The American West Biographies

Lewis&

Clarke

BillytheKid

BuffaloBill

JohnWesleyHardin

‘Judge’RoyBean

JamesMarshall

JoeMeek

JosephSmith

LelandStanford

GeneralSherman

GeneralSheridan

BrighamYoung

Goodnight&

Loving

GeorgeCuster

More biographies

ColonelChivington

The American West Biographies

LittleCrow

ChiefJoseph

BlackKettle

Wovoka

More biographies

SittingBull

BatMasterson

‘Wild’Bill

Hickok

WyattEarp

JesseJames

ButchCassidy

CalamityJane

WILLIAM LEWIS AND MERIWETHER CLARK LED WILLIAM LEWIS AND MERIWETHER CLARK LED THE CORPS OF DISCOVERY INTO THE UNCHARTED THE CORPS OF DISCOVERY INTO THE UNCHARTED

LANDS OF THE NORTH-AMERICAN CONTINENT LANDS OF THE NORTH-AMERICAN CONTINENT FROM 1803 TO 1806. LEWIS AND CLARK WERE SENT FROM 1803 TO 1806. LEWIS AND CLARK WERE SENT

BY PRESIDENT JEFFERSON FOLLOWING THE BY PRESIDENT JEFFERSON FOLLOWING THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE OF 1803 WHICH SAW THE USA LOUISIANA PURCHASE OF 1803 WHICH SAW THE USA

BUY THE GREAT PLAINS REGION FROM FRANCE. BUY THE GREAT PLAINS REGION FROM FRANCE. JEFFERSON WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN THIS JEFFERSON WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN THIS VAST NEW TERRITORY. THEIR WORK IN MAPPING VAST NEW TERRITORY. THEIR WORK IN MAPPING

THE LANDS AND DISCOVERING ROUTES ACROSS THE LANDS AND DISCOVERING ROUTES ACROSS THE WEST WAS VITAL TO THE LATER PIONEERS OF THE WEST WAS VITAL TO THE LATER PIONEERS OF

THE NINETEENTH CENTURY WHEN THE THE NINETEENTH CENTURY WHEN THE SETTLEMENT OF THE WEST BEGANSETTLEMENT OF THE WEST BEGAN

Meriwether Lewis & William Clark

JOSEPH MEEK LEFT HIS HOME IN THE EASTERN STATE OF VIRGINIA TO SEEK ADVENTURE AND FORTUNE AS A YOUNG MAN. HE WORKED IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS DURING THE 1820S AND 1830S TRAPPING FURS TO SELL.

MEEK WAS FAMOUS FOR HIS ABILITY TO TELL TALES OF HIS ADVENTURES AT THE ANNUAL RENDEZVOUS. HE WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN TO FIND THE YOSEMITE

VALLEY. MEEK SUFFERED AN ATTACK BY A GRIZZLY BEAR, WAS NEARLY KILLED BY A BLACKFOOT WARRIOR

AND MARRIED A NEZ PERCE INDIAN. AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE FUR TRADE AND THE END OF THE ERA OF THE MOUNTAIN MEN, MEEK LED ONE OF THE

FIRST WAGON TRAINS OF AMERICAN SETTLERS ACROSS THE GREAT PLAINS TO OREGON IN 1840.

Joe Meek

JOSEPH SMITH FOUNDED THE MORMON CHURCH IN 1830. HE CLAIMED THAT MORMONS WERE GOD’S

CHOSEN PEOPLE AND LED HIS FOLLOWERS ACROSS THE EASTERN USA DURING THE 1840S. SMITH FIRST

TOOK HIS FOLLOWERS TO KIRTLAND, OHIO. HE THEN TOOK THEM TO INDEPENDENCE, MISSOUR. HOSTILE LOCALS CHASED THE MORMONS AWAY FROM EACH

PLACE. FINALLY SMITH LED THE MORMONS TO NAUVOO, ILLINOIS. SMITH DECLARED POLYGAMY TO

BE ACCEPTABLE AND ANNOUNCED HE WAS RUNNINNG FOR PRESIDENT OF THE USA. HE THEN

SMASHED UP THE PRESSES OF A NEWSPAPER THAT CRITICISED HIM. SMITH WAS KILLED ESCAPING FROM

A JAIL IN ILLINOIS IN 1844.

