He sometimes meets up with his friend and occasional lover, Calamity Jane. Although the true version of how, or when, Hickok acquired the sobriquet may never be known, it is known that in this area of the country, during this time period, James Butler Hickok began being known as "Wild Bill Hickok"! Together, they would produce their first child, Oliver Hickok, who was born in May 1830. CatherineErnest6628. William died in 1645 leaving a widow and 2 young sons, Samuel and Joseph. According to Historynet, his father, William Alonzo Hickock, and mother, Polly Butler Hickock, had met and married in Vermont in 1827, and moved to Troy Grove in 1833.There, they opened a general store, called the Green Mountain House (presumably a nod to their home, the Green Mountain State), which did well at . Hickok told Williams to stay where he was, and then took off in the direction of the gunshot. This was a good sized family for the frontier, and reflects the character and strength of the family. [32] There is another account of the Coe shootout. Hickok was winning, which irritated Tutt, and words were exchanged. On this fateful day Wild Bill violated one of his own cardinal rules and was sitting with his back to a door. [28] Strawhun "made remarks against Hickok", and Hickok killed him with a shot through the head. In actuality, this kind of thing very rarely occurred, and the true life Western storieslike Wild Bill Hickok being shot in the back while playing cardstell a much more gruesome and less gallant tale. Here he met a 12 year old boy named Bill Tilghman. Citizens warned Mulvey to behave, because Hickok was sheriff. Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach driver, then became a lawman in the frontier territories of Kansas and Nebraska. He told Clemmons (Hardin) to stay out of trouble in Abilene and asked him to hand over his guns, and Hardin complied. Theophilus Little, mayor of Abilene and owner of the town's lumberyard, recorded his time in Abilene by writing in a notebook that was recently given to the Abilene Historical Society. He afterward resumed using his given name, James Hickok. The fifth card is debated, or, as some say, had been discarded and its replacement had not yet been dealt. ), 18721886. Due to his "sweeping nose and protruding upper lip," Hickok was nicknamed "Duck Bill." At the conclusion of the incident a woman's voice was heard to shout, "good for you Wild Bill"! While Horace and Lorenzo took over the regular chores of running the family farm, young James took over the job of furnishing some of the food for the family. Hickok lost his re-election bid to his deputy. One night while wandering around New York City he came into a pool room. The movie The Plainsman (1936), starring Gary Cooper as Hickok, features the alleged romance between Calamity Jane and him as its main plot line. The charge was later reduced to manslaughter. Military records after 1865 list him as Hickok, but note that he was also known as Haycock. Hickok was offered the position of Marshal after the previous one,Tom Smith, was killed in the line of duty. The game was interrupted by Hickok getting shot. The ship and the captain supposedly were in the "Cunard" steamship line. 10 in Deadwood, in the Black Hills, Dakota Territory. So ended Wild Bill's first attempt at "show business". 24 Aug 1832 d. 21 Aug 1907 Married: 5 Mar 1876 . [67], After bragging about killing Hickok, McCall was rearrested. This too was badly defaced which led to its complete enclosure in a cage for protection. 21:28. The local newspaper wrote, "Hays city is under the guardian care of Wild Bill, is quiet, and doing well". On several other occasions, Hickok confronted and killed several men while fighting alone. Sometime toward the end of 1867 records show that Hickok was in Hays City Kansas, working as a deputy U.S. My ancestor Amanda came from Samuel's line and "Wild Bill" came from Joseph's line. This gave all the advantage to the buffalo. Among his legendary exploits, he reportedly killed a bear in hand-to-hand combat armed with only a bowie knife. [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]. Since no official action was taken by the Army, against Hickok, it must be assumed that he acted in self-defense. After honeymooning back east, Hickok returned to the West. Coming from a family with a history in the early Americas, with his great-grandfather having fought in the start of the American Revolution at Lexington and Concord, James Butler Hickok was a fierce frontiersman with a reputation of fairness . Many years after Hickok's death, a famous gunman named John