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People all over the world know the name Wild Bill, but what was his real name?

James Hickok. Wild Bill was born to William Alonzo and Polly Butler Hickok. He was the fourth son, and born under the name of James Butler Hickok. James was one of seven children.

Where was Wild Bill born?

Homer ILL. When Wild Bill was born in Homer, Illinois in 1837, it was a small frontier village. It was then found out that there was a larger town in Illinos also called Homer, so they changed the name to Troy Grove.

Wild Bill wanted to seek adventure, so he left for Kansas. In what year did he leave?

1856. Wild Bill would leave for Kansas with his brother Loronzo in 1856. They were going out to set a family claim, but Loronzo returned shortly after, while Wild Bill would join the free state movement.

Wild Bill was good friends with Buffalo Bill. In what year did they first meet?

1857. Buffalo Bill claimed to have met Wild Bill in 1857. He said Wild Bill saved him from a beating at the hands of camp bullies. From then until Hickok's death they were friends.

Kid Carson was Wild Bill's childhood hero, but did he ever get to met him in person?

yes. He met Kit Carson in 1859. According to Hickok they meet in Santa Fe, and Kit had given him a drangon colt as a present.

Wild Bill would fight for the union in the civil war, but what year did he join?

1861. Hickok signed up as a teamster and in 1862 he becomes a wagon master. He is also said to have been a sharpshooter and later became a spy for the Union.

Hickok killed Davis Tutt on July 12 1865. What was the fight about?

a watch. Davis Tutt beat Wild Bill in a poker game, but Hickok did not have enough money to pay his debt, so Tutt took his watch and told him he would walk up and down the street showing off the watch until Hickok paid. It was considerd the first ever "real West high noon" shoot-out.

What was the relationship between Hickok and General Custer?

Hickok scouted for Custer in the Indian wars. Wild Bill first met Custer in 1866, then scouted for him in 1867. Hickok was friends with George and Elizabeth Custer.

In his later years what disease did Wild Bill suffer from?

glaucoma. Wild Bill suffered from glaucoma. It is a disease that slowly leads to blindness.

In what year did "Harper's Monthly Magazine" publish the exploits of Wild Bill?

1867. "Harper's Magazine" published highly exaggerated tales of Wild Bill. Hickok became a household name for the remainder of his life. Hickok was the one that told the exaggerated tales to the writers. It was something his family would later said he regreted.