Wild Bill Hickok, born James Butler Hickok, remains one of the most enigmatic and celebrated figures of the American Old West. His life, a tapestry woven with adventure and danger, saw him take on roles as diverse as wagon master, soldier, scout, lawman, gunfighter, gambler, showman, and actor. From his humble beginnings in Illinois to his tragic end in Deadwood, South Dakota, Wild Bill Hickok‘s story is synonymous with the era of expanding frontiers and burgeoning legends.
Born on May 27, 1837, in Troy Grove, Illinois, to William Alonzo and Polly Butler Hickok, James was one of seven children. His parents, devout Baptists, instilled in him a sense of duty and faith, but young Bill harbored a burgeoning fascination with the untamed West. His family’s home also served as a station on the Underground Railroad, a perilous undertaking that gave Bill an early exposure to danger when he and his father were pursued by law officers. This experience, coupled with an innate talent for marksmanship, fueled his adventurous spirit, despite his father’s reservations about his romantic notions of the Wild West.
Early Life, Frontier Adventures, and the ‘McCanles Massacre’
Tragedy struck the Hickok family when Bill’s father was killed for his staunch abolitionist stance when Bill was just 14. Three years later, at 17, he began working as a towpath driver on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. By 1856, the lure of the frontier proved too strong, and he journeyed to Kansas, finding employment as a stagecoach driver on the demanding Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. It was here he first crossed paths with Bill Cody, who would later achieve fame as ‘Buffalo Bill’.
Stagecoaches in 1855 were frequent targets for bandits and Native American tribes. Hickok’s exceptional marksmanship quickly became a vital asset in defending against these relentless attacks. A particularly harrowing incident occurred near Wetmore, Colorado, when a cinnamon bear attacked Bill while he slept outside his broken-down stagecoach. In a desperate struggle, Hickok, though severely wounded, managed to kill the bear with his six-inch knife, a testament to his raw courage and survival instincts.
After recovering, Hickok returned to Monticello, Kansas, where he became a peace officer in March 1858. He later worked for the Pony Express and Overland Express station in Rock Creek, Nebraska. It was here he encountered David McCanles, a man who mercilessly taunted Hickok about his physique. Their rivalry intensified when Hickok began courting Sarah Shull, whom McCanles had also pursued. On July 12, 1861, a confrontation erupted over a supposed debt at the station. In the ensuing gunfight, McCanles was killed, and two of his companions, James Woods and James Gordon, were seriously wounded and later died. Hickok was acquitted on grounds of self-defense. This event, later sensationalized by writers as the ‘McCanles Massacre,’ became a pivotal moment in the shaping of his legendary gunfighter image.
Civil War Service and the Birth of a Legend
Moving to Sedalia, Missouri, Hickok enlisted with the Union Army on October 30, 1861, serving as a wagon master and scout during the Civil War. While military records offer limited insight into his service, it was during this period that James Butler Hickok acquired his enduring nickname. The story goes that in Independence, Missouri, Hickok intervened in a drunken mob’s attempt to lynch a bartender. Firing two shots over their heads, he stared down the agitated crowd until they dispersed. A grateful bystander allegedly shouted, “Good for you, Wild Bill!” and the name stuck, sealing his identity in the annals of the West.
Following his military service, Hickok formed a close friendship with General George Custer, serving as one of his principal scouts. Custer held Hickok in high regard, and they often played poker together, though Custer’s tragic end at the Battle of Little Bighorn prevented their friendship from deepening further.
In 1867, a correspondent for the New York Herald, Henry M. Stanley (who would later ‘find’ Dr. Livingstone), tracked down Hickok. Hickok, known for his embellishments, blithely claimed to have personally slain over 100 men. Stanley, gullible and eager for a story, reported this as fact, propelling Wild Bill Hickok into national stardom and further solidifying his legendary status.
The Infamous Springfield Duel and Lawman Years
One of Hickok’s most famous confrontations occurred in July 1865 in Springfield, Missouri. After losing money to gambler Dave Tutt, and unable to pay, Hickok’s pocket watch was taken as collateral. Hickok famously warned Tutt not to wear the watch in public. On July 21, 1865, the two met in the town square. Tutt, defiantly displaying the watch, drew his pistol. Hickok, with his legendary quick draw, fired first, striking Tutt through the heart from a distance of 75 yards. Tutt fell dead. Hickok was acquitted, the duel further cementing his reputation as an unparalleled gunfighter.
After a brief political foray where he lost the election for sheriff of Ellsworth County, Kansas, in November 1867, Hickok returned to army service. He sustained a lance wound to his foot during a skirmish with Native Americans in eastern Colorado. By 1869, he was appointed sheriff of Hays City, Kansas. His tenure was marked by decisive action; he shot and killed Bill Mulrey on August 24, 1869, and a month later, dispatched Strawhan, a ruffian causing a disturbance in a local saloon. Despite his effectiveness, a violent altercation with members of the 7th U.S. Cavalry in Drum’s Saloon in July 1870 led to his resignation after he killed one private and seriously wounded another in self-defense.