Joseph Smith

BRIGHAM YOUNG TOOK OVER THE MORMON CHURCH AFTER THE DEATH OF JOSEPH SMITH IN 1844. YOUNG

REALIZED THAT THE MORMONS MUST LEAVE THE HOSTILE EAST AND GO TO A PLACE WHERE THEY WOULD BE SAFE. IT WAS YOUNG’S DECISION TO

LEAVE THE EAST OF THE USA AS HE BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE MORMONS TO

STAY THERE. YOUNG CHOSE THE GREAT SALT LAKE BECAUSE IT WAS IN MEXICO AND THE EXPLORERS’

REPORTS STATED THAT IT WAS UNFIT FOR FARMING. THEREFORE YOUNG KNEW THAT THE MORMONS

WOULD BE SAFE FROM AMERICANS THERE. YOUNG LED THE FIRST MORMONS THEIR IN 1846. YOUNG

ORGANISED THE MORMONS TO BUILD THE STREETS AND HOUSES OF SALT LAKE CITY.

Brigham Young

JAMES MARSHALL WAS WORKING ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SAWMILL ON THE BANKS

OF THE AMERICAN RIVER IN CALIFORNIA IN JANUARY 1848. WHILST EXAMINING THE RIVER NEAR THE MILL ONE MORNING, HE SPOTTED A

NUGGET OF GOLD LYING ON A ROCK IN SIX INCHES OF WATER. HIS DISCOVERY SET OFF THE

GREATEST GOLDRUSH IN AMERICAN HISTORY. WITHIN TWO YEARS THERE WERE OVER 50 000 MINERS IN CALIFORNIA. THE RESULTS OF HIS

DISCOVERY BROUGHT THE EAST AND WEST OF THE USA TOGETHER AND MADE THE FULFILMENT

OF THE AMERICANS’ ‘MANIFEST DESTINY’ A MORE REALISTIC PROSPECT.

James Marshall

CHARLES GOODNIGHT AND OLIVER LOVING CREATED THE FIRST CATTLE TRAIL FROM TEXAS IN 1866. GOODNIGHT RETURNED FROM THE CIVIL WAR IN 1866 TO FIND THAT HIS 180 COWS HAD TURNED INTO

5000. GOODNIGHT TEAMED UP WITH LOVING TO DRIVE THESE COWS TO THE US ARMY BASES AND INDIAN RESERVATIONS

OF NEW MEXICO AND COLORADO. THIS ROUTE WAS KNOWN AS THE ‘GOODNIGHT-

LOVING TRAIL’. THE MASSIVE PROFITS THEY MADE LED TO OTHER CATTLEMEN

DRIVING THEIR CATTLE NORTH TO SELL TO THE GREAT CITIES OF THE EAST STARTING

THE CATTLE BOOM OF THE 1860S TO 1880S

Charles Goodnight & Oliver Loving

LELAND STANFORD WAS ONE OF THE LEADING FIGURES IN THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY

THAT BUILT THE WESTERN SECTION OF THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD CONNECTING THE EAST AND WEST OF THE USA. STANFORD BECAME RICH SELLING EQUIPMENT TO MINERS DURING THE

1848 GOLDRUSH. HE WENT ON TO BECOME A POLITICIAN IN CALIFORNIA, SERVING AS STATE GOVERNOR FROM 1861. STANFORD USED HIS

POLITICAL CONTACTS TO GET HIS COMPANY THE CONTRACT TO BUILD THE TRANSCONTINENTAL

RAILROAD FOLLWING THE 1861 PACIFIC RAILROAD ACT. STANFORD ENSURED HIS COMPANY RECEIVED MASSIVE FUNDING AND LAND GRANTS FROM THE US

GOVERNMENT FOR BUILDING THE RAILROAD.

