This is a fascinating genealogical study because of the twists and turns of misinformation and deliberate disinformation created by an individual who wanted to sever himself from his origins completely. He was admirably successful.

UPDATED INFORMATION:  Recently I had an opportunity to meet with members of the Keys family.  I will show new discoveries or stories in red.

IDENTIFYING FAMILY OF ORIGIN

I began my research by mistakenly following two family trees [barking up the wrong trees?] which proved to be a completely different Barth family of Russian German descent (who settled in North Dakota). However, the Woodruff/Ligon et al Family Tree [at Ancestry.com] included a transcription from a newspaper article which correctly placed the family of George Barth, a.k.a. William F. Keys, in southwestern Nebraska:

 A former Culbertson [Nebraska] brother and sister were reunited recently after a separation of 65 years. William F. (Bill) Keys, 85 year old rancher of Joshua Tree, Calif., and Mrs. Molly townsend, 75, who resides at a retirement home in Pasadena, were reunited through the efforts of his daughter, Mrs. Robert Garry, also of Joshua Tree.

By researching the genealogy of Bill’s sister [Mollie Townsend] named in that newspaper article, I found their Barth family in Culbertson, Nebraska.

CONFIRMATION:  A conversation with one of Bill Keys’ grandsons confirmed that this is the correct family.  During the 1970s, he had extended visits with a cousin, whose mother was Margaret Barth (Bill’s sister).  Knowing the name of the cousin, I was able to confirm the relationship which was already in my database.

OCCUPATION:

The news article states that their father was a flour mill operator. This is also the belief of Art Kidwell, Bill Keys’ biographer. Census data indicate that John Jacob Barth was actually a shoemaker, who owned his own shop.

The diversity of interests demonstrated by Bill Keys is presumably indicative of his family of origin, as well as of the German Russian community. It is probable that his father had several business ventures going at once. He may have had, or worked in, a stone-ground mill outside of town, and owned a part-time shoe repair business in town. He may also have worked for a water company which was installing irrigation systems in Hitchcock County at that time. Young George Barth would certainly have had first-hand knowledge about stone-grinding and other milling processes, as well as irrigation and the importance of owning water rights.

GERMANS FROM RUSSIA

Researching families of Russian Germans is like reading a Who’s Who of Johanns, Jacobs, Heinrichs, Georgs, Conrads, Katherines, Annas, Margarets and Marias. From family to family, the names are very similar.Ancestry Family trees indicate that George Barth’s father was “John Jacob.”  On travel documents, he is referred to as Jacob, however on the U.S. Census he is known as John. Even more confusing is the fact that he has a brother Jacob in the same county, who emigrated a few years earlier (with their mother).

Clearly the family had continued to use the traditional German naming pattern. That pattern then accounts for the fact that the immigration passenger lists use the name “Johann” for the subject of my research, an individual who is more familiarly known as “George:”  All other names match his family members, including his youngest sister who is listed as “Male” or “Wale” rather than the Americanized “Mollie.”

FOR CONSIDERATION:  Research indicates two additional brothers who ‘disappear’ from the family, either by death or by removing from the family.  Heinrich, the oldest son, was 18 when they crossed in 1892.  There is no record of him after arrival.  A younger son, Peter, was 4 during the crossing.  I originally disqualified both because one seemed too old, the other too young, to become George Barth aka Bill Keys.  However, I will continue to search for records related to these additional Barth men.

MORE ABOUT GERMAN COLONIES IN RUSSIA

BIRTH OF GEORGE BARTH

According to his World War I Draft Registration Card, George Barth (aka William F. Keys) was born 27 Sep 1879. There is a discrepancy of dates of dates here.

If George Barth was born in 1879, then he would have been 13 when the family traveled in 1892; travel documents indicate no son of that age.

If he was the child name Johann, then he was 8 in 1892, and so, born in 1884;  in this case, if he left home at 15, the year would have been about 1898 (the start of the Spanish American war). This satisfies two scenarios: the story that he left home at 15; and the story (as remembered by his sister) that he left home when she was about 10 and just before the Spanish American War.

It is possible [indeed probable] that the month and day are correct, but that the year was changed in order to make him seem five years “older” than he actually was.

