Wild Bill Hickok

Hickok, Wild Bill (James Butler Hickok; 1837–76), legendary U.S. frontier law officer. During the Civil War he was a Union scout and spy. As U.S. marshal at the lawless frontier towns of Hays and Abilene, Kans. (1869–71), he won a reputation for marksmanship. He was murdered in South Dakota by Jack McCall.

See also: Western frontier life.