Leland Stanford

PHILIP SHERIDAN WAS COMMANDER OF THE US ARMY IN THE WEST DURING THE PLAINS WARS OF

THE 1860S – 1880S. HE WAS RUTHLESS IN HIS PURSUIT OF INDIAN TRIBES SUCH AS THE KIOWA,

COMANCHE, ARPAHO AND CHEYENNE ACROSS THE PLAINS. SHERIDAN FORCED ALL ONTO THE

RESERVATIONS THAT THE US GOVERNMENT SET UP TO CONTROL THE TRIBES OF THE PLAINS. IN 1868 SHERIDAN PLANNED AND EXECUTED THE RIVER

WASHITA CAMPAIGN IN WHICH CUSTER MASSACRED THE CHEYENNE OF BLACK KETTLE.

SHERIDAN PLANNED THE LITTLE BIGHORN CAMPAIGN OF 1876, GETTING CUSTER RETURNED

TO THE 7TH CAVALRY FOR THE BATTLE.

General Philip Sheridan

GENERAL SHERMAN WAS MADE COMMANDER OF THE US ARMY ON THE PLAINS IN 1866. HE PURSUED

A RUTHLESS POLICY OF FORCING TRIBES ONTO RESERVATIONS. SHERMAN WAS INVOLVED IN THE

FORT LARAMIE TREATY NEGOTIATIONS IN 1868. SHERMAN SAW THE MASSACRING OF THE BUFFALO

AS PART OF HIS TACTICS OF DESTROYING THE STRENGTH OF THE INDIANS TRIBES ON THE PLAINS.

SHERMAN ONCE SAID ‘WE MUST ACT WITH VINDICTAVE EARNESTNESS AGAINST THE SIOUX,

EVEN TO THEIR EXTERMINATION, MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN’. SHERMAN PERSONALL REINSTATED

CUSTER IN 1876 FOR THE LITTLE BIGHORN CAMPAIGN.

General William Tecumseh Sherman

ARROGANT, HEROIC, FOOLHARDY AND EXCEPTIONAL - ALL THESE ARE WORDS THAT COULD BE USED TO

DESCRIBE CUSTER. GEORGE CUSTER CAME 29TH OUT OF 29 STUDENTS IN HIS WEST POINT CLASS, BUT WENT

ON TO BECOME THE YOUNGEST EVER GENERAL IN THE US ARMY DURING THE CIVIL WAR. CUSTER WAS NEARLY THROWN OUT OF THE ARMY IN 1875 WHEN

HE ACCUSED PRESIDENT GRANT’S BROTHER OF CORRUPTION. CALLED BACK TO SERVICE BY

GENERAL SHERMAN, HE LED THE 7TH CAVALRY TO DEFEAT AT THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIG HORN IN 1876. CUSTER’S FAILURE TO FOLLOW ORDERS IS SEEN

AS A MAIN CAUSE OF THE DEATH OF 250 OF HIS SOLDIERS AT THE HANDS OF THE SIOUX AND

CHEYENNE WARRIORS.

George Custer

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN WAS THE MOST PROLIFIC GUNFIGHTER IN THE WEST, KILLING 29 PEOPLE.

HARDIN WAS GREATLY FEARED FOR HIS RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND MURDER. DESPITE THE ROMANTICISED VIEW OF GUNFIGHTERS IN THE WEST, HARDIN ACTUALLY SHOT MOSTLY NON-WHITE AMERICANS OUT OF HATE. HARDIN WAS

ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH HIS CRIMES DUE TO THE GENERAL LACK OF LAW AND ORDER IN THE WEST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SETTLEMENT ON THE

GREAT PLAINS IN THE 1860S AND 1870S. AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED SHERIFFS AND MARSHALS, MEN LIKE HARDIN WERE LESS

COMMON.

