Father

William Bonaparte “Bony” Tucker was born in Kentucky on October 5, 1824. In 1848, William married Mahala Ann Myers and in 1850 they were living in Casey County,Kentucky. Bony Sr. was a farmer, a skill he learned from his father. By 1853, the same year the Army abandoned Fort Worth, the couple moved to Texas to settle in what became known as Jarvis Heights in historic Northside Fort Worth.

Bony Sr. quickly established himself in the area and in 1854 he was one of the founders of the new Masonic Temple. In 1856, he shifted careers from farming to politics. He would be elected the County Sheriff¹ (he was just the third person to hold the position² ) and by 1858 he was elected District Clerk. Later he was elected County Judge, but in 1867 he had to resign the position due to a legal technicality. This would put an end to his political aspirations.

Now at the age of 43, he switched careers again and focused his energy on real estate as he anticipated the railroad expansion coming to Fort Worth. He purchased large tracts of land, primarily in the south end of the city.  In 1870, Bony Sr. also built a new homestead on the present day “Tucker Hill,” which was the first home to be built in what came to be known as the Historic Southside³ – thus he became known as the “Father of the Southside.”⁴ Today, the intersection of E. Tucker St. (named for him) and Main St. is near the location of his original home which was razed in 1907.

In 1876, Bony Sr. was one of the influential people of Fort Worth that helped bring the railroad and streetcars to the city.  Since his home sat high on a hill, he was able to watch the railroad construction from the porch of his home. Bony Sr. died on April 8, 1900 in Fort Worth, Texas. Bony Sr. is buried in Pioneers Rest Cemetery alongside his wife Mahala and 5 of their 6 children.⁵

Sons

Rowan Hardin Tucker Sr.

Rowan Hardin Tucker, the first son born to William and Mahala (née Myers) Tucker, was born on October 1, 1855 in Fort Worth, Texas. At the beginning of the American Civil War, the Tuckers had their second son on September 5, 1861, in Fort Worth, Texas named William Bonaparte “Bony” Tucker Jr. The boys grew up with four sisters – at first on the Historic Northside and later in the homestead built by their father located on “Tucker Hill” on the edge of the Historic Southside of Fort Worth.

In 1878, Rowan followed his father’s footsteps and began a career in Law Enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff. By 1885, both Rowan and brother Bony Jr. held the title of Deputy Sheriff. In early 1886, both brothers acted as guards when railroad employees across Texas and many other states went on strike.⁶ The effect of the strike was felt all over town and the country and tensions were high. With the threat of vandalism and loitering on the tracks by railroad employees and sympathizers, the Sheriff ordered his deputy officers to block the strikers and to break up crowds. On April 3, 1886,  both brothers took part in what would be known as Fort Worth’s “Battle of Buttermilk Junction” when striking union rail workers ambushed a heavily guarded train engine the railroad was trying to move.⁷

By the summer of 1887, Bony Jr. decided to take a job as a guard for the Northbound Sante Fe railroad. The first stop after leaving Fort Worth was Gainesville, Texas. It was at this stop that Bony Jr. began to befriend a local brothel owner named Hazel Creeland. As the months went on, their presence was noticed in Gainesville and their companionship was on the radar of the local authorities. On November 8, 1887, a police officer shot Bony Jr. on the streets of Gainesville near the present-day courthouse after refusing to pay a fine for riding with a prostitute. Bony Jr.’s body was returned to Fort Worth. Since he was a Volunteer Fireman in Fort Worth, he was given a formal burial by his fellow fireman. He was only 26 years old at the time of his death.

Unlike his brother, Rowan remained in Fort Worth. He left behind his career in law enforcement in 1888, just a year after the death of his brother and became a claim agent for the Fort Worth & Denver City Railroad. He held this position for the rest of his life.  He also was elected to the City Council and represented the Fifth Ward on the Southside for four terms.⁸ He was a Mason and was a member of the Blue Lodge No. 148.  On June 6, 1920, Rowan passed away at his home on “Tucker Hill” at the age of 65. He left behind his wife Louise (née Archer) Tucker and two children.⁹ Rowan is buried in the Tucker family plot in Pioneers Rest alongside his parents, several siblings, a daughter named Ethel (who died young), and his wife Louise.