McCanles may have been the first man Hickok killed. Coe told him that he had shot at a stray dog. The charge was later reduced to manslaughter. This was dangerous work, even in these early days before the Civil War, but the Hickok family was made of stern fibers. [7] Photographs of Hickok appear to depict dark hair, but all contemporaneous descriptions affirm that it was red. This proved to be not a very practical method. Abilene was a rough and rowdy cowtown, in those days. He didn't do well living in the East either. When James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok was born on 27 May 1837, in Troy Grove, LaSalle, Illinois, United States, his father, William Alonzo Hickok, was 35 and his mother, Pamelia "Polly" Butler, was 32. The above "gunfight" is the first recorded of a classical type of western shootout. [73], Hickok's favorite guns were a pair of Colt 1851 Navy Model (.36 caliber) cap-and-ball revolvers. Hickok's killing of Whistler the Peacemaker with a long-range rifle shot had influence in preventing the Sioux from uniting to resist the settler incursions into the Black Hills. Nicholss version of the shootout in Harpers grabbed the publics attention, making Hickok an instant legend whose gunfighting prowess became fodder for dime novels. Pard, we will meet again in the happy hunting ground to part no more. [1], In 1855, at the age of 18, Hickok moved to Kansas Territory following a fight with Charles Hudson, which resulted in both falling into a canal. Hickok had to shoot another man, in performance of his duties, named Mulvey who was another town troublemaker. "Aces and eights" thus is known as the "Dead Man's Hand". Coe explained that he was shooting at a stray dog[30] but suddenly turned his gun on Hickok, who fired first and killed Coe. They had ivory grips and nickel plating, and were ornately engraved with "J.B. Hickok1869" on the backstrap. Most likely McCall became enraged over what he perceived as a condescending offer from Hickok to let him have enough money for breakfast after he had lost all his money playing poker the previous day. The Union side lost this battle, and their commander was killed. The election results of Monticello Kansas show Hickok being elected as "Constable", in 1858. Tutt then took Hickok's watch, which was lying on the table, as collateral for the $35, at which point Hickok warned him not to wear it or he, Hickok, would shoot him. At the [second] trial it was suggested that [McCall] was hired to do his work by gamblers who feared the time when better citizens should appoint Bill the champion of law and order a post which he formerly sustained in Kansas border life, with credit to his manhood and his courage. He was holding two pairs: black aces and black eights (although there is some dispute as to the suit of one of the aces, diamond vs. spade) as his "up cards", which has since become widely known as the "dead man's hand". Deadwood was then, and is now, a town with basically one main street running through it. Hickok's encounter in Abilene with outlaw John Wesley Hardin resulted in the latter fleeing the town after Hickok managed to disarm him. How or why the confrontation occurred, and the exact sequence of events are in not known. Most of the family never went far, or for very long, from the Troy Grove area. He is now at Yankton, D.T. In 1876 in Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, Hickok married Agnes Lake Thatcher, a former circus performer. After the Rock Creek incident Hickok went to Leavenworth Kansas and enlisted in the Union Army. Hickok and Lanihan, however, remained sheriff and deputy, respectively. Marshal and, apparently, no longer working with the Army. Marshal Smith was struck with an ax and almost decapitated while attempting to enforce the law at a local rancher's home. Few stayed around to find out if he was serious. Duck Bill and Shanghai Bill The men, women, and children of his own time echoed the words of that old woman of Abilene, "He was a grand man, Marshal Hickok, a grand man". It is generally conceded by historians that Hickok was attacked by the five troopers. Yes, if it was necessary. Jesse James suffered from it. Leaving Springfield, he was recommended for the position of deputy federal marshal at Fort Riley, Kansas. . Together, they would produce their first child, Oliver Hickok, who was born in May 1830. Leaving Springfield, he was recommended for the position of Deputy United States Marshal at Fort Riley Kansas. Lesser men, in a safer time, have sometimes judged Hickok harshly. Hickok, whose eyesight was poor by that time in his life due to the early stages of glaucoma, caught the glimpse of movement of someone running toward him. One night while wandering around New York City he came into a pool room. James Butler Hickok (May 27, 1837 August 2, 1876), better known as "Wild Bill" Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West known for his life on the frontier as a soldier, scout, lawman, cattle rustler, gunslinger, gambler, showman, and