Robert Leroy Parker

"I wouldn't want to have been in the teller's cage when he came through the door of a bank, but if I ever met him in a saloon, I sure would have bought him a drink."

Robert LeRoy Parker was born to the first of many names on April 13, 1866 in Beaver, Utah to Maximillian and Anne Gillies Parker. While most parents look upon their firstborn as something special, it’s doubtful the Parker’s had any idea the legacy their son would leave. In this case special translates to legendary. The Parker’s would go on to have twelve more children.

In 1879, when Bob was thirteen years old, the Parker family moved from Beaver to Circleville, Utah. Bob soon found work as a ranch hand for Patrick Ryan in nearby Hay Springs, while his mother took a job on Jim Marshall's ranch. Bob, along with two of his brothers, followed their mother’s lead and soon all four Parker’s found themselves living on the Marshall farm during the week rather than commuting back and forth from the Parker homestead.

It was during his tenure at the Marshall farm that two significant events took place that would shape Parker's life forever. The first was his introduction to Mike Cassidy. Cassidy was also employed by Jim Marshall and would soon become both a friend and mentor to Bob. Years later when Robert LeRoy Parker followed the path of his mentor into the outlaw life, he would take on his name as tribute, first as George Cassidy and later as the infamous Butch Cassidy. It was Mike Cassidy who gave Bob his first six-gun and taught him how to shoot.

The second incident involves the first of what would become many brushes with the law for Robert LeRoy Parker. It seems Bob was in dire need of a new pair of overalls and so, the first chance he got, rode into town to pick up a pair. Finding the general store closed, Parker let himself in, found a pair of overalls that fit, and left a note for the shopkeeper stating he would come back to pay for the clothes at a later date. The shopkeeper was hardly amused at the young man’s gumption and notified the town sheriff. While the matter was settled without any jail time for Parker, it remained something of a sore sport.

By June of 1884, eighteen-year-old Robert LeRoy Parker had decided it was time to leave home. His mother tried in vain to get him to wait until his father returned from a trip, but her son insisted he had to leave immediately. There are two stories that may be the root of Parker’s decision to leave home.

In The Last of the Bandit Riders, Matt Warner claims Parker had stolen two horses from his neighbor, Jim Kittleman. He goes on to say that Parker was tracked down by two lawmen who found him with the stolen horses. Parker offered no resistance and was handcuffed, then placed on his horse for the ride back to Circleville. When the party stopped to eat, one of the marshal’s left to get water; leaving his partner to watch over Parker. Bob was able to disarm his guard and get the jump on the second marshal as he returned with the water. The young outlaw then took the marshals' horses and made his escape.

After he left, Bob realized he left the marshals without a canteen; critical for survival in the desert heat. He turned around and delivered some canteens to his former captors, said his goodbyes and left again. Parker's sister, Lula Parker Betenson, disputes the story. Betenson claims that while Kittleman did lose horses around this time, her brother would never steal from a neighbor he regarded as family.

Lula has her own story regarding her brother’s pressing need to leave Circleville. Two local boys by the name of Charley and Fred were suspected of stealing a local rancher’s cattle. When confronted, the two boys produced a bill of sale with Robert LeRoy Parker’s name on it. The cattle were returned and the matter was dropped, but Maximillian Parker was furious his son’s reputation had been tarnished.