John Wesley Hardin

BILLY THE KID IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS GUNFIGHTERS TO COME OUT OF THE AMERICAN

WEST.HE WAS FAMOUS IN HIS OWN LIFETIME, APPEARING IN THE ‘DIME NOVELS’ PUBLISHED IN

THE EASTERN CITIES OF THE USA. HE WORKED ON A RANCH, AS WELL AS ACTING AS A ‘REGULATOR’ FOR THE ENGLISH CATTLEMAN JOHN TUNSTALL. BILLY BECAME INFAMOUS DURING THE LINCOLN COUNTY WAR, A BATTLE BETWEEN CATTLEMEN

IMMORTALISED IN THE FILM ‘YOUNG GUNS’. IT IS CLAIMED THAT BILLY SHOT 21 PEOPLE BEFORE HIS

OWN DEATH AT THE HANDS OF SHERIFF PAT GARRETT AT THE AGE OF 23.

Billy the Kid

ROY BEAN WAS NOT A REAL JUDGE. HE SIMPLY SET HIMSELF UP AS ONE IN THE NEW SETTLEMENT OF LANGTRY, TEXAS. SEEN AS A RESPECTABLE AND

INTELLIGENT CHARACTER HE WAS ACCEPTED BY THE LOCAL POPUALTION AS THEIR JUDGE. THE

NEW SETTLEMENTS OF THE PLAINS LACKED OFFICIAL LAW AND ORDER FORCES, AND SO MEN

LIKE ‘JUDGE’ ROY BEAN FILLED THE GAP. HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW WAS PATCHY AND HIS DECISIONS WERE NOT ALWAYS SOUND. ON ONE OCCASION HE FOUND A MAN ACCUSED OF THE

MURDER OF A CHINAMAN NOT GUILTY BECAUSE “THERE AIN’T A DAMN LAW THAT SAYS IT’S

ILLEGAL TO SHOOT A CHINAMAN”.

‘Judge’ Roy Bean

WILLIAM ‘BUFFALO BILL’ CODY WAS A PROLIFIC HUNTER OF BUFFALO ON THE PLAINS IN THE 1870S. HE WAS ALSO A DECORATED US ARMY SCOUT. HE

BECAME FAMOUS AS AN ICON OF THE WEST WHEN HIS STORY WAS TOLD IN DIME NOVELS SOLD IN THE CITIES OF THE EASTERN USA. BUFFALO BILL THEN SET UP HIS 'WILD WEST' SHOW AND TOURED THE

WORLD. HIS SHOW INCLUDED DISPLAYS OF COWBOYS SKILLS, BUFFALO HUNTING AND A RE-

ENACTMENT OF CUSTER’S LAST STAND. THE SIOUX CHIEF SITTING BULL, CONQUERER OF CUSTER, EVEN JOINED THE SHOW FOR A YEAR. BUFFALO

BILL IS ONE OF THE KEY FIGURES OF THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE WEST.

William ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody

JOHN CHIVINGTON WAS A METHODIST PREACHER, WHO EARNED THE NICKNAME OF ‘THE FIGHTING PREACHER’

WHEN HE STOOD IN HIS PULPIT WITH TWO PISTOLS. SOME OF HIS PARISHIONERS OPPOSED HIS STANCE OF ANTI-SLAVERY AND THREATENED TO RUN HIM OUT OF

TOWN. CHIVINGTON MOVED TO DENVER, COLORADO AT THE START OF THE CIVIL WAR IN 1861 AND BECAME A

HERO OF THE US ARMY FOLLWING HIS ACTION AT GLORIETTA PASS IN 1862. IN 1864 HE BECAME INFAMOUS

BY LEADING THE MASSACRE OF BLACK KETTLE’S CHEYENNE AT SAND CREAK IN COLORADO. CHIVINGTON

LEFT ARMY SERVICE. HE REMAINED A HERO TO THE SETTLERS OF COLORADO UNTIL HIS DEATH.