actor, and for his involvement in many famous gunfights. The future character of the one eventually to be known as "The Prince of the Pistoleer's" was slowly emerging. In June 1865, Hickok was mustered out and spent his time in and around Springfield gambling. Some were ex-Union soldiers, some were ex-Confederate. At the urging of Calamity Jane, Utter in 1879 had Hickok reinterred in a ten-foot-square plot at the Mount Moriah Cemetery, surrounded by a cast-iron fence with a U.S. flag flying nearby. [clarification needed] He was right; he would never leave Deadwood alive. Hickok and his accomplices, the station manager Horace Wellman, his wife, and an employee, J.W. The family did some moving around during this time period and the next child, James Butler Hickok, was born in May of 1837. This was a good sized family for the frontier, and reflects the character and strength of the family. Sometime during this incident the name "Wild Bill" was applied to Hickok. When he did go on patrol he would walk down the center of the street, rarely using the sidewalks. On Sept. 6, 1941 the U.S. Dept. He further claimed that Hickok, as a result, had two guns cocked and pointed at him. It is a loose adaptation of Hickok's life, ending with his famous aces-and-eights card hand. Hickok left his new bride a few months later, joining Charlie Utter's wagon train to seek his fortune in the gold fields of South Dakota. The year is now 1861 and Hickok, recovered from his injuries, joined the horror known as the Civil War. Hickok then tried acting in Wild West shows, which were growing in popularity. As a result, calcium carbonate from the surrounding soil had replaced the flesh leading to petrifaction. You can read his bio at http://www.wikipedia.org. Eventually, Tilghman became one of the premier law enforcement officers in the West. Calamity Jane was reported to have been buried next to Hickok according to her dying wish. This is a tale of two men called Bill: William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody and James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok. Mr. Tilghman then continues, "He spoke in a slow assured manner". "[46] Hoping to intimidate Hickok, Coe allegedly stated that he could "kill a crow on the wing". The legendary lawman now became flesh and blood. In the film version, Howard Keel co-stars as Hickok to Doris Day's Calamity Jane. Macintosh of irregularities and misconduct during the election. When he saw Hickok, he leveled his cocked rifle at him. While they were in this town, Hickok is said to have taken a friend's daughter bullfrog hunting! His nickname of Wild Bill has inspired similar nicknames for men named William (even though that was not Hickok's name) who were known for their daring in various fields. They pull their guns and shoot. He claimed he was avenging Hickok's earlier slaying of his brother, which may have been true; a man named Lew McCall had indeed been killed by an unknown lawman in Abilene, Kansas, but whether or not the two McCall men were related is unknown. He was famously photographed with a pair of ivory handled Colt 1851 Navy revolvers and a large Bowie knife tucked into his belt c. 1869. When Varnes could not be found, McCall then implicated Tim Brady in the plot. "Dead man's hand"Owing to the number of poker players who died during disputes, Dead man's hand was already established poker idiom for a number of a different hands long before Hickok died. Hickok again warned him not to cross the square, but again Tutt ignored him. "The Girl and the Gunfighter: A Newly Discovered Photograph of Wild Bill Hickok. They would learn that the new Marshal was of iron will, expert with guns, fearless in the performance of his duties, and possessed of a well earned reputation as a killer of men when necessary. It rests in a peaceful and quite beautiful cemetery known as Mt. On this occasion however, his friends teased him about his habit and wouldn't let him sit with his back to the wall. True Story: Wild Bill Hickok, Sheriff Of Deadwood One of the most fascinating historical figures from the days of the American wild west is Wild Bill Hickok. The original wooden grave marker was moved to the new site, but by 1891, it had been destroyed by souvenir hunters whittling pieces from it, and it was replaced with a statue. James Butler Hickok, a.k.a. Although the show brought Hickok some much-needed income, he was unhappy, began drinking heavily, and returned to the West in March 1874. "[56], Martha Jane Cannary, known popularly as Calamity Jane, claimed in her autobiography that she was married to Hickok and had divorced him so he could be free to marry Agnes Lake, but no records that support her account have been found. On several other occasions, Hickok confronted and killed several men while fighting alone. This tale of romance came to a sad end on August 2, 1876. Wild Bill was having a run of bad luck that day and was forced to borrow a poker stake from the bartender. Many people knew that