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. [67], After bragging about killing Hickok, McCall was rearrested. Potato Creek Johnny, a local Deadwood Celebrity from the late 1800s and early 1900s is also buried next to Wild Bill. "George Ward Nichols and the Legend of Wild Bill Hickok. Hardin was an extremely accomplished gunfighter and was known to have killed over 40 men in his lifetime; he in turn idealized Hickok and identified with Wild Bill. At 19, Hickok was elected constable of Monticello Township. "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. He told them to mount their ponies and ride out of town "damn quick". B. Hickok (Wild Bill) formerly of Cheyenne, Wyoming. To provide for his large family, the teenager took up hunting. Was he shooting back? William Austin, the cemetery caretaker, estimated 500 lb (227 kg) which made it difficult for the men to carry them to the new site. Hickok would act as scout, and help lead the train through any troubles they might run across while en route. Wild Bill Hickok next set his sights on Abilene, Kansas, where he served as the town's . Thirdly, there is no such occurrence mentioned in any town record or newspaper file. The wagon train arrived in Deadwood in July 1876. One was known as the "Missouri Border Ruffians" who were pro-slavery, and the "Kansas Free Staters" anti-slavery. Reported claims of her having had a relationship with Him would have produced laughter, if spoken during his lifetime, or in front of family or friends. On August 2, 1876, while playing poker at Nuttal & Mann's Saloon No. The gun once . Hickok was playing cards with group of friends in Deadwood's "Number 10" Saloon. Am. Together, they would produce their first child, Oliver Hickok, who was born in May 1830. In my opinion, these would be the "cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat", in the "arena" of life, spoken of by Theodore Roosevelt. McCanles reportedly threatened Wellman, and either Wellman or Hickok, who was hiding behind a curtain, killed McCanles. Agnes Thatcher Lake was a truly remarkable woman. This is the first known time he was referred to as "William". James Butler Hickok (May 27, 1837 - August 2, 1876), also known as "Wild Bill" Hickok was a legendary figure in the old west. [8] On March 22, 1858, he was elected as one of the first four constables of Monticello Township, Kansas. JAMES BUTLER, UNIS KINSLEY WILD BILL HICKOK By Carole Johnson October 06, 2004 at 08:14:50. It remains unknown who actually fired it. Hickok was relieved of his duties as marshal less than two months after having accidentally killed deputy Mike Williams, allegedly owing to this incident's being only one of a series of questionable shootings and claims of misconduct. James Butler Hickok, a.k.a. There are no records which prove, or disprove that a child was born to them. As the scene unfolded, McCanles entered the station, and, from behind the curtain that divided it in two, either Hickok or Wellman shot McCanles. She said she was the daughter of Jane and Wild Bill Hickok, and was born in a cabin near Livingston, Montana in 1873. (#13189) [51], Hickok was relieved of his duties as marshal less than two months after the accidental shooting, this incident being only one of a series of questionable shootings and claims of misconduct during his career. The legend of Wild Bill has only grown since his death in 1876, when cowardly Jack McCall famously put a bullet through the back of his head during a card game. Introduced in late 1850 in .36-caliber, the six-shooter featured a 7 . Funeral services will be held at Charlie Utter's Camp, on Thursday afternoon, August 3, 1876, at 3 o'clock P. M. All are respectfully invited to attend. According to Hardin's biography Hickok came to disarm Hardin one day, for violation of the gun carry laws enacted in Abilene. The person keeps his trigger finger/s in the trigger guard/s however, and when the other party reaches for the gun/s they are suddenly spun back into the hand/s of the gunman ready to be fired. [28] Tutt's shot missed, but Hickok's struck Tutt through the heart from about 75 yards (69m) away. The bullet emerged through his right cheek and struck another player, riverboat Captain William Massie, in the left wrist. Sometime between 1860 and early 1861 Hickok was injured, some say in a confrontation with a bear, and the freight company put him on light duty status at the Rock Creek Station in the Nebraska territory. After a tour of the East with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show(1872 to 1873), he went to Deadwood, South Dakota where