Colonel Chivington

THE SANTEE LAKOTA (SIOUX) CHIEF LITTLE CROW LED HIS STARVING PEOPLE IN A WAR AGAINST THE SETTLERS

OF MINNESOTA IN THE YEARS 1861 - 1862. THE WAR WAS CAUSED BY THE APPALLING CONDITIONS ON THE

MINNESOTA RESERVATION WHERE 12 000 SANTEE SIOUX LIVED. THE SANTEE RELIED ON THE RATIONS AND MONEY

SENT BY THE US GOVERNMENT UNDER THE 1851 FORT LARAMIE TREATY. IN 1861 CUTWORM DESTROYED THE

SANTEES’ CROPS AND WHEN THE GOVERNMENT MONEY DID NOT ARRIVE, THE INDIAN AGENT ANDREW MYRICK TOLD THE SANTEE TO ‘EAT GRASS OR THEIR OWN DUNG’.

LITTLE CROW’S WARRIORS KILLED 700 SETTLERS BEFORE BEING DEFEATED BY THE US ARMY. 38 WARRIORS WERE

HUNG AND LITTLE CROW WAS EVENTUALLY SHOT WHILST PICKING RASPBERRIES IN A FARMERS FIELD.

Little Crow

WOVOKA WAS A PAIUTE MYSTIC WHO LED THE GHOST DANCE MOVEMENT. WOVOKA CLAIMED THAT

IF THE INDIANS TOOK PART IN THE GHOST DANCE THAT THE WHITES WOULD BE SWALLOWED UP BY THE EARTH AND THE DEAD INDIANS AND BUFFALO

WOULD RETURN TO EARTH. THE GHOST DANCE MOVEMENT SPREAD ACROSS THE DESPERATE

RESERVATIONS OF THE PLAINS INDIANS IN 1890. THE US ARMY AND THE INDIAN AGENTS WERE APPALLED BY THIS RETURN TO TRADITIONAL MYSTICISM. THE

GHOST DANCE WAS ENDED BY THE BATTLE OF WOUNDE KNEE IN DECEMBER 1890. THIS CAN BE SEEN

AS A LAST ATTEMPT BY THE DEFEATED NATIVE AMERICANS TO PRESERVE THEIR CULTURE AND

RIGHTS.

Wovoka

THE CHEYENNE CHIEF BLACK KETTLE WAS LEADER OF HIS PEOPLE WHEN THEY WERE ATTACKED BY

COLONEL CHIVINGTON’S COLORADO MILITIA IN 1864 AT SAND CREEK. BLACK KETTLE WAS A LEADING

PEACE CHIEF WHOSE EFFORTS FAILED TO CONVINCE THE COLORADO AUTHORITES TO AVOID CONFLICT. BLACK KETTLE HAD SPENT MONTHS NEGOTIATING

WITH THE COLORADO AUTHORITIES AND THE US ARMY, AND EVEN BELIEVED THAT A PEACE DEAL HAD

BEEN STRUCK AND THAT THE CHEYENNE HAD US ARMY PROTECTION WHEN CHIVINGTON ATTACKED.

BLACK KETTLE WAS KILLED DURING CUSTER'S ATTACK ON THE RIVER WASHITA IN 1868.

Black Kettle

CHIEF JOSPEH LED THE NEZ PERCE TRIBE WHO LIVED IN OREGON. HIS FATHER, ALSO KNOWN AS

JOSEPH HAD HELPED LEWIS AND CLARKE ON THEIR EXPEDITION OF 1803 - 1806. LEWIS AND CLARK HAD PROMISED HIM THAT THE USA WOULD ALWAYS BE THE FRIENDS OF TH NEZ PERCE. BY THE MID-1870S, SETTLERS WERE MOVING INTO THE NEZ PERCES’

LANDS. IN 1877 HE LED HIS PEOPLE ON A 1 400 MILE MARCH TO ESCAPE THE US ARMY. THE NEZ PERCE

WERE CONTINUALLY VICTORIOUS OVER THE CHASING SOLDIERS. THEY GOT TO WITHIN 40 MILES OF THE CANADIAN BORDER BEFORE FINAL DEFEAT. HIS STORY IS ONE OF UNFILFILLED HOPE FOR THE

NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.