Jane had a crush on Hickok but few, if any, knew that they were married. Hickok could see the front door to the saloon, but not the back door. A monument has since been built there. Moriah Cemetery, Deadwood, SD Spouse: Agnes LAKE b. She had come there with her traveling circus show. In 1871 he took over as the marshal of the tough cow town of Abilene, Kansas. [25][26]:136 Hickok had not been paid for some time, and was hired as a scout by General John B. Sanborn by early 1865. CatherineErnest6628. In one show, he shot the spotlight when it focused on him. Many characters in Western novels are fashioned after Hickok. One story tells of Hickok having a relationship with a woman named Susannah Moore. At the coroner's inquest into Strawhun's death, despite "very contradictory" evidence from witnesses, the jury found the shooting justifiable. Both men are iconic legends and folk heroes of the Old West; Cody as a cowboy, Pony Express rider, stage coach driver, teamster, Union Army soldier, civilian army scout, buffalo hunter, and ultimately the greatest of showmen; and Hickok as a Union . Usually, Hickok always sat with his back to a wall. Hickok rode Buckshot while 300-pound Jingles rode Joker. Hickok never mentioned it in his statements. David McCanles "called out" Wild Bill from the Station House. Unfortunately, for the forger of the diary, the Cunard steamship line has always maintained highly detailed records. Strawhun refused, made a move for his gun and was promptly shot through the head by Hickok. I would have rather been somewhere else, but Bill stopped. While working in Abilene, Hickok and Phil Coe, a saloon owner, had an ongoing dispute that later resulted in a shootout. Hickok was originally buried in the Ingelside Cemetery, Deadwood's original graveyard. "Wild Bill's Sweetheart: The Life of Mary Jane Owens. His life was an interesting one. He was known as a gunfighter and gambler who fought in the Civil War and was a scout for Custer's Cavalry. [44] In his 1895 autobiography, published after his death, Hardin claimed to have been befriended by Hickok, the newly elected town marshal, after he had disarmed the marshal using the road agent's spin, but Hardin was known to exaggerate. She died on August 21st 1907. After the fact, there was much speculation as to whether romantic rivalry had had a role in the incident: Hickok was apparently involved with a woman who had also been involved with the married McCanles. This graveyard filled quickly, preventing further use, and in 1879, on the third anniversary of his original burial, Utter paid to move Hickok to the new Mount Moriah cemetery. Writing in 1911, he detailed his admiration for Hickok and included a paragraph on the shooting that differs considerably from the reported account: "Phil" Coe was from Texas, ran the "Bull's Head" a saloon and gambling den, sold whiskey and men's souls. His romance with Martha Jane Burke, aka "Calamity Jane," similarly provided material for dime novelists. As the old cemetery was an area that was better suited for the constant influx of new settlers to live on, the remaining bodies there were moved up the hill to the Mount Moriah Cemetery in the 1880s. On several later occasions, Hickok was to confront and kill several men while fighting alone. Shoot Out with "Wild Bill" Hickok, 1869 Buffalo Bill Entertains a Russian Grand Duke, 1872 Battle With The Apache, 1872 Captured by the Arapaho, 1875 Encounter with the Texas Rangers, 1876 Custer's Last Stand Traveling on an Emigrant Train, 1879 The Death Of Billy The Kid, 1881 Ranchers and Farmers Collide in Nebraska, 1884 A Cowboy in Dodge City According to Hardin, Hickok taken by surprise at the maneuver, offered to compromise the situation over a drink in the saloon. On July 21, 1865, in the town square of Springfield, Missouri, Hickok killed Davis Tutt, Jr. in a "quick draw" duel. When I was a young boy, I heard that we were distantly related to Wild Bill through my mother's side. Hickok and McCanles did not get along. This job came to an end when James threw his employer into the canal for mistreating his horse team. The children of William and Elizabeth are: GENERATION #2 02. Agnes Lake had, in her possession at the time of Hickok's death, a letter. It should not be quoted or retransmitted without a full citation to the author and website address, and should not be put into print without the author's express permission. It was during the planning and organization stages of the trip that Hickok first met Calamity Jane. Hickok lost his re-election bid to his deputy. [26]:329 Hickok did not enjoy acting, and often hid behind scenery. He traveled west to Deadwood, South Dakota, in a wagon train that included Martha Jane Cannary (Calamity Jane), who later claimed she had secretly married him. I think not. Wild Bill Hickok was born James Butler Hickok in Homer, Illinois on May 27, 1837. I have been to the cemetery, in Troy Grove, and the family still rests side-by-side in the quiet, and very peaceful older section