he was murdered by Jack McCall while playing cards at the #10 Saloon. After the war, Hickok became a scout for the U. S. Army and later was a professional gambler. Hickok's fight with Tutt set the mold for the classic, although rare in reality, western gunfight and gunfighter image. Hickok himself told the writers with great seriousness that he had killed over 100 men. Also in 1995, he's depicted as a character in an episode of Legend (TV series) by William Russ, possibly most famous for his role in Wiseguy (TV series). He is now at Yankton, D.T. When he saw Hickok, he leveled his cocked rifle at him. In 1876 in Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, Hickok married Agnes Lake Thatcher, a former circus performer. In these few, but eloquent compassionate words is revealed true man among men, a true hero, and another glimpse into the character that became a legend. Hickok is a playable character in the 2018 board game Deadwood 1876 by Faade Games. In any event, things came to a head in October of 1871. Hickok more than proved that title during that night. However, by the early 1860's it was known as Troy Grove. [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. [citation needed], Buffalo Bill claimed that he encountered Hickok disguised as a Confederate officer in Missouri in 1864. On the night of the 5th Coe and a large group of friends were in an ugly drunken mood. Accounts differ on what happened next. At the conclusion of the incident a woman's voice was heard to shout, "good for you Wild Bill"! Jesse James suffered from it. At this same moment deputy Williams, in direct violation of Hickok's instructions, came running around the corner, and into the line of fire. Almost the entire town attended the funeral, and Utter had Hickok buried with a wooden grave marker reading: "Wild Bill, J. It was during this time period, however, that Hickok met his future wife Agnes Lake who had come to town with her traveling circus show, but more of than later. Hickok waved his hand past Mulvey at some onlookers and yelled, "Don't shoot him in the back; he is drunk." [13], Hickok was arrested for murder two days later; however, the charge was later reduced to manslaughter. Shortly before Hickok's death, he wrote a letter to his new wife, which reads in part: "Agnes Darling, if such should be we never meet again, while firing my last shot, I will gently breathe the name of my wife-Agnes-and with wishes even for my enemies I will make the plunge and try to swim to the other shore" and "My dearly beloved if I am to die today and never see the sweet face of you I want you to know that I am no great man and am lucky to have such a woman as you", http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=479&ref=wvr. A semifictionalized version of Hickok's time as marshal of Abilene Kansas, titled Hickok (2017), stars Luke Hemsworth as Hickok, Trace Adkins as the Bull's Head Saloon keeper Phil Coe, Kris Kristofferson as Abilene mayor George Knox, and Kaiwi Lyman-Mersereau as John Wesley Hardin. Dismounting, he approached the bear and fired a shot into its head, but the bullet ricocheted off its skull, infuriating it. [64], Hickok was playing five-card stud or five-card draw when he was shot. Aug 2 1876 - Deadwood, Dakotah Territory - Mann's Saloon No. She seems to have had a passion for male clothing, and frequently dressed as a man. His reputation as a marksman in desperate encounters with outlaws made him a frontier legend. One day, after hearing that a cowherd was approaching, she remember how fearful she and her family became. August 18, 1876, image 3", "Jack McCall Cowardly Killer of Wild Bill Hickok", "American Wonder Wild Bill Hickok Shot and Killed from Behind on This Day in History", Bozeman Avant Courier, December 22, 1876, image 1, testimony of George M. Shingle, "Riverboat captain 'carried' bullet that killed Hickok", "Jack McCall and the Murder of Wild Bill Hickok", "Wild Bill Hickok: Pistoleer, Peace Officer and Folk Hero", Photograph of Wild Bill Hickok's Colt Model 1851 Navys, "Wild Bill Hickok's Smith & Wesson No. On Sept. 6, 1941 the U.S. Dept. The adventures that so characterized Hickok's later life began early. His story of fighting a grizzly bear, which he claims mistook him for food due to his greasy buckskins, personified a man who feared nothing alive, and after emptying his pistols into the bear, killed it with a Bowie knife. Hickok had put two bullets into Coe's abdomen,but seeing someone else running into the gunfight, with a drawn gun, Hickok fired again not recognizing his friend. Tutt grabbed Hickok's pocket watch, supposedly as payment for a debt Hickok disputed. [2][28] It is also recorded that when Hardin's cousin Mannen Clements was jailed for the killing of two cowboys, Hickok, at Hardin's request, arranged for his escape.