therefore had many friends who helped hide him from the law.
It is documented that Cassidy left the United States for Argentina, where he homesteaded land and actually had a prosperous ranch for a number of years. When Pinkerton detectives came to South America looking for him, he left the ranch and returned to his old trade of robbing banks. In Bolivia in 1909, he was reported killed in a gun battle with government troops, along with his long-time partner, Harry Longbaugh, the "Sundance Kid."
In her book,
The Butch Cassidy collection contains manuscripts, articles and a letter that relate to the life of "Butch Cassidy" whose real name is Robert Leroy Parker. The collection was donated to the University of Utah, by Pearl Baker of Green River, Utah. The collection consists of an article about Pearl Baker, her foreword to the manuscript itself, an article and editorial by Jim Dullenty, editor of
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s
Gift of Pearl Baker in 1985.
Processed by Elizabeth DuFrane in 1986.
This box contains the manuscript "The Bandit Invincible" and general correspondence.
George A. Kennard, of Bariloche, Argentina, to A. C. Ekker, describing Butch Cassidy's activities in South America.
These folders contain an edited and annotated version of Jim Dullenty's manuscript. It was published by Rocky Mountain House Press, Hamilton, Montana, in 1986. It includes Pearl Baker's analysis of the manuscript, an introduction by Jim Dullenty, illustrations of Cassidy and Phillips, and a bibliography of sources on Cassidy and outlaw history in general.