Marshal of Abilene and Confrontations with Notorious Figures
Hickok’s next significant role was as city marshal of Abilene, Kansas, beginning April 15, 1871, a position that came with a monthly salary of $150 plus a quarter of all fines. Initially, he managed routine duties, but Abilene, a burgeoning cattle town, presented unique challenges.
His time in Abilene brought him into contact with notorious figures, including John Wesley Hardin, reputedly the ‘worst killer in the Wild West.’ Hardin claimed an indulgent relationship with Hickok, drinking and visiting brothels together, and enjoying the prestige of being seen with the famous marshal. However, Hardin also acknowledged a wary respect, knowing Hickok would not tolerate serious misbehavior. Hardin’s dramatic account of escaping Hickok after a drunken shooting incident in the American House Hotel – crawling out a window, diving into a haystack, and fleeing town in his undershirt – remains largely unsubstantiated and highly doubted by historians.
Despite the legend, local newspapers began to criticize Hickok for allowing Abilene to be overrun with gamblers, con men, prostitutes, and pimps. Samuel Henry, a young man in Abilene, described Hickok’s gambling habits: “His whole bearing was like that of a hunted tiger—restless eyes, which nervously looked about him in all directions, closely scrutinizing every stranger. When he played cards, which he did most of the time in the saloons, he sat in the corner of the room to prevent an enemy from stealing up behind him.” This paints a picture of a man living constantly on edge, acutely aware of the threats that came with his reputation.
The Bull’s Head Saloon, owned by gamblers and gunmen Phil Coe and Ben Thompson, proved to be Hickok’s biggest headache. A controversial painting of a Texas Longhorn with overtly masculine features offended the townspeople, and Hickok, with a shotgun, oversaw its alteration. Tensions escalated between Hickok and Coe, especially as they courted the same woman, leading to widespread rumors of a deadly showdown.
The inevitable climax arrived on October 5, 1871. Amidst a drunken celebration of cowboys, Phil Coe fired at a dog near the Alamo Saloon. Hickok arrived to investigate, confronting Coe about discharging a firearm within city limits. What followed was a chaotic gunfight: Coe fired at Hickok, who returned fire, hitting Coe twice in the stomach. Tragically, in the confusion, Hickok wheeled around upon hearing footsteps and accidentally shot and killed Deputy Mike Williams, who was rushing to his aid. Coe died three days later. Abilene, having had enough of the violence, dismissed Hickok as city marshal and banned cattle drives through town.
From Showman to Legend’s End
In the early 1870s, as dime novels glorified the Wild West, Hickok tried his hand at showmanship. Investing a thousand dollars, he assembled “The Daring Buffalo Chase of the Plains,” featuring buffalo, Comanche Indians, cowboys, a bear, and a monkey. The show, however, was a disaster. The buffalo, initially lethargic, stampeded the audience after Hickok fired a shot, causing chaos. He barely recouped his investment and had to sell the buffalo to cover return expenses.
His old friend, Buffalo Bill Cody, offered him a lifeline, inviting him to join his dramatic play, “Scouts of the Prairies.” While the role provided income and allowed Hickok to indulge his passions for women and gambling, he found no joy in acting. His legendary presence, however, drew crowds. Hickok soon grew tired of the stage and his heavy drinking increased, along with his eyesight deteriorating, a cruel fate for a man whose survival depended on his keen vision.
In 1876, Wild Bill Hickok married Agnes Lake Thatcher, a circus proprietor, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Despite his failing eyesight and increasing health issues, the call of the Black Hills gold rush proved irresistible. Leaving Agnes, he traveled to Deadwood, South Dakota, hoping to strike it rich and secure a comfortable future. On August 2, 1876, while playing poker in the Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon No. 10, Hickok broke his usual rule of sitting with his back to a wall. Jack McCall, a disgruntled gambler Hickok had reportedly offered money for breakfast the previous day, walked up behind him and shot him in the back of the head. Hickok died instantly, holding a pair of aces and eights—a combination forever known as the ‘dead man’s hand.’
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Wild Bill Hickok
The life of Wild Bill Hickok was a whirlwind of adventure, heroism, and controversy. He was a complex figure—a loyal friend, a fierce lawman, a skilled scout, and an unmatched gunfighter. His exploits, often exaggerated by sensationalist writers, cemented his place as an iconic symbol of the American frontier. While his story ended abruptly in a Deadwood saloon, his legend continues to captivate, embodying the untamed spirit and the enduring myths of the Wild West. Hickok’s impact on the collective imagination ensures his name remains synonymous with courage, skill, and the dramatic era he helped define.
