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Chief Percy Boyd and Bonnie and Clyde
On April 6, 1934, a car carrying Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow got
stuck in the mud near Commerce, OK. Police Chief Percy Boyd and
Constable Cal Campbell went to the scene. Campbell was killed. Boyd was
wounded and kidnapped by the Barrow gang. They let Percy go but not
before Bonnie asked him to tell the public she was not a cigar smoker.
Boyd was later released near Fort Scott, Kansas.
See:
http://www.dallashistory.org/history/dallas/bandc.htm and
http://www.censusdiggins.com/bonnie_and_clyde_3.html
Percy Boyd and Bonnie and Clyde
In January, 1934, Clyde and Bonnie sprang Raymond Hamilton from the
Eastham Prison Farm in Huntsville, Texas. Along with Hamilton was one
Henry Methvin. A police officer, Major Crowson, would not see the days
end. Between January and March, several banks were robbed and were
attributed to the Barrow gang. In March, Hamilton split from the gang
for reasons that are uncertain. No matter -- Hamilton would be later
captured and sent to the electric chair in 1935 for the murder of the
guard at Huntsville.
On Easter Sunday, 1934, on a side road off Highway 114 in Grapevine,
Texas, Clyde and Methvin killed two police officers who thought they
needed help. Five days later they kill police officer Cal Campbell and
kidnap Chief Percy Boyd in Commerce, Oklahoma. They let Percy go but not
before Bonnie asks him to tell the public she does not smoke cigars.
Bonnie's priorities are a little distorted by now. They also have less
than a month to live.
After his encounter with Bonnie and Clyde, Boyd went back to work as the
Chief of Police of Commerce, Oklahoma. After he retired, on May 3, 1937,
Boyd went to work for the Tri-State District Mining Company and also
served on the Commerce Board of Education. On August 15, 1940, Percy
Boyd died of a heart attack at his home at age 42.
Of all the people they kidnapped, Bonnie and Clyde liked Percy Boyd the
best. While not admirers of policemen in general, they thought that Boyd
was a truly brave man. Percy Boyd earned Bonnie Parker’s lasting respect
and gratitude when, just as he had promised her, he returned home and
told the waiting reporters that the famous female outlaw absolutely did
not smoke cigars.
Percy Boyd was the son of Charles Everett BOYD who was born 26 February
1876 in Dade County, Missouri, and died 25 December 1918 in Picher,
Ottawa County, Oklahoma. He was buried in Galena Cemetery, Plot I,
Galena, Cherokee County, Kansas. Charles E. Boyd was the son of John
Boyd and Mary Ellen REDMAN. Percy married Myrtle Lee COBB 15 September
1894 in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri, daughter of Richard COBB and
Missouri Elizabeth EPPERSON. She was born 4 November 1881 in Cedar
County, Missouri, and died 28 April 1927 in Picher, Ottawa County,
Oklahoma. She was buried in Galena Cemetery, Galena, Cherokee County,
Kansas.
Percy’s grandfather John Boyd married Mary Ellen REDMAN who was born 9
August 1855 in Greene County, Illinois, and died 4 April 1912 in Galena,
Cherokee County, Kansas. She was buried 6 April 1912 in Galena Cemetery,
Plot K, Grave C, Galena, Cherokee County, Kansas. She was the daughter
of Lewis REDMAN and Elizabeth J CROSS.
----------------------------------
Hello Richard,
Several of my ancestors lived in Commerce and adjacent areas in the
1920's and 30's. In trying to find the roots of my Eppersons I stumbled
across Percy Boyd (who also has Epperson roots) of Commerce, OK. I think
he is the one you are looking for and I will try to explain why shortly.
I found another person's gedcom online that gave me the clues to assist
my research of my Eppersons. Sometimes you have to go forward and work
your way back again to find your relatives and this is what I had to do.
The following information comes from an ancestry world tree by Danny
Redmond. His email address is Redmond DL@cox.net. I think I tried
contacting him about Missouri Epperson but never got a response. I don't
think he had any more information on her other than what is on his tree
and she is a peripheral relative for him so he was not researching her
actively. Most of his research stems into the Redmond line which is
several generations back from Percy.
Anyway, as you can see from his gedcom Percy Boyd was born Nov 28, 1898
and died Aug 15, 1940 (just as the police chief Percy Boyd of Commerce
did) so I think this is the Percy Boyd you are looking for. Percy's
parents were Mytle Lee Cobb and her third husband Charles Everett Boyd.