of the town's cemetery. The winter of 1870-71 passed peacefully for Hickok. He was involved in a deadly shoot-out with the McCanles gang at Rock Creek Station, an event still under much debate. "[3] In 1861, after growing a mustache following the McCanles incident, he began calling himself Wild Bill. They had seen Hickok calmly shoot Tutt through the heart, at a distance of between 75 to 100 feet, and then turn on them instantly confident of his shot to Tutt. He fought in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and gained publicity after the war as a scout, marksman, and professional gambler. Nonetheless, Hickok was reported by some to have appeared with Buffalo Bill in 1873 in a stage play titled "Scouts of the Plains". He quickly fired one shot in reaction, accidentally shooting and killing Abilene Special Deputy Marshal Mike Williams, who was coming to his aid, an event that would haunt him for the remainder of his life. Pard, we will meet again in the happy hunting ground to part no more. She arrived in Abilene in 1871. Without waiting to see the results of his shot, Hickok turned on his heel and faced an angry group of Tutt's friends, who had taken a position behind him. On this occasion however, she recalls her family cowered in fear because they had not been warned of the approaching cowherd. Born in rural Illinois, James Hickok developed extraordinary shooting skills in an otherwise unremarkable childhood. The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok is an American Western television series that ran for eight seasons from April 15, 1951, through September 24, 1958. On the contrary, he was applauded. Tutt ignored the warning and at the indicated time began to walk into the town square, towards Hickok who was on the opposite side of the square. There are many stories concerning why there was bad feeling between Coe and Hickok. [3][4] James was the fourth of six children. The young man was a Union sympathizer, and the crowd was Confederate. [43], On April 15, 1871, Hickok became marshal of Abilene, Kansas. McCall was subsequently rearrested after bragging about his deed, and a new trial was held. He was assigned Buffalo Bill Cody, a sergeant, and five privates. It has been speculated that during the "missing year", Hickok may have been operating as a spy in Southern territory. [23] After Strawhun made remarks against Hickok, Strawhun died instantly from a bullet through the head as Hickok tried to restore order. The bullet emerged through Wild Bills right cheek striking Captain Massie in the left wrist. He was released on $2,000 bail and stood trial on August 3, 1865. In 1941, Jean Hickok McCormick appeared in Billings, Montana. At the trial it was proved that the murderer was hired to do his work by gamblers[44] who feared the time when better citizens should appoint Bill the champion of law and order - a post which he formerly sustained in Kansas border life, with credit to his manhood and his courage. 10 in Deadwood, in the Black Hills, Dakota Territory. Like a man possessed, Hickok purposely strode through the roughest and most dangerous parts of Abilene. [61], Hickok died instantly. Marshal. [j] Utter supervised the move and noted that, while perfectly preserved, Hickok had been imperfectly embalmed. Hickok moved to Leavenworth in the Kansas Territory, where he joined Jim Lane's Free State Army (also known as the Jayhawkers), an antislavery vigilante group active in the new territory during the Bleeding Kansas era. Suddenly, the family saw a lone rider approaching their farm. One account of him, written in the late 1860s, described Hickok as six feet tall, lithe, active, sinewy, [a] daring rider, [a] dead shot with pistol and rifle, [with] long locks, fine features and mustache, buckskin leggings, red shirt, broad-brim hat, twin pistols in belt, rifle in hand. Despite his rough-and-ready ways, Hickok was also said to have been genteel and courteous and to have enjoyed dressing with panache in the latest styles of the day. The problem with this recollection" of Hardin's is that there is absolutely no evidence it ever happened. Wild Bill had learned of the scheme and cornered Coe, had his two pistols drawn on Coe. [18] On March 22, 1858, he was elected one of the first four constables of Monticello Township. While wandering around the town of Independence Missouri, Hickok noticed a large crowd gathered outside a saloon. Melissa Sartore. Politics Astrological Sign:. [24], In late 1863, Hickok worked for the provost marshal of southwest Missouri as a member of the Springfield detective police. Despite his reputation,[70] Hickok was buried in the Ingelside Cemetery, Deadwood's original graveyard. Those who objected or resisted were knocked through, or out, the doors and into the street. This time McCall was found guilty. That story is also thought to be an exaggeration. Utter.". He was now unemployed however, and needed to find a means of supporting himself. 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