After the American Civil War, Hickok became an army scout and a professional gambler. In 1867, his fame increased from an interview by Henry Stanley. In 1871, Hickok became marshal of Abilene, Kansas. He toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show in 1872_1873, where he was romantically linked to Calamity Jane. He was fired from the show due to drunkenness.
In 1876, while playing poker at Nuttal and Mann's "Saloon No. 10" in Deadwood (then part of the Dakota Territory but on Indian land), Hickok was shot dead from behind by Jack McCall. The motive for the killing is still debated. (McCall may have been paid for the deed, he may have suspected Hickok of an earlier slaying of his brother, or it may have just been the result of a recent dispute.) The saloon proprietor claimed that, at the time of his death, Hickok held a pair of aces and a pair of eights, with all cards black, and this has since been called a "dead man's hand".
James Butler Hickok, son, and fourth of six children, of William Alonzo and Polly (Butler) Hickok, was born in Homer (Troy Grove), La Salle Co., Illinois on 27 May 1837.
Bill was Utter's "pardner," and I was introduced at once.
At the trial it was proved that the murdered was hired to do his work by gamblers who feared the time when better citizens should appoint Bill the champion of law and order--a post which he formerly sustained in Kansas border life, with credit to his manhood and his courage.
1837–August 2, 1876) was better known as Wild Bill Hickok.
The saloon proprietor claimed that, at the time of his death, Hickok held a pair of aces and a pair of eights, all cards fl, which has since been known as a dead man's hand.
Wild Bill Hickok HistoryLink - Digital Deadwood (http://www.digitaldeadwood.com/historylink/people/hickok.html)
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