Myrtle's mother was Maude Elizabeth "Missouri" Epperson and this is
really where my research picks up and if you would like more information
about her ancestry which I am in the process of "proving" then I will be
happy to send it to you. I think you are probably more interested in the
Boyd Relatives and below this descendancy report there is an anentafel
sp? report that lists Charles Everett Boyd's immediate ancestors. His
parents were John Boyd and Mary Ellen Redman. Danny's tree did not go
back farther into the Boyd tree but the Redman's went very far back. I
did not post that part of the tree. I don't think Danny knows that Percy
was kidnapped by Bonnie and Clyde, he doesn't mention it on his tree.
I will attach the census reports I found with Percy. The earliest census
in 1900 shows Percy as a 2 year old with father Charles Everett Boyd and
mother Myrtle Lee Cobb Boyd. Living next door to Charles and Myrtle is
Myrtle's mother Maude Elizabeth Missouri Epperson (now called Lizzie)
and her second husband John Benjamin Franklin Hodson.
Percy Boyd had three brothers and one sister: Alva Boyd b. 25 Jan 1896
d: 10 Feb 1899; Hershall F. Boyd b: 22 Dec 1900 d: Dec 1900; Retha Dona
Marie Boyd b: 23 Nov 1901 d: 11 Dec 1922 and Raymond Talmage DeWitt Boyd
b: 10 Jan 1904 d: 30 Jan 1986.
In the 1920 census Percy is living in Quapaw, OK (near Commerce) with
wife Myrtle and daughter Ima. In 1930 he is living in Commerce with wife
Myrtle, daughter Imogene (Ima) and son Jack. Now the reason I think that
this is the Percy you are looking for is that the death date for this
Percy is Aug 15, 1940 just as some of the artlices about the Percy Boyd
you speak of is. I don't think there were two Percy Boyds who died on
the same day in Commerce, OK.
According to Danny's tree, there are still several of Percy's children
that are alive and I think they would surely know if this is indeed the
right Percy. Perhaps Danny will be able to help you in that regard. If
he knows of anyone in that line who would be interested in Missouri
Epperson's ancestry, and would like to help/learn more about her please
tell him to pass along my email address. Hope this helps. Good Luck in
your research.
EF38369 "at"aol.com Thank you very much Lisa!
I was surfing the Internet this evening and ran across your query about
Percy Boyd. My ex-wife, Kay J. Boyd, is the granddaugher of Percy Boyd,
who was, indeed, the Chief of Police in Commerce, OK was captured by
Bonnie and Clyde. He is also the one enumerate in the Quapaw census you
have.
Percy Everett Hugal Boyd was born 28 November 1898 at Joplin, MO. He died
15 August 1940 at Commerce, OK. His body is interred there. He married
Myrtle Gertrude O'Dell 22 July 1916 at Miami, OK. She was born 19 Feb 1901
at Kansas City, MO. She died on 27 Sep 1974 at Miami, OK.
Percy and Myrtle had two children, Jack Wayne Boyd (1921-1995) and Imogene
Lucille Boyd (1919-1990). Jack W. Boyd was the father of my ex-wife, Kay.
Charles Everett Boyd was the father of Percy Boyd. Charles was born 26 Feb
1876 at Dadeville, Dade Co, MO. He died 25 Dec 1918 at Picher, OK. He
married Myrtle Lee Cobb on 15 Sep 1894 at Joplin, MO. They had ten
children:
Alva V. Boyd (1896-1899)
Percy Everett Hugal Boyd (1898-1940)
Hershall F. Boyd (1900-1900)
Retha Donna Marie Boyd (1901-1922)
Raymond Talmage DeWitt Boyd (1904-1986)
Merl Frank Boyd (1906-1977)
Thelma Alberta Boyd (1908-1974)
John Charles Finnis Boyd (1911-1976)
Robert Richard William Boyd (?-?)
Hazel Hyacinth Marion Boyd (1915-1976)
John Boyd was the father of Percy Everett Hugel Boyd. He married Mary
Ellen Redman about 1875. We know nothing more of John. Mary Ellen Redman
was born 9 Aug 1854 at Greene Co, IL. She died 4 Apr 1912 at Galena, KS.
They had four children:
Barney Durlin Boyd (?-?)
Charles Everett Boyd (1876-1918)
Francis C. Boyd (abt. 1879-aft. 1880)
Henry Virgil "Bert" Durlin Boyd (1884-1940)
Richard Kerr KerrRichardH"at" comcast.net
This looks like it could be your Mary Redman Boyd in Dade Co MO 1880, with
two sons, but not sure about John or the BOYD surname.
Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Sac, Dade, Missouri;
Roll:
T9_684; Family History Film: 1254684; Page: 225.2000; Enumeration
District:
19; Image: 0112.;
taken June 4th, lines 8-10, 9/9,
Name: Mary B. Redman
Home in 1880: Sac, Dade, Missouri
Age: 25. Estimated Birth Year: abt 1855
Birthplace: Illinois
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Father's birthplace: Illinois
Mother's birthplace: Illinois
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Keeping House
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Female
Household Members: Name Age
Mary B. Redman 25y w, f, Head of family, sngl, keeping house, IL IL IL
Charles E. B. Redman 4y w, m, son, MO MO IL
Francis C. Redman 1y w, fe, dau, MO MO IL
Next family, lines 11-19, would be her parents,
Lewis Redman, w, m, 48y, M, farmer, IL IN IN
Elizabeth, w, f, 48y, wife, M, keeping house, sick/con??, can't write, IL,
KY --
Amos, w, m, 20y, son, sngl, hired out, cannot read/write, IL IL IL
Marcus L, w, m, 19y, son, sngl, works on farm, cannot read/write, IL IL IL
Tawny/Tawry L, w, fe, 17y, dau, sngl, works on farm, attd school, IL IL IL
Thomas I/J, w, m, 15y, son, sngl, works on farm, can't write, IL IL IL
Robert O, w, m, 7y, son, attd school, IL IL IL
Toncind(sp), I/J, w, fe, 4y, dau, MO IL IL
Martha M. w, fe, 21y, dau, sngl, helps mother, IL IL IL
Mary and John could have separated or divorced? I don't have access to any
MO divorces.
There are very few 1890 census records; most of them were destroyed by
fire/water. The best one can do is search for Directory listings, possible
1885 or 1895 MO state census, etc, for that time period. There is an 1890
Veterans schedule, some REDMAN, and 1/John BOYD;
1890 Veterans Schedules about John Boyd
Veteran's Name: John Boyd
Home in 1890 (Township, County, State): St Louis, St Louis City, Missouri
Rank: Private
note; this does not give an age or other family name so have no way of
knowing if this is the John BOYD you are seeking.
this could be Mary's father:
1890 Veterans Schedules
about Lewis Redman
Veteran's Name: Lewis Redman
Home in 1890 (Township, County, State): Sac, Dade, Missouri
Year enlisted: 1862
Year discharged: 1865
Rank: Private
.........................
also found these MO marriages for a Mary BOYD; have no idea tho if either
is
your Mary REDMAN/BOYD;
Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002 about Mary E. Boyd
Name: Mary E. Boyd ...of Ash Grove,Greene Co, MO, over 21y
Marriage Date: 6 Sep 1883
Marriage Location: Greenfield, Dade, Missouri
Marriage County: Dade
Spouse Name: Thomas Scott ..of Ash Grove,Greene Co,MO,over 21y,
Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002 about Mary Boyd
Name: Mary Boyd ... of Dadeville,Dade Co,MO, over 18y
Marriage Date: 23 Mar 1907
Marriage Location: Dadeville, Dade, Missouri
Marriage County: Dade
Spouse Name: Alldor Bogan ...of Dadeville,Dade Co,Mo, over 21y
...............................
In 1900 & 1910, Mary's son Charles is listed as BOYD, in Jasper Co, MO;
maybe whoever gave info on Mary and her son's listed her as REDMAN in 1880
by mistake? or maybe she was hiding under her maiden name?
Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Galena, Jasper,
Missouri; Roll:
T623 865; Page: 23B; Enumeration District: 31.
Name: Charles Boyd
Home in 1900: Galena, Jasper, Missouri
Age: 24
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1876
Birthplace: Missouri
Relationship to head-of-house: Head
Spouse's Name: Myrtle
Race: White
Occupation: View Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Charles Boyd 24
Myrtle Boyd 20
Percy Boyd 2
Everett Boyd 5/12
Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Joplin Ward 8, Jasper, MO;
Roll: T624_791; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 52; Image: 94.
Name: Charles E Boyd
Age in 1910: 34
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1876
Birthplace: Missouri
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: United States of America
Mother's Birth Place: United States of America
Home in 1910: Joplin Ward 8, Jasper, Missouri
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Charles E Boyd 34
Myrtle Boyd 30
Percy H Boyd 12
Rettie D Boyd 8
Raymond T Boyd 6
Munel F Boyd 3
Thelma A Boyd 1
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