Chief Joseph

SITTING BULL WAS THE LEADING SIOUX CHIEF OF THE 1870s. HE LED A GREAT FORCE OF SIOUX, CHEYENNE AND

ARAPAHO TO A CAMP ON THE LITTLE BIGHORN RIVER IN THE SUMMER OF 1876 AFTER THE US HAD ALLOWED

GOLD MINERS TO INVADE THE SIOUX LANDS IN THE BLACK HILLS. SITTING BULL SAID OF THE INVASION

‘THE BLACK HILLS BELONG TO ME. IF THE WHITES TRY TO TAKE THEM I WILL FIGHT’. SITTING BULL

GATHERED UP TO 12 000 INDIANS IN 1876, AND THIS LED TO THE DEFEAT OF THE US ARMY AT THE BATTLE OF

THE ROSEBUD AND THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN. SITTING BULL ESCAPED TO CANADA, BUT EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO THE STANDING ROCK

RESERVATION IN DAKOTA. SITTING BULL WAS SHOT BY A SIOUX POLICEMAN IN 1890 WHILST BEING ARRESTED

FOR ALLEGEDLY PROMOTING THE GHOST DANCE.

Sitting Bull

Like many, Bat Masterson had a colourful career. At various Like many, Bat Masterson had a colourful career. At various times he was a buffalo hunter, a gambler and a sports journalist. times he was a buffalo hunter, a gambler and a sports journalist. Masterson moved to Dodge City in 1876, and became County Masterson moved to Dodge City in 1876, and became County

Sheriff. His brother Ed, a Town Marshal, was killed by a drunken Sheriff. His brother Ed, a Town Marshal, was killed by a drunken cowhand in Dodge City two years later. He became closely cowhand in Dodge City two years later. He became closely

associated with Wyatt Earp and even moved to Tombstone for a associated with Wyatt Earp and even moved to Tombstone for a while. He was later appointed as a New York State Deputy while. He was later appointed as a New York State Deputy

Marshal by President Theodore Roosevelt.Marshal by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Bat Masterson’s life covered many stages of the development of Bat Masterson’s life covered many stages of the development of the American West. He was involved in the massacre of the the American West. He was involved in the massacre of the

Plains Indians’ food supply. He was then involved in civilising Plains Indians’ food supply. He was then involved in civilising the West and its new towns. He also lived long enough to leave the West and its new towns. He also lived long enough to leave

the West and use his skills in the East.the West and use his skills in the East.

Bat Masterson

Wild Bill Hickock’s real name was James Butler Hickock. Wild Bill Hickock’s real name was James Butler Hickock. He earned his nickname in the Civil War, and he continued He earned his nickname in the Civil War, and he continued to serve in the US Army for a few years after the war as a to serve in the US Army for a few years after the war as a

scout. He was one gunfighter and lawman who fully scout. He was one gunfighter and lawman who fully deserved his fearsome reputation. By the time he was deserved his fearsome reputation. By the time he was

appointed Town Marshal of Hays, Kansas, in 1869, he had appointed Town Marshal of Hays, Kansas, in 1869, he had already killed a number of men. After his time in Hays, he already killed a number of men. After his time in Hays, he

became a marshal in Abilene.became a marshal in Abilene.

Hickok arrived in Deadwood in 1876. Many hoped that he Hickok arrived in Deadwood in 1876. Many hoped that he would bring law and order to the town, but he decided to would bring law and order to the town, but he decided to

bide his time. He gambled in the saloons, got married, and bide his time. He gambled in the saloons, got married, and thought about gold mining until he was eventually shot thought about gold mining until he was eventually shot

while playing pokerwhile playing poker..

Wild Bill Hickock

Wyatt Earp was born in Illinois in 1848. After working as a freight hauler and a buffalo Wyatt Earp was born in Illinois in 1848. After working as a freight hauler and a buffalo hunter, he became Assistant Marshal of Dodge City in 1878.hunter, he became Assistant Marshal of Dodge City in 1878.

