Brief Biography of Wild Bill Hickok

James Butler (Wild Bill) Hickok was born on May 27, 1837, in Troy Grove, Illinois. At the time of his birth, Troy Grove was called Homer. He was the son of Thomas Alonzo Hickok and Polly Butler. George Bush, President Number 41, is a descendant of Bill's mother., Wild Bill was playing poker. He had a habit of always sitting with his back to the wall for protection, but for some reason on this day, his back was toward the saloon doors. Jack McCall walked in and shot him in the back of the neck and Wild Bill dropped dead. The "dead man's hand" was black aces and eights. It's debatable what the fifth card was. Some say Jack, some say Queen of diamonds.

Jack McCall, who had accused Bill of killing his father, was hanged for the murder in 1877.

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In 1855, Bill left home to claim a land stake in Kansas with the intent of becoming a farmer. This was an unsuccessful venture.

In 1858, Hickok was working for an express co. in Rock Creek, Nebraska, as an assistant stock tender. Hickok and some fellow employees killed three unarmed men who had come to collect rent. They were charged with murder; plead self defense, and were acquitted.

Bill served the Union Army during the Civil War as a wagon master, scout and spy. After the Civil War, he was temporarily employed by George Armstrong Custer during the Indian Wars. He was frequently confused as Custer due to similarity of appearance.He was 6 feet tall, stout, with pale blue eyes. Bill wore fancy shirts and a red vest frequently.

How did he get the name, Wild Bill? This is debatable, but it is said a lady watching him stop a lynching said, "my God, ain't he wild?". There are many variations to this story, but the Springfield, Nebraska "Weekly Patriot" referred to him as Wild Bill in 1865.

He became marshall in Abilene, when the previous marshal was killed. He was in a shootout with a man named Phil Coe. After shooting Coe, he fired in the direction of a sound at his side and killed his deputy by mistake. Hickok was going blind from glaucoma.

It is rumored that he had a romance with Calamity Jane; however, the two hardly knew each other, meeting only shortly before Hickok was killed. She is buried next to Wild Bill by request on Mt. Mariah in Deadwood.

August 2, 1876