Wild Bill Hickok
Gunfigher and Lawman
James Butler Hickok was born on an Illinois farm in 1837 to William and Polly Butler Hickok. He was the fourth of six children. His father was a staunch abolitionist and had ties with the Underground Railroad. Hickok shared his father’s views and served as a scout and spy for the Union army during the Civil War.
The incident that began his fame occurred on July 12, 1861. While recovering from being mauled by a bear at Rock Creek Stage Station, he argued with David McCanles over business and a woman. After the argument, McCanles and two of his friends lay dead at the hands of Wild Bill. Dime novels exaggerated the number of victims in this fight to over ten and the legend began.
After the war, he served for a short time as a U.S. Deputy Marshal and for a briefly toured with Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show. He left the show in 1874 when his eyesight began to fail him.
Hickok to Abilene
In July of 1865, the gun duel with Dave Tutt on the main street of Springfield, Missouri propelled Hickok to his stardom. After losing in a card game to Tutt and unable to pay, Hickok offered his watch as security, warning the other man not to use it.
Further trouble developed between the two over a woman, Susanna Moore. The two men met on main street with Tutt proudly wearing the watch. Tutt fired the first shot, but Hickok drew and killed the man.
Hickok was offered the position of marshal at Abilene, Kansas on April 15, 1871. The eight months that Hickok served as marshal enhanced his fame.
While trying to disarm a mob led by gambler Phil Coe, an armed man ran toward Hickok from behind and he turned and fired. He accidentally shot and killed jailer Mike Williams. This was the last man Hickok was credited as killing during a gunfight. He was fired from his position as marshal and spent several years roaming the West, wherein his legend as a gunfighter continued to grow.
Wild Bill Shot in the Back
In 1876, he married Agnes Lake Thatcher. Two weeks after his marriage, he left for the town Deadwood in Dakota Territory.
On August 2, 1876 he sat playing poker in the Number 10 Saloon. On most occasions, Hickok sat with his back to the wall, but that seat was already occupied and he was forced to sit with his back to a door.
Jack McCall, reported to have lost money to Hickok the night before, approached the ex-lawman from behind and shot him in the back of the head. The hand of cards Hickok held, two pair: black aces and black eights; has been remembered as the Dead Man’s hand.
Sources:
James Hickok Retrieved on 2/26/09.
Wild Bill Retrieved on 2/26/09.
Lamar, Howard R, ed. The New Encyclopedia of the American West. New Haven and London, Yale University Press.
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