Wyatt Earp’s main claim to fame rests on the time he spent in Tombstone, Arizona Wyatt Earp’s main claim to fame rests on the time he spent in Tombstone, Arizona where his brother Virgil was a Deputy Marshal. Wyatt became Deputy Sheriff of the where his brother Virgil was a Deputy Marshal. Wyatt became Deputy Sheriff of the county. Tombstone was best known for its silver mines, but it was also a center for county. Tombstone was best known for its silver mines, but it was also a center for

ranching, and this attracted many cattle rustlers. Earp identified himself closely with ranching, and this attracted many cattle rustlers. Earp identified himself closely with the local business community. They were keen to establish Tombstone as a respectable the local business community. They were keen to establish Tombstone as a respectable

town and put an end to the rustling and violence. Morgan Earp. Two families, the town and put an end to the rustling and violence. Morgan Earp. Two families, the Clantons and the McLaurys, were thought to be the cause of most of the trouble.Clantons and the McLaurys, were thought to be the cause of most of the trouble.

The showdown came on 26th October 1881. This was the famous ‘Gunfight at the OK The showdown came on 26th October 1881. This was the famous ‘Gunfight at the OK Corral’. The shooting actually lasted less than 1 minute, but two of the McClaurys and Corral’. The shooting actually lasted less than 1 minute, but two of the McClaurys and Billy Clanton were killed. Some said the Earps had killed them in cold blood. The fight Billy Clanton were killed. Some said the Earps had killed them in cold blood. The fight did not stop the violence. Morgan Earp, another of Wyatt’s brothers, was shot dead the did not stop the violence. Morgan Earp, another of Wyatt’s brothers, was shot dead the following year. Wyatt Earp sought to avenge his murder, and eventually shot the two following year. Wyatt Earp sought to avenge his murder, and eventually shot the two

men suspected of the crime.men suspected of the crime.

Wyatt Earp had a long and eventful life, and died in 1929 aged 80. In his last years he Wyatt Earp had a long and eventful life, and died in 1929 aged 80. In his last years he helped to turn himself into a legend by telling his life story to writers and Hollywood helped to turn himself into a legend by telling his life story to writers and Hollywood

film makers.film makers.

Wyatt Earp

Jesse James was born in Missouri in 1847, the son of a Baptist minister. Jesse James was born in Missouri in 1847, the son of a Baptist minister. Together with his brother Frank he formed the James Gang, which often Together with his brother Frank he formed the James Gang, which often

teamed up with the four Younger brothers. Between 1866 and Jesse’s teamed up with the four Younger brothers. Between 1866 and Jesse’s death in 1882, they robbed countless banks and trains. Jesse James was death in 1882, they robbed countless banks and trains. Jesse James was

surprisingly popular with the public. Some viewed him as a kind of Robin surprisingly popular with the public. Some viewed him as a kind of Robin Hood figure. He had fought for the South in the Civil War, and many in Hood figure. He had fought for the South in the Civil War, and many in

Missouri still opposed the Union. In addition, the railroad companies Missouri still opposed the Union. In addition, the railroad companies were unpopular because they had bought up such large amounts of land.were unpopular because they had bought up such large amounts of land.

In 1876, the gang attempted to rob a bank in Northfield, Missouri. The In 1876, the gang attempted to rob a bank in Northfield, Missouri. The raid went horribly wrong for the James-Younger Gang as the raid went horribly wrong for the James-Younger Gang as the

townspeople armed themselves in anticipation of the raid. Three of the townspeople armed themselves in anticipation of the raid. Three of the gang were killed. After this, big rewards were on offer to anyone who gang were killed. After this, big rewards were on offer to anyone who stopped Jesse James. In the end, it was a member of his own gang who stopped Jesse James. In the end, it was a member of his own gang who

killed him. Jesse James was shot in the back by Bob Ford as he killed him. Jesse James was shot in the back by Bob Ford as he straightened a picture in his own home.straightened a picture in his own home.

