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Annie Oakley Facts

Annie Oakley Facts
Annie Oakley was a famous markswoman who is most famous for working on Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in the 1880s. She was born Phoebe Ann mosey on August 13th, 1860, near Willowdale, Ohio, to Jacob Mosey and Susan Wise. She was the sixth of nine children born to Susan and Jacob. Annie was trapping by the age of seven, and hunting and shooting by the time she was eight as her father had passed away. Her hunting skills paid off her mother's mortgage as she sold the game to hotels and restaurants. At 15 Annie entered a shooting contest and won, beating Frank Butler. They married in 1876. They joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in 1885.
Interesting Annie Oakley Facts:
The last name Oakley came from either her neighborhood in Cincinnati, or it was the name of a man who once paid her train fare.
Annie Oakley petitioned the government to allow women to go to war, but she was not allowed.
While a performer in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, Annie Oakley became famous for her shooting tricks and precise marksmanship.
In 1884 Annie Oakley met Sitting Bull - the Native American leader and icon. He was so impressed with Annie's talent that he gave her the name 'Little Sure Shot' and 'adopted' her.
As a performer with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Annie Oakley toured the United States and Europe.
Annie Oakley performed in the Wild West Show until 1902. She had to quit the show because of a train accident injury in 1901.
After the train accident Annie Oakley had five spinal operations. It allowed her to return to the show for a brief period but she left the show in 1902.
A stage play was written for Annie Oakley called 'The Western Girl', in which she performed beginning in 1902.
It has been said that her shooting expertise improved after the accident and into her 60s.
It has been estimated that Annie Oakley is believed to have taught approximately 15,000 women how to use a gun. She believed women needed to know how to use a gun for self-defense, and for mental and physical exercise.
Annie Oakley could split a playing card from 30 paces - held edge on. She would then shoot holes in it before it reached the ground.
Annie Oakley could shoot dimes that were tossed in the air. She even shot cigarettes from her husband's mouth.
Annie Oakley could look into her bowie knife and use the reflection to shoot a target behind her.
A newspaper article published in 1903 by Hearst newspapers falsely reported that Annie Oakley had stolen pants to pay for cocaine and was arrested. In fact it was a burlesque dancer not Annie, and Annie sued William Randolph Hearst. In total Annie sued 55 newspapers for reprinting the false stories. It took 6 years but she won or settled 54 suits.
Annie Oakley died of pernicious anemia in 1926, at the age of 66. Her husband Frank refused to eat and died 18 days later.


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