Butch Cassidy's Early Life as a Mormon (Latter-day Saint)

[@CliffWarren]

My ancestors owned a store in Price, Utah. With this being about 60 miles north of the Robber's Roost area, the outlaws would frequently come to the store to purchase goods. I like to say, "These criminals stole a lot from a lot of people, but they bought their stuff from my family." Anyway, I hope you do a "Part 2" of this video.

[@zandersturgill]

Porter Rockwell would be a great video to do next! Utah has such amazing history when you think of it from a Wild West perspective. It was a dangerous country. And the same reason Latter-day Saints fled to Utah was the same reason many outlaws did. It was a desolate place that was hard to get to. There's so many interesting stories here. I think it's neat how Americas most gentleman outlaw (who didn't murder anyone while in the Americas) was a Latter-day Saint. There's debate about his death. Some say he died in Bolivia, where he did his first killing in a gun battle with Bolivian soldiers. Others say that never happened, and that he lived. His sister, and others, claimed he returned to Utah and visited her. I tend to think he died in Bolivia because Butch was so addicted to stealing. All the robberies stopped after that event. I find it hard to believe he quit cold turkey. But I leave a good 30% chance of him living. But like the video said several times, it doesn't excuse his actions. Especially those of his gang. Kid Curry was the worst of them all. Tom McCarty was pretty bad as well. The McCarty family is also an interesting Utah story. They almost started a war between the Mormons and the Navajo Tribe! Matt Warner (The Mormon Kid) robbed with Butch, but turned his life around and even became a lawman. The whole story of how Utah was formed into it's current boudaries is interesting. Then there's the Utah War. Fun history!

[@novawarren5089]

Love hearing from you and your stories ❤️ 💕

[@dushanepowell3782]

Great story, and love the editing.

[@drmichaelshea]

Yep, he was a Mormon, but not a very good one. But he knew Etta Place, and I wouldn’t have minded meeting her. 😊Seriously, I appreciate this history. No one ever talks about this. Thank you.

[@clayfullmer]

I grew up in Circleville and took 2 of your classes, Casey. I even went to Beaver High School for a couple of years. Good on you for doing this. See my replies for more inside info:

[@clayfullmer]

That old cabin use to be really unstable and tilted. It looks like they set it upright and it looks somewhat original to 10 years ago. They definitely redid the outside and the interior is not original. Also Butch's sister said she saw him alive. He didn't die in the shootout in Bolivia. His sister lived to about 102 in Circleville. Nice lady. She saw with these 2 eyes, if you know what I'm saying Casey.

[@clayfullmer]

You also didn't mention. The FLDS who own the Butch Cassidays restaurant and hotel, especially after your FLDS podcast;) They are wonderful people and some FLDS bought my childhood home there about 5 years ago. You definitely didn't show any staff in your b roll.

[@bumpercoach]

Even more interesting is he was kin to the first US MARSHAL of Deseret/Utah Joseph Leland Heywood ... my great great grandfather parallel to my other famous one John Taylor

[@shandrews]

I love this episode!! I have visited those places. My great grandmother and a few of her descendants lived in circleville and beaver. Several of my ancestors are buried in both places. Butch sounds like a lot of my people, including my husband who also has the “strict moral code” of “just don’t kill anybody.” 😂

[@rmm4680]

My wife's great-great uncle through her Parker line.

[@kraus_in_da_house]

My great great grandpa once rode with Butch Cassidy! We have some cool stories about our outlaw connections haha

[@ford32able]

There is a house in Beaver that is documented as to where Butch was born.

[@nathangreer8219]

I am from Daggett County, UT. There are known Cassidy hideouts in Brown's Park, near the WY/UT/CO borders. Specifically, Crouse Canyon.

[@marciajensen1824]

I thought EVERYONE already knew that Butch was LDS.

[@mattfraser1096]

Like some here, I'm also related to this guy. My grandmother was a Parker. He didn't die in South America.. I do know that.

[@wsamuelmadsen]

My mother was a Gillies, her family was from Beaver. BTW...it is pronounced "Gill' is" It was said that some of my great uncles rustled some cattle with their cousin, Butch.

[@lonniemathews6488]

I just read the book written by his sister, Lula Parker Betenson. It’s called Butch Cassidy, My Brother. Tells a totally different ending to Butch Cassidy’s life! Interesting

[@grateful7839]

Good story. Love the Latter Day Saints.

[@tinathompson9458]

Very interesting.

[@vickiheath6133]

Thank you for sharing that story. It was very interesting.

[@judymarkel8029]

Interesting. I did not know this

[@BobSmith-lb9nc]

This proves that "Mormon" is a serviceable term for people like Butch Cassidy -- who can be accurately described as a "Jack Mormon." Using the term "Latter-day Saint" just doesn't apply to him.

[@heden1460]

Except that, I don't think he was being very respectful to the people he robbed.

[@juststuff5216]

So were Ted Bundy and Gary Gilmore!

[@zandersturgill]

Big difference. Butch isn't known to have killed anyone. There's debate whether he killed someone in Bolivia. Bundy was a serial killer. Gary murdered as well. But I agree, a video about their connections and some myths about them and the Church would be interesting.

[@Clunky_and_Wonky]

Oh, oh! Do Ted Bundy next!

[@bumpercoach]

Not raised in the church... Does it say anything about heteros that he apparently was one?

[@BobSmith-lb9nc]

In August 1975, Bundy was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, although he was not an active participant in services and ignored most church restrictions. He would later be excommunicated by the LDS Church following his 1976 kidnapping conviction.

[@zandersturgill]

Big difference. Butch isn't known to have killed anyone. There's debate whether he killed someone in Bolivia. Bundy was a serial killer. But a video about his connections and some myths about Bundy and the Church would be interesting.

[@BobSmith-lb9nc]

@@zandersturgill That Butch began as a rustler and bank robber doesn't bode well, but I did love the movie.