THIS PHOTO IS OF BOB FORD AS THERE IS NO PHOTO OF JESSE THIS PHOTO IS OF BOB FORD AS THERE IS NO PHOTO OF JESSE JAMES EXCEPT AFTER HIS DEATHJAMES EXCEPT AFTER HIS DEATH

Jesse James

Butch Cassidy was christened Robert Leroy Parker by hisButch Cassidy was christened Robert Leroy Parker by hisMormon pioneer parents. The Sundance Kid's real name was Harry Mormon pioneer parents. The Sundance Kid's real name was Harry

Longabaugh. The two and their gang, known as the Wild Bunch, held Longabaugh. The two and their gang, known as the Wild Bunch, held up banks and robbed the trains of the Union Pacific Railroad in the up banks and robbed the trains of the Union Pacific Railroad in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming and Montana in the 1890s. With the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming and Montana in the 1890s. With the

law following them, they fled to Argentina in 1901, along with law following them, they fled to Argentina in 1901, along with Sundance's girlfriend, Etta Place. The three homesteaded a ranch in the Sundance's girlfriend, Etta Place. The three homesteaded a ranch in the

Cholila Valley. By 1905, though, they were back to robbing banks. Cholila Valley. By 1905, though, they were back to robbing banks. Butch and Sundance died in a shoot-out in San Vincente, a town in Butch and Sundance died in a shoot-out in San Vincente, a town in

southern Bolivia, where they had fled after robbing the payroll of the southern Bolivia, where they had fled after robbing the payroll of the Aramayo Mining Co. that was being carried on a mule. After a patrol Aramayo Mining Co. that was being carried on a mule. After a patrol

discovered them holed up in a rented hut, gunfight ensued, ending discovered them holed up in a rented hut, gunfight ensued, ending when darkness fell. Later that night, townspeople reported hearing when darkness fell. Later that night, townspeople reported hearing

screams and two shots. In the morning, they found the outlaws dead, screams and two shots. In the morning, they found the outlaws dead, both shot in the head. Badly wounded during the gunfight, the outlaws both shot in the head. Badly wounded during the gunfight, the outlaws

had chosen to commit suicide rather than fall captive.had chosen to commit suicide rather than fall captive.

Butch Cassidy

Calamity Jane was a wandering American frontierswoman who dressed Calamity Jane was a wandering American frontierswoman who dressed like a man and frequented bars, telling stories of her adventures. She was like a man and frequented bars, telling stories of her adventures. She was born Martha Jane Canary in Princeton, Missouri on May 1, 1852. She was born Martha Jane Canary in Princeton, Missouri on May 1, 1852. She was orphaned by 1867 and began roaming the mining districts of the west. In orphaned by 1867 and began roaming the mining districts of the west. In the late 1870s she was a familiar sight in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. In the late 1870s she was a familiar sight in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. In 1891 she married Clinton Burke, but he soon deserted her. She toured in 1891 she married Clinton Burke, but he soon deserted her. She toured in Wild West shows and claimed to have been a pony express rider and a Wild West shows and claimed to have been a pony express rider and a scout with General Custer's forces. How Calamity Jane received her scout with General Custer's forces. How Calamity Jane received her

nickname is uncertain, like much else about her legendary life. "Calamity" nickname is uncertain, like much else about her legendary life. "Calamity" may have referred to her hard-luck times, to her willingness to help those may have referred to her hard-luck times, to her willingness to help those in trouble, or to the fate of her enemies (because of her skill with a pistol). in trouble, or to the fate of her enemies (because of her skill with a pistol).

Martha "Calamity Jane" Canary Burke died in 1903 in Terry, South Martha "Calamity Jane" Canary Burke died in 1903 in Terry, South Dakota. She was buried in Mount Moriah cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota. She was buried in Mount Moriah cemetery in Deadwood, South

Dakota, next to Wild Bill Hickok. Dakota, next to Wild Bill Hickok.

Although many fictional accounts pair Calamity Jane with Wild Bill Although many fictional accounts pair Calamity Jane with Wild Bill Hickock, the two were never romantically involved.Hickock, the two were never romantically involved.

Calamity Jane