James Butler Hickok
Wild Bill Hickok
WHO WAS WILD BILL HICKOK?
Wild Bill Hickok was one of the most famous lawman in history. His real name is James Butler Hickok. He was named "Wild Bill" because he drank, a lot. It is said that when he was working for a government wagon and ran those 5 desperadoes off that a lady in the crowd yelled, "way to go Wild Bill!" He like it and from that day on him took it up as his nickname. He was born May 27, 1837 in Troy Grove, Illinois. Wild Bill was a lawman, a gunfighter, and a gambler. One reason why he was famous was because he faced David Tutt. A witness who saw Wild Bill vs. David Tutt said "Wild Bill never shoots twice at the same man!" Another reason why he was famous was because he dated Calamity Jane. Hickok’s Biographer said "Fear was a quality he lacked". The last reason why he was famous was when he was playing poker and died while holding a hand called "the dead man’s hands". He died August 2, 1876 in Deadwood, Dakota Territory (South Dakota).
TIMELINE
1837: born in Troy Grove, Illinois. 1855: Goes to Kanas and gets a job in Monticello driving a stage coach. 1858: Elected as constable in Monticello, Kanas. 1859-60: Driving freight wagons on the Santa Fe Trail. 1861: Shootout with David McCanles and two other men. 1865:After an argument over a poker game, Wild Bill and David Tutt shoot it out. 1869: Hired as a special marshal. 1871: Wild Bill replaced Tom Smith as Marshal of Abilene, Kanas. 1873: Wild Bill joins Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. 1876: Wild Bill dies in Deadwood, South Dakota while holding a hand that's called the dead man's hands