CONFLICTING INFORMATION ABOUT HIS BIRTH

BARTH FAMILY EMIGRATION

It appears from Census records, that John Jacob Barth’s brother (also Jacob) and mother (Katherine Elisabeth Frank) arrived in the United States on 5 August 1876. Jacob married Regina Schlegal in 1880, in Culbertson, Nebraska. Katherine Elisabeth Frank died in 1881, in Culbertson, Nebraska. The 1880 Census states that Jacob is a farmer in Culbertson, Nebraska; the 1900 Census states that he is a farmer in Blackwood, Nebraska [11 miles due north of Culbertson]; the 1910 Census states that he has an “income” without specifying his occupation, in Culbertson, Nebraska.  Jacob and Regina had nine children.

NEW:  There was also a sister named Christine.  She married Conrad Frick and had children.  She is reported to have died in Culbertson, Nebraska, but I have not yet confirmed that fact.  I have no information about her marriage date or dates of emigration and arrival in the United States.

Sixteen years later, in 1892, the families reunited in the town of Culbertson.

8 Apr 1892: BARTH FAMILY EMIGRATION UNDERWAY

 1894-1898:  GEORGE RUNS AWAY, CHANGES HIS NAME, JOINS THE ARMY

“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.”  Arthur Conan Doyle

“Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” Arthur Conan Doyle

“Well, since I can’t have none of ‘em, I might as well like them all….”  Tiny Tim, Scrooge.

The years between George Barth’s arrival in the United States in 1892 at age 8, and the arrival of Bill Key in the Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree, California in 1910 at age 31, are nearly impossible to document fully. There are many stories, some approaching mythological proportions, about young George Barth running away from home and working his way across the western states. He is presumed to have left home between 1895 and 1898.

I have researched these topics widely and inconclusively. Since I cannot eliminate any of these possibilities, I include them all for future consideration and further research.

OPTION 1 – GEORGE RAN AWAY IN 1898 & IMMEDIATELY JOINED THE NEBRASKA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

OPTION 2 – GEORGE RAN AWAY IN 1894, LATER VOLUNTEERED FOR ROUGH RIDERS

 OPTION 3 – GEORGE RAN AWAY & JOINED BUFFALO BILL’S WILD WEST SHOW

EARLY 1900s:  BILL KEY (or KEYS) HAS TYPHOID FEVER

If Bill Keys was one of the unfortunate hundreds who succumbed to typhoid fever at the start of the Spanish American war, then he could have suffered a recurrence of this illness at Coho Springs. Any prolonged illness can cause hair loss, although it is usually not permanent.

“My dad said that he started to lose his hair after a trip… up to Coso Hot Springs area to prospect. While there he got typhoid fever and almost died. He said that after that his hair started falling out.”   SOURCE:  Willis Keys & Art Kidwell, Growing Up at the Desert Queen Ranch, 1997, p 1.

 

1900 & 1910 CENSUS

I have been unable to locate George Barth, William Key or William Keys on any U.S. Census for 1900 or 1910.  His biographer places him as a prospector in the region between Barstow, California and Twentynine Palms, California by 1910.

“By January 1910 he found himself in Barstow.  Several days later, he drifted south to Old Woman Springs where in the company of other prospectors, he was giving an introduction to the area terrain. After working a nearby claim, he headed east to Surprise Spring and later prospected for several months in the Bullion Mountains north of Twentynine Palms. The remainder of the year, he returned to his former skills as a cowboy for one of the cattle companies operating in the area.”  SOURCE: Art Kidwell, Ambush: The Story of Bill Keys, 1979, p 9. 

 

12 Sep 1918:  WORLD WAR I REGISTRATION

The following is a transcript of William Keys’ WWI Registration Card. He listed “John B. Bart” as his uncle in Culbertson.”  I have not found any John Bart, Barth, or Bard in Culbertson other than George Barth’s father, John Jacob Barth who had died in 1917.  It is quite possible that Bill Keys was unaware of his father’s death. At the time Bill completed this form, he was not yet married.

12 Sep 1918:  NAME CHANGED FROM KEY TO KEYS

Art Kidwell, page 10, Ambush: the Story of Bill Keys, states:  

“A decade later [after his marriage to Frances], when confusion arose over the similarity of his name with that of a newly arrived homesteader, Bill added an “s” to his last name. The transformation from George Barth to William Keys was now complete.”

