Book Description

Born Phoebe Ann Mosey on August 13, 1860, on the rural western border of Ohio, Annie Oakley began hunting at age 9 to support her siblings and widowed mother. She became so skilled at hunting and selling game that she was able to pay off the mortgage to her mother's farm when she was 15. In 1885, Oakley joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show where she became one of the top acts. She awed spectators with her amazing stunts, such as hitting targets with her back turned and her rifle flung over her shoulder by aiming at a reflection in the blade of a knife. Adventurous and brave, Oakley offered her services and 50 "lady sharpshooters" to President William McKinley during the Spanish-American War, but her offer was not accepted. In her sixties, Oakley continued to set shooting records until a year before her death in 1926. Annie Oakley is the story of a poor girl from the Ohio frontier who became one of the greatest western folk heroes to ever take the stage. Legends of the Wild West brings to life the fascinating history, lore, and culture of the great American frontier from west of the Mississippi River to the wide expanses of the western prairies and deserts. Each volume is a compelling portrait of the best-known frontiersmen, women, and settlers of the West. Book jacket.