Category: Rancher

William Franklin Keys

Posted on by

William Franklin Keys (September 27, 1879–1969) was a rugged American frontiersman, rancher, and miner who became a notable figure in the history of the Mojave Desert, particularly in what is now Joshua Tree National Park, California.

William F. Keys reenacts the scene of the fatal shooting of Worth Bagley - Photo NPS
William F. Keys reenacts the scene of the fatal shooting of Worth Bagley – Photo NPS

Early Life and Background

William Franklin Keys was born on September 27, 1879, in Palisade, Nebraska, to parents of Russian descent. In the early 1890s, his family relocated to Nebraska, where a young Bill began his journey into a rugged, self-reliant life. At age 15, he left home to work as a ranch hand, smelter worker, and miner, honing skills that would define his later years. His early adventures took him to Arizona, where he served as a deputy sheriff in Mohave County, and to Death Valley, where he befriended the colorful prospector Walter “Death Valley Scotty” Scott. Their association led to involvement in the infamous “Battle of Wingate Pass,” a swindle that added to Keys’ reputation as a tough frontiersman. By 1910, Keys arrived in the Twentynine Palms area of California, drawn to the harsh yet promising Mojave Desert.

Life in the Mojave Desert

In 1910, Keys took a job as custodian and assayer at the Desert Queen Mine in what is now Joshua Tree National Park. When the mine’s owner died, Keys was granted ownership of the mine as payment for back wages. In 1917, he filed for an 80-acre homestead under the Homestead Act, establishing the Desert Queen Ranch. He married Frances May Lawton in 1918, and together they raised seven children, three of whom tragically died in childhood and were buried on the ranch. The couple built a self-sufficient life, constructing a ranch house, schoolhouse, store, sheds, a stamp mill, an orchard, and irrigation systems, including a cement dam and windmill. Keys supplemented ranching with mining, operating a stamp mill to process ore for other miners and digging for gold and gypsum. His resourcefulness made the Desert Queen Ranch a symbol of early desert settlement.

The Wall Street Mill Dispute and Shootout

On May 11, 1943, a long-simmering feud with neighbor Worth Bagley, a former Los Angeles deputy sheriff, culminated in a fatal confrontation near the Wall Street Mill in what is now Joshua Tree National Park. The dispute centered on a property line and Keys’ use of a road that crossed Bagley’s land. Bagley, resentful of Keys’ access to the road for hauling ore to his mill, had posted a threatening sign: “KEYS, THIS IS MY LAST WARNING. STAY OFF MY PROPERTY.” On that fateful day, Keys, aware of the serious nature of such threats in the untamed desert, stopped his car to assess the situation. According to Keys, Bagley ambushed him, firing first. In self-defense, Keys returned fire, fatally shooting Bagley. Hours later, Keys turned himself in to authorities in Twentynine Palms, claiming he acted to protect his life.

Trial and Imprisonment

Keys was charged with murder and faced a contentious trial. The desert community was divided, with some viewing Keys as a hardworking homesteader defending his rights, while others saw him as an aggressor in a property dispute. The court convicted him, and he was sentenced to ten years at San Quentin Prison. During his incarceration, Keys utilized the prison library to educate himself, maintaining his sharp mind, which had been honed by years of navigating the desert’s challenges. His time in prison was marked by resilience, as he adapted to confinement with the same determination that had sustained him in the harsh Mojave.

Exoneration and Later Life

Keys’ conviction sparked controversy, and his wife, Frances, sought help from Erle Stanley Gardner, the renowned author of the Perry Mason novels and a frequent visitor to Joshua Tree. Gardner, moved by Keys’ story and convinced of his innocence, took up the case through his “Court of Last Resort,” a project dedicated to overturning wrongful convictions. Gardner’s investigation highlighted inconsistencies in the trial and supported Keys’ self-defense claim. In 1950, Keys was paroled, and in 1956, he received a full pardon, largely due to Gardner’s efforts. After his release, Keys returned to the Desert Queen Ranch, where he lived quietly until his death in 1969. To mark the site of the 1943 shootout, Keys placed a stone inscribed, “Here is where Worth Bagley bit the dust at the hand of W.F. Keys, May 11, 1943.” The original stone, vandalized in 2014, is now preserved in the Joshua Tree National Park museum, with a metal replica at the site.

Legacy

Bill Keys’ life embodies the tenacity and resourcefulness of early desert settlers. His Desert Queen Ranch, now part of Joshua Tree National Park, is preserved as a historic site, with park rangers offering guided tours from October to May to share his story. The ranch, with its array of buildings and mining equipment, stands as a testament to Keys’ ability to thrive in an unforgiving environment. The 1943 shootout, while a tragic chapter, underscores the challenges of frontier life, where disputes over land and resources could escalate to deadly confrontations. Keys’ exoneration, facilitated by Erle Stanley Gardner, highlights his enduring fight for justice. Today, the dirt road where the shootout occurred is a tourist attraction, and Keys’ story remains a compelling part of the Mojave Desert’s history.