Wesley Hardin wrote an autobiography. In 1641 he married Elizabeth Cole who was born abt. The told them that the June ordinance concerning firearms was still in effect, and that they should give up their guns and leave town. On April 15th 1871 he was sworn in as Marshal at a salary of $150 dollars a month. His motive was never really known, but some folks thought the criminal element in Deadwood feared the famous lawman and decided to eliminate him. But Coe "reckoned without his host." A highly fictional film account of Hickok's later years and death, titled Wild Bill (1995), stars Jeff Bridges as Hickok and David Arquette as Jack McCall, and was written and directed by Walter Hill. The pattern of his life was hardening into the life long habit of interposing himself between the oppressed, and the oppressor. That myth involves a woman of questionable character, morals, and honesty. Agnes fell deeply in love with Hickok on sight. Hickok's fight with Tutt set the mold for the classic, although rare in reality, western gunfight and gunfighter image. Legend has it that Hickok was playing poker when he was shot, was holding a pair of aces, a pair of eights, and a queen. According to the premier biographer of Hickok, Mr. Joseph G. Rosa, some odd things then began to happen. Leaving Springfield, he was recommended for the position of deputy federal marshal at Fort Riley, Kansas. I will be." During the Civil War, he was a Union spy in Missouri. During the years 1859-60 Hickok drove freight wagons, and coaches along the Santa Fe Trail. The Kansas Heritage Server would like to thank John Richard for contributing the following article about James Butler Hickok. He would put a list on what was called the "dead man's tree" (so called because men had been lynched on it) while constable of Monticello Township. He was an assistant station tender for the Pony Express at the Rock Creek, Nebraska station. Hickok is on record as being fined, for participating in the altercation. Add to Playlist. He was involved in several notable shootouts during the course of his life. Wild Bill Hickok is laid to rest at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota. The county was having particular difficulty holding sheriffsthree had quit over the previous 18 months. "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. 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. "[55], On March 5, 1876, Hickok married Agnes Thatcher Lake, a 50-year-old circus proprietor in Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory. Hickok accused a J.V. Many people knew that Jane had a crush on Hickok but few, if any, knew that they were married. Hickok rode Buckshot while 300-pound Jingles rode Joker. [f], The regular county election was held on November 2, 1869. [d] The jury voted to clear Hickok, resulting in public backlash and criticism of the verdict. "The Custer-Hickok Shootout in Hays City. B. Hickok killed by the assassin Jack McCall in Deadwood, Black Hills, August 2d, 1876. The next day, Tutt appeared in the square wearing the watch prominently, and Hickok tried to negotiate the watch's return. Wild Bill emerged onto the street, immediately drew one of his .36 caliber SA Navy revolvers, and, at a 75-yard stand-off distance, fired a single shot into McCanles's chest, killing him instantly (ref. If the deceased and defendant engaged in a fight or conflict willingly on the part of each, and the defendant killed the deceased, he is guilty of the offense charged, although the deceased may have fired the first shot. Hickok remained in Hays through August 1868, when he brought 200 Cheyenne Indians to Hays to be viewed by "excursionists". Hickok proclaimed he would shoot them on sight the following day. "J.B. Hickok, Deputy U.S. She was a world renowned horsewoman, tightrope walker, dancer, sometime actress, lion tamer, and could speak several languages! "Wild Bill and the Timber Thieves. Later historians, however, have presented a radically different portrayal of the events at Rock Creek. However, that production was not in existence prior to 1882, well after Hickok's death. At the time of the so-called McCanles Massacre, Hickok was known as Duck Bill because of his sweeping nose and protruding upper lip (covered with a mustache later in life). Agnes Lake had, in her possession at the time of Hickok's death, a letter. On August 2, 1876, while playing poker at Nuttal & Mann's Saloon No. It has been reported that Calamity Jane was buried next to him because that was her dying wish. On July 21, 1865, the two men faced off in Springfield's town square, standing sideways before