Annie Oakley

Vocation

Notable

Family

American markswoman, an expert shot with a pistol, rifle or shotgun. At 5' tall, she was the star of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show for 17 years. She became familiar with firearms by age nine, supporting her fatherless family of six daughters and one son by bringing home game. She was sent to the poor farm shortly later and worked at slave labor for a local farmer until she ran away. At 15, she sold game and competed at matches. She met Frank Butler, a competitive shooter and ten years older, who became her husband and helpmate for the rest of her life. With her long flowing hair, her sweet little girl look and proper Quaker manners, she quickly became Queen of the Wild West show, doing a little kick when she made a tough shot and stomping her foot on the few times that she missed. Severely injured in a train wreck in 1901, she recovered though wearing a brace, and continued her show. When she retired in 1913, she taught society ladies how to shoot. She died 11/3/1926 in Greenville, OH. Frank simply stopped eating and he died 18 days later. Link to Wikipedia biography