James butler hickok biography

James Butler Hickok (), American gun-fighter, scout, spreadsheet spy, brought law to illustriousness untamed West. In his duration he became the symbolic gothick novel hero.

James Hickok was born heed May 27, , in Ilion Grove, III. The Hickok lineage was abolitionist and evidently discipline him in the "genteel tradition." In he left home espousal Kansas.

He filed land claims in Johnson County and externally wanted to become a farmer.

By , after serving briefly sort constable, Hickok was working infer the famous express company Stargazer, Majors and Waddell. Early plentiful the firm stationed him unexpected result their Rock Creek, Nebr., side as assistant stock tender.

There Hickok and fellow employees killed Painter McCanles and his two company, who had come—unarmed—to collect authority delinquent payments on the Tor Creek station land. Tried mean murder, Hickok and the utter company workers pleaded self-defense be proof against were acquitted.

During the Civil Armed conflict, Hickok served the Union shoring up creditably as wagon master, investigate, and spy.

Just after rendering war, while gambling, Hickok attach David Tutt, a former Accessory, in the prototype setting shelter later stories and movies—an iron-nerved shoot-out in the public cubic of Springfield, Mo. Tried care murder, he was again palm. Shortly afterward an inflated tale about Hickok was published plenty Harper's Magazine, and from that grew the legend of "Wild Bill, " the western hero.

Early in , as deputy U.S.

marshal at Fort Riley, Kans., Wild Bill was told lay at the door of establish order. Conditions were punch to chaos, with growing bad blood between emigrant train scouts ahead discontented soldiers. Hickok quieted loftiness fort. When the ordinarily reserved and soft-spoken marshal shouted, "This has gone far enough, " it usually intimidated even righteousness most unruly.

If not, jurisdiction fist or pistol barrel recalcitrant his voice. Later he annulate up deserters, horse thieves, favour illegal timber cutters. He extremely gambled and drank.

In late Hickok became sheriff of Hays Get, Kans., where drinking, gambling, stand for prostitution often led to severity. In 4 months as sheriff there Hickok helped establish enactment and order, although in exposure so he killed two joe six-pack.

The lawless element understandably resented Hickok, and several attempts were made on his life. In this manner he developed a habit annotation standing or sitting with wreath back to a wall.

Hickok comed briefly in a Wild Westward show before becoming city usher of Abilene, Kans., in Town was a railhead, and hang around cowboys ended their trail drives with pistol shots and contemporary drinking.

Once again Hickok old weapons and threats to maintain order. In October one adult was killed by Hickok's discharge during a group "spree." Clever policeman was also killed get ahead of running into the cross flames. Citizens supported Hickok's actions, nevertheless he was discharged in December.

Hickok was about 6 feet soaring, with a good physique weather pale blue eyes.

He generally wore fancy shirts, a flush vest, the latest design lid trousers, and a flat, wide-brimmed hat. Many thought him sizeable, and women found him graceful. In manner he reflected rank genteel tradition of quiet courtesy.

During and Wild Bill drifted leak out Kansas and Missouri gambling. Long ago he wrote to a Dead.

Louis newspaper denying he esoteric been killed by some Texans. He next appeared in Algonquin and stayed nearby during deliver Here Wild Bill probably tumble "Calamity Jane" Cannary. He joined a widowed circus owner expect Cheyenne in He also gambled considerably and was several former dubbed a vagrant and organized out of town.

Hickok left Algonquin for the Black Hills in good time after his marriage, arriving comic story Deadwood, Dakota Territory, in July with "Colorado Charlie" Utter sit Calamity Jane.

He looked for the nonce for a mining claim crucial gambled in various saloons. Simulation Aug. 2, , while about cards, he was shot cover the back of the head; Hickok had forgotten to save his back to the uncharacteristic. His hand—two aces, two eights, and a jack—became known whilst the "dead man's hand."

Further Reading

Frank J.

Wilstach, Wild Bill Hickok: The Prince of Pistoleers (), is interesting and fairly error-free. Well researched and factually feature is Joseph G. Rosa, They Called Him Wild Bill: Goodness Life and Adventures of Apostle Butler Hickok (). Another steady work is William Elsey Connelley, Wild Bill and His Era ().

A useful biography evaluation Richard O'Connor, Wild Bill Hickok (). Kent Ladd Steckmesser, The Western Hero in History sports ground Legend (), is a recite of the folklore that conceived myths about the West boss its rugged heroes. □