TODAY in HISTORY (25 September): 'Wild Bill' Hickok married 'Calamity Jane' in 1873 – or so it is claimed...
On 6 September 1941 Jean Hickok Burkhardt McCormick's old age assistance was approved by the U.S. Department of Public Welfare after she could prove to be the offspring of Martha Jane Cannary (Calamity Jane) and James Butler Hickok (Wild Bill Hickok).
She presented a Bible in which the marriage was recorded at Benson's Landing, Montana Territory on 25 September 1873.
McCormick published a book with letters intended to be from Calamity Jane to her daughter where she said that she was married to Hickok and that he is her father. This claim is greatly disputed.
James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok (27 May 1837 – 2 August 1876) is viewed as an American Old West folk hero whose skills as a gunfighter, gambler and many others made him famous.
He told many bizarre tales about his life, but many of contemporaries regarded him as a liar. Except for his stories he is also known for the "Dead Man's Hand" - black aces and eights – in the game of poker. Hickok was shot from behind while holding this hand in poker in a saloon in Deadwood, Dakota Territory.
Martha Jane "Calamity Jane" Cannary (1 May 1852 – 1 August 1903) was one of the few American frontierswoman and professional scout.
She received are nickname after a courageous act in saving the life of a military captain when being ambushed by Native Americans. In contrast with her daredevil ways, Calamity Jane was also known to have shown a lot of compassion for the sick and the needy.
Calamity Jane lost both her parents when she was still 14 years old. Laden with the responsibility to take care of her five younger siblings, she moved the family from Salt Lake City to Piedmont, Wyoming, where she took whatever jobs she could find - dishwasher, cook, waitress, dance-hall girl, and ox team driver.
In 1874 she was appointed a scout by the U.S. Military at Fort Russell. It is said that Calamity Jane was extremely attractive and was described as "pretty dark-eyed girl".
From time-to-time, she would make use of her appearance through prostitution to take care of her large family. Her responsibility as a scout exposed her to a rougher, mostly outdoor, adventurous life on the Great Plains where she was involved in several campaigns in the long-running military conflicts with the Native Americans.
Calamity Jane's friendship with Wild Bill is where McCormick claim unravels. In contrast with a marriage in 1873, it can only be determined that Calamity Jane met up with Wild Bill in 1876.
At that stage, he was already married to Agnes Lake Thatcher. It happened after she settled in the Deadwood in the Black Hills where she was occasionally employed by, Dora DuFran - the Black Hills' leading madam. Calamity Jane greatly admired Wild Bill's lifestyle and personally and became obsessed with him.
After Wild Bill's death Calamity Jane continued living at Deadwood.
At one point she saved many passengers in an overland stagecoach which was attacked by Native Americans.
Calamity Jane diverted the attack and after the stagecoach driver was killed, she took over the reins and drove the stagecoach to safety in Deadwood. She kept on working for Madame Dora DuFran and died in her early fifties due to heavy drinking.
My question is; why is she not an American Old West folk hero? No movies? She was surely a girl with "balls".
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamity_Jane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Wild_Bill%22_Hickok
I live in Spearfish SD. We are about 15 miles from Deadwood. Jane is a folk hero in this area. She was obsessed With Bill but word has it he didn't share the obsession. I would say the marriage thing was not true. Though I have heard that story before.
Hi @andre-ager. Thanks for the information. I am glad to see she is regarded as a folk hero, because what I have read, she deserves it! I also think it is not true, but it looks like her daughter did get the old age grant based on a marriage.