[29]. He would then inform them to quiet down, and then leave as suddenly as he had arrived. With this notoriety,McCormick now received offers to appear in rodeo's and parades as the "daughter" of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane! Hickok left home at age 17 and worked as a canal boat pilot in Utica, Illinois, before heading west in 1856 to Bleeding Kansas, which was embroiled in a violent conflict over whether slavery should be permitted there. 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. McCall lost heavily. Hickok was originally buried in the Ingelside Cemetery, Deadwood's original graveyard. He was an assistant station tender for the Pony Express at the Rock Creek, Nebraska station. Two troopers, Jeremiah Lonergan and John Kile (Kyle), set upon Hickok in a saloon. Wild Bill Hickok is laid to rest at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota. I will be." A monument has since been built there. 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. Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach driver, then became a lawman in the frontier territories of Kansas and Nebraska. 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. [23][b], After the Civil War broke out in April 1861, Hickok became a teamster for the Union Army in Sedalia, Missouri. McCall was subsequently rearrested after bragging about his deed, and a new trial was held. [42], McCall was subsequently rearrested after bragging about his deed, and a new trial was held. Utter claimed Hickok's body, and placed a notice in the local newspaper, the Black Hills Pioneer, which read: "Died in Deadwood, Black Hills, August 2, 1876, from the effects of a pistol shot, J. It is now time to deal with a myth that has plagued Hickok's memory and his legend. It is believed that McCanles arrived at the station with his son, Monroe; his cousin, James Woods; and James Gordon, a man in his service. 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. Finally, her "friends" decided to also change the date of her death. The citizens of Abilene soon learned that they had nothing to fear, from the rowdy trail herd cowboys, with Wild Bill on the job. McCall claimed at the resulting two-hour trial (by a motley group of assembled miners and businessmen) that he was avenging Hickok's earlier slaying of his brother. 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. Hickok joined the antislavery Free State Army of Jayhawkers and, having already become skilled with a gun as a youth, served as a bodyguard for Gen. James H. Lanes. The young girl cherished the memory all her life. This angered the buffalo and panicked audience members, causing the animals to break free of their wire fencing and chase audience members, some of whom were trampled. Hickok is known to have fatally shot six men and is suspected of having killed a seventh (McCanles). [a][8], In 1855, at age 18, James Hickok fled Illinois following a fight with Charles Hudson, during which both fell into a canal; each thought, mistakenly, that he had killed the other. Funeral services will be held at Charlie Utter's Camp, on Thursday afternoon, August 3, 1876, at 3 o'clock, P. M. All are respectfully invited to attend." He developed habits, of personal safety, to protect himself. Hickok, naturally, did not care for the comment. After honeymooning back east, Hickok returned to the West. The Union side lost this battle, and their commander was killed. On July 21, 1865, the two men faced off in Springfield's town square, standing sideways before drawing and firing their weapons. [37] Jane herself confirmed this account in an 1896 newspaper interview, although she claimed that she had been hospitalized with illness rather than in the guardhouse. David McCanles "called out" Wild Bill from the Station House. Hickok ordered him to be arrested for firing a pistol within the city limits. While acting in this capacity Sherman's command stopped in a small Kansas town. Furk Mus2017. [2] According to Joseph G. Rosa, a Hickok biographer, the shot that felled the elder McCanles came from inside the house, a tale Wild Bill's friends invented to keep the "heat" of both the law and McCanles' extended family off Wild Bill (extended generational member). Hickok had only three deputies and himself, to control upwards of five thousand rowdy citizens. 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