The Historic American Buildings Survey completed by Joshua Tree National Monument staff in 1993, states on page 3 that:

“In 1921, while already established on the Desert Queen Ranch, he added an “s” to the last name to distinguish himself from Johnny Kee of Morango Basin, whose last name was pronounced the same as Key. Kee and Key were getting their mail mixed up, prompting Bill Key to adjust his last name. Barth may have chosen his new surname “Key” in deference to a ranch owner for whom he may have worked during his journeys as a youth.” (Willis Keys, personal communication).

Both statements are incorrect. Bill Keys listed himself as William F. Keys on his World War I Registration Card, which was completed on 12 Sep 1918.

 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, William F Keys

 

OCTOBER 1918:  MARRIAGE TO FRANCES MAE LAWTON

I have not yet located a marriage certificate or license for Bill Keys and Frances Lawton. This date was provided by Bill’s biographer.

“In the meantime he built a wooden house with a stone chimney. It was here he brought his bride, Frances Mae Lawton, after their wedding in October, 1918.”   SOURCE:  Art Kidwell, Ambush: The Story of Bill Keys, 1979, p 10. 

 

2 Mar 1920 CENSUS: California, San Bernardino, Yucaifa Township, Morongo Precinct

According to the 1920 Census, Bill Keys owned his home, but had a mortgage. He was 40 years old. He stated that he was born in Nebraska, and that his parents were born in Virginia. This appears to be deliberate misinformation on his part.  He stated that he could read, write and speak English. His occupation was listed as being a miner, working a gold mine on his own account.

His wife is listed as being Fannie, age 32, who was born in Ohio. Her father was stated as being born in Michigan, and her mother in Colorado. Her occupation was listed as “none” [which in the opinion of this researcher, having lived at the ranch site for the past three months, is a patently false statement. Frances Lawton Keys’ occupation should have been listed as “running the ranch while Bill was away at the mines and mills; raising and preserving food; gathering and storing firewood; keeping the home fires burning through those first two winters.]  They did not have any children at the time the census was taken.

Also on this census is William McHaney, long-time friend of Bill Keys.  He was listed as being 36, renting, widowed, born in Oregon of parents born in Washington, and a prospector working a gold mine on his own account.

 

8 Apr 1930 CENSUS:  California, San Bernardino, Twenty Nine Palms Township

According to the 1930 census, Bill Keys was 50, owned property valued at $3,000. He did not consider his property to be a farm. At the time of the census, the family did not yet own a radio [although according to Willis Keys, they had one a short time afterward].  He had married at age 39, and now listed that he and his parents were born in Nebraska. His occupation was that of miner, and of a gold mine. He stated that he was not a veteran.

Frances was now listed as a “housewife”, age 42, married at age 31.  She now stated that she was born in Ohio, her father born in Ohio and her mother born in Iowa.  At this time, they have four children:  Willis L., 9, in school; Ellen V., 7, in school; Ellsworth G., 3 years 4 months; and Patricia C., 1 year 6 months.  All four children were born in California.

The Keys family had rented space to a boarder:  George Hurst, 74, born in Iowa, father born in Virginia, mother born in Pennsylvania, also a gold miner and not a veteran.  I have not yet determined if Mr. Hurst is related to the family in any way.

 

1936 JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL MONUMENT CREATED

 

8 May 1940 CENSUS:  California, San Bernardino, Twenty-nine Palms

According to the 1940 Census, Bill Keys was 61. He owned his home, and the stated value of his farm was $400. He stated that the highest level of education he had completed was 5^th Grade. He had lived in the same location in 1935. He worked on his own account as a gold miner, 46 hours a week, 52 weeks a year and also had additional income from unstated sources.

Frances M., 51, stated that she had completed 2 years of high school.  Willis L., 19, Virginia [previously named as Ellen V.] was 17, Patricia E., 11, and Phyllis A., 8, were all named on this census.

1927-1940 VOTER REGISTRATION: San Bernardino County

1942 BILL KEYS MEETS GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON

I am still researching the possible meetings between Bill Keys and George Patton.  Patton was training in the Army training facilities south of Joshua Tree National Monument prior to deployment to Africa. Check back for updates to this section.