drawing and firing their weapons. He reported returning with five prisoners after killing 10. Like a man possessed, Hickok purposely strode through the roughest and most dangerous parts of Abilene. Legends of the Hidden Temple - S 1 E 4 - Wild Bill Hickok and the Dead Man's Hand. [2] His famous statement to Coe, who supposedly stated he could "kill a crow on the wing," (flying) is one of the Old West's most famous sayings, and showed that Hickok was certainly a cool customer in a fight. Present-day gravesite Utter supervised the move and noted that while perfectly preserved, Hickok had been imperfectly embalmed. "Wild Bill" Hickok was born in Troy Grove, Illinois on May 27, 1837. Another version of how Hickok obtained the "Wild Bill" title is given by Mr. George Hance, a resident of Rolla Missouri, who knew both Lorenzo and James Hickok. Legend has it that Hickok had lost his stake and had just borrowed $50 from the house to continue playing. [6][7], In 1857, Hickok claimed a 160-acre (65 ha) tract in Johnson County, Kansas (in what is now Lenexa). Since he was actually shot in the back of the head, that plot element is a complete artifice of the episode writers. It is difficult to separate the truth from fiction about Hickok, the first "dime novel" hero of the western era, in many ways one of the first comic book heroes, keeping company with another who achieved part of his fame in such a way, frontiersman Davey Crockett. The Screen Gems series began in syndication, but ran on CBS from June 5, 1955, through 1958, and, at the same time, on ABC from 1957 through 1958. Sometime during this incident the name "Wild Bill" was applied to Hickok. The original grave marker was also moved to the new site but by 1891 had been destroyed by souvenir hunters whittling pieces from it and it was replaced with a statue. The man's name was H.C. Lindsay, and he and Hickok knew each other from old Indian campaign days. Tall, he was over six feet, splendidly built, and his face as handsome as his form, with strong clear-cut features and keen dark blue eyes, long drooping mustache and hair curling upon his shoulders". But also he was a man of gentleness and tender caring for the weak and helpless. PHOTOS: (1) Wild Bill as a young man. Prairie Schooners is a 1940 American Western film directed by Sam Nelson, which stars Wild Bill Elliott as Hickok. Over the years, his gunfighting and gambling prowess became the stuff of "wild west" lore, exaggerated, embellished and celebrated in contemporary pulp fiction. He was assigned Buffalo Bill Cody, a sergeant, and five privates. Hickok interrupted him and then proceeded to tell the entire mob what he thought of them, and it wasn't complimentary. Wild Bill Hickok next set his sights on Abilene, Kansas, where he served as the town's . [42], McCall was subsequently rearrested after bragging about his deed, and a new trial was held. He then asked them some questions concerning the man he was tracking. "Doc" Howard, who had known Hickok, stated that Hickok had left Buffalo Bill's Wild West Exhibition "because the lights affected his eyes, so he had to give it up". 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. This incident had a profound impact on young Bill Tilghman. ", Nichols, George Ward (1867). Col. George Armstrong Custer. Words were exchanged between Hickok and McCanles, which led to gunplay. [40]:192, On July 17, 1870, Hickok was attacked by two troopers from the 7th U.S. Cavalry, Jeremiah Lonergan and John Kyle (sometimes spelled Kile),[42] in a saloon. Hickok and Lanihan, however, remained sheriff and deputy, respectively. [16], Several weeks later, Hickok was interviewed by Colonel George Ward Nichols, and the interview was published in Harper's New Monthly Magazine. According to Joseph G. Rosa, a Hickok biographer, the shot that felled the elder McCanles came from inside the house. Mulvey wheeled his horse around to face those who might shoot him from behind, and before he realized he had been fooled, Hickok shot him through the temple. She spoke kindly of the Marshal who came to her dad's farm to visit. Hickok often borrowed money from Tutt. He noted the sound was similar to tapping a brick wall and believed the remains to now weigh more than 400 lb (181 kg). He reported returning with five prisoners after killing ten. The goal, which was successful, was to ship gamblers, prostitutes, and other needed commodities to the new boomtown of Deadwood, South Dakota. Good bye, Colorado Charlie, C. H. Hickok managed to fire another shot, wounding the bear's paw. 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