Articles Related to Bill Keys

Albert Mussey Johnson

 Albert Mussey Johnson – Death Valley Ranch Owner

Albert Mussey Johnson Albert Mussey Johnson (1872 - 1948) was a businessman and investor who received notoriety as the millionaire, who built “Scotty's Castle” in…

Bill Keys Gunfight – May 11, 1943

In the desolate expanse of California's Mojave Desert, a violent clash unfolded on May 11, 1943, that would echo through the history of Joshua Tree…
The Battle of Wingate pass as reports by Los Angeles herald (Los Angeles [Calif.]), March 21, 1906

The Battle of Wingate Pass – February 26, 1906

The Battle of Wingate pass as reports by Los Angeles herald (Los Angeles [Calif.]), March 21, 1906 The so-called "Battle" of Wingate Pass, which occurred…
Walter Scott (1872 - 1954)

Walter Edward Perry Scott – “Death Valley Scotty”

Walter Edward Perry Scott  (September 20, 1872 – January 5, 1954), also known as "Death Valley Scotty", was a miner, prospector and conman who operated…

Warner Elmore Scott

Warner Elmore Scott (1865–1950) was a Kentucky native from a horse farming family who became entangled in his brother Walter "Death Valley Scotty" Scott's infamous…

Newman Haynes Clanton

Posted on by

Newman Haynes Clanton was a central figure in the tumultuous period of the American frontier, representing the complex interplay of law, crime, and social dynamics in the late 19th century. His activities, reputation, and eventual death were key factors in the broader historical context of the American West, particularly in the notorious events surrounding Tombstone and the O.K. Corral.

Newman Haynes “Old Man” Clanton (1816 – 1881 )
Newman Haynes “Old Man” Clanton (1816 – 1881 )

Name: Newman Haynes Clanton
Alias: Old Man Clanton
Birth: January 1, 1816, in North Carolina, USA
Death: August 13, 1881, in Bonita, Arizona, USA

Early Life and Background

Newman Haynes Clanton, often known as “Old Man Clanton,” was born in 1816 in North Carolina. He grew up in a period of significant change and migration in the United States. His early life was characterized by the hardship and instability common to many families of the era, which influenced his later life decisions and actions.

Clanton migrated westward to Texas in the 1840s, where he began to build a life as a rancher. The challenges of frontier life and the opportunities presented by the burgeoning cattle industry were significant factors in shaping his future.

Migration to Arizona

In the 1870s, Clanton moved to Arizona Territory, settling in the area around Tombstone. He became a prominent rancher and cattleman, managing large herds of cattle and establishing a reputation as a significant local figure. His move to Arizona was part of the larger westward expansion and settlement that characterized the American frontier.

Criminal Activities and Reputation

Clanton’s involvement in criminal activities was well-known in the region. He and his family, including his sons Ike, Billy, and Phineas, became notorious for their involvement in cattle rustling and other illicit activities. Clanton was believed to be the leader of a group known as the “Cowboys,” which was involved in various criminal enterprises, including robbery and smuggling.

His criminal activities and the subsequent conflicts with law enforcement and rival groups significantly impacted the social and political landscape of the region. The tension between Clanton’s Cowboys and the law enforcement officials, including the Earp brothers, was a central issue leading up to the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Family and Legacy

Newman Haynes Clanton’s family was deeply involved in the activities of the Cowboys. His sons, particularly Ike Clanton and Billy Clanton, were key figures in the confrontations with the Earps and their allies. The Clanton family’s reputation for lawlessness made them a focal point of the conflicts in Tombstone.

Clanton’s legacy is closely tied to the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which took place shortly before his death. Clanton himself was not present at the gunfight, but his influence and actions were critical in the events leading up to it.

Death and Aftermath

On August 13, 1881, Newman Haynes Clanton was killed by a group of Mexicans in a gunfight near Bonita, Arizona. The circumstances of his death remain somewhat mysterious, but it is widely believed that it was related to his ongoing conflicts and the animosity he faced due to his criminal activities.

Clanton’s death marked the end of an era of intense lawlessness in the region. His life and actions had a lasting impact on the history of the American West, particularly in relation to the law enforcement efforts in Tombstone and the broader narrative of frontier justice.

References

Joseph Isaac Clanton

Posted on by

Joseph Isaac Clanton, commonly knows as “Ike” Clanton was a notable figure in the American Old West, primarily recognized for his involvement in the notorious gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Born on March 1, 1847, in Calloway County, Kentucky, as Isaac Clanton, he grew up in a tumultuous time marked by the expansion and conflict of the frontier.

Historical photo of Ike Clanton in 1881 by photographer Camillus S. Fly, Tombstone, Arizona Territory.
Historical photo of Ike Clanton in 1881 by photographer Camillus S. Fly, Tombstone, Arizona Territory.

Early Life

Ike Clanton was the eldest of a large family that moved westward, eventually settling in Arizona. His father, Newman Clanton, was a prominent rancher and ranch hand, contributing to Ike’s early exposure to the rough and often violent life of the frontier.

The Clanton Family and the Cowboy Faction


Ike, along with his brothers and other family members, was part of a group known as the Clanton Gang, or the Cowboys. This group was a faction involved in various criminal activities, including cattle rustling and other illicit operations. The Clantons were known to have frequent conflicts with law enforcement and other factions in the region.

The O.K. Corral Gunfight

Ike Clanton is perhaps best known for his involvement in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, which took place on October 26, 1881. The gunfight was a pivotal event in the Earp-Clanton feud and involved notable figures such as Wyatt Earp, Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp, and Doc Holliday.

On the day of the gunfight, Ike Clanton and his brothers, along with other members of their faction, had a violent confrontation with the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. The altercation lasted only about 30 seconds but became one of the most infamous shootouts in American history. Clanton, who had been verbally threatening the Earps, was disarmed and fled the scene. Although he survived the gunfight, the event marked a significant turning point in the ongoing conflict between the Cowboys and the lawmen.

Later Life and Death

After the O.K. Corral gunfight, Ike Clanton faced increasing challenges and threats. His involvement in the events surrounding the gunfight made him a target for both law enforcement and rival factions. In 1887, Clanton was killed in a gunfight with a lawman named Frank “Buckskin” Leslie in a dispute over a stolen horse.

Ike Clanton’s life and actions reflect the tumultuous nature of the Old West, characterized by lawlessness, frequent violence, and personal vendettas. His involvement in the O.K. Corral gunfight solidified his place in Western history, often remembered as a symbol of the frontier’s rough and dangerous era.