1943 RESIDENCE:  Alhambra, California

The Keys Family rented and maintained a second residence in Alhambra in about 1942. Several members of the family worked for a defense agency at the time, and the younger girls were in High School. Frances lived with them in Alhambra; Bill maintained the ranch property, mill operations, etc.  Two of the children later entered military service.

SOURCE 1:  Art Kidwell, Ambush: The Story of Bill Keys, 1979, p 126, 149, 153.  SOURCE 2:  Art Kidwell & Willis Keys, Growing Up at the Desert Queen Ranch, 1997, p 7.

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 about William F Keys

11 May 1943 CONFRONTATION WITH WORTH BAGLEY, TRIAL, INCARCERATION,  & SUBSEQUENT PARDON

On May 11, 1943, in a confrontation about property boundaries, Bill Keys shot and killed Worth Bagley.  Bagley was a relative newcomer to the Desert Queen neighborhood.  He was apparently suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder from his service during World War I, as well as suffering from a brain tumor. He was known to be dangerously hot-tempered, and to have made repeated threats against Bill Keys.

The story of the shooting, the subsequent trial, the sentencing, the appeal, time served in San Quentin, and return home in October 1948, have been well documented by Art Kidwell in the 1979 book entitled AMBUSH: The Story of Bill Keys. Bill Keys was pardoned by the Governor of California on 24 Jul 1956.

When Bill Keys returned from San Quentin, he carved a headstone, which he then placed upon the spot where Worth Bagley had died.  The stone reads:

“Here is where Worth Bagly bit the dust at the nad of W. F. Keys – May 11, 1943.”  SOURCE:  Art Kidwell, Ambush: The Story of Bill Keys, 1979.

9 Jan 1963:  DEATH OF FRANCES LAWTON KEYS

“She… collected purple glass, and had one of the best collections in the area. But her main interest [during the 1960s] was planning the new house that Bill had promised to build for her. This one of brick would be cooler in summer and less drafty in winter than their present house, which was beginning to show its age.  This last dream never materialized, as she grew ill and passed away quietly on January 9, 1963 in a Banning hospital. She was seventy-five.”   SOURCE:  Art Kidwell, Ambush: The Story of Bill Keys, 1979, p 181.

7 Jan 1964:  CULBERTSON PAIR REUNITED IN CALIFORNIA

I found another interesting news article about Mollie Barth Townsend ca 1910, but that’s another story…

 

28 Jun 1969 DEATH

“Bill Keys passed away on June 28, 1969. So much interest had been generated in this man of the desert that the local radio station in Joshua Tree, KJST, carried his funeral service live throughout the area…. Other friends and neighbors gathered with the family at the cemetery at the Desert Queen Ranch, as Bill was laid to rest beside Frances.”  SOURCE:   Art Kidwell, Ambush: The Story of Bill Keys, 1979, p 183. 

California, Death Index, 1940-1997 about William F Keys

1969 BURIAL

William F. Keys is buried in the cemetery at the Desert Queen Ranch in Joshua Tree National Park. This cemetery is still privately owned by members of the Keys Family, who visit from time to time.

IN CONCLUSION

I have great admiration and respect for the life and accomplishments the Keys’ family made here at the Desert Queen Ranch early in the 20^th century. In the 1990s, my husband and I built a cabin on 40 acres in western Montana with our three children. We understand first-hand the attraction of living in the high desert, the joy of seeing wild creatures living naturally, the constant struggle with the elements, the necessity of a reliable water source for survival, conflicts with neighbors, even the need and desire to educate our children at home.

As we continue to live here in proximity to the Desert Queen Ranch, I look forward to making new discoveries which may shed light on this man and his tenacious desert-dwelling family. I have requested permission to read the transcripts of the family’s recorded oral histories, and from there may make adjustments as needed to this chronology.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading about the life of this fascinating individual: one of the mysterious characters of the Wild, Wild West.

SOURCES

I gratefully acknowledge the research of others.  However, my use of these resources does not indicate implied agreement with their stated information or purpose, nor a willingness to endorse any particular website or product.

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