James Butler Hickok Research Paper

James Butler hickok, better known as wild Bill Hickok , was a well known folk hero of the old west. He is best known for his work across the frontier as a drover, Wagonmaster, soldier, spy, scout, lawman, gunfighter, gambler, and showman. He earned a great deal of fame in his time, most of it because of his over exaggerated and often outlandish stories that were fabricated up of unrealistic circumstances. Which leads us to wonder what events of his life are real or just fantastic stories. It is a unfortunate situation but not a uncommon one for historians. we often times find ourselves in this predicaments not knowing what is true,what is based on the truth,and what is just a flat out lie.

James butler Hickok was born May 27 1837,in Homer Illinois to William Alonso Hickok, A farmer and abolitionist and his wife Polly butler. James was the fourth of six siblings. William unfortunately died in 1852 when James was only 15. James flaming red hair and a temper to match it! He was recognized as a very good shot locally from a young age, he was a outstanding marksman with a pistol.
Hickok was drawn to the bandit lifestyle that many men around him had decided to take. in 1855 at only 15 years old he fled Illinois after a fight with Charles Hudson, during which both fell into a canal (each thought, that he had mistakenly killed the other). Afterword Hickok moved to Leavenworth in the Kansas territory, where he joined "general" Jim lanes free State army (also known as the Jayhawkers), A vigilante group active in the new territory. While H a hooker he met a 12 year old boy name William Cody (later known as Buffalo Bill), Who despite his young age spent two years as a scout in the US army during the Utah war. But he left soon after and moved along to the next place he put his sites