Born on August 13, 1860, and passing away on November 3, 1926, the woman the world would come to know as Annie Oakley actually entered life as Phoebe Ann Moses (or Mosey). This remarkable American target shooter rose to fame as a star of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Her origins were modest, yet she would go on to dazzle both presidents and royalty with her extraordinary talent.
Facts About Annie Oakley:
Annie Oakley came into the world on August 13, 1860, the daughter of Jacob Moses and Susan Wise Moses.
Annie was a featured performer in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.
After retiring in 1913, Annie Oakley passed away on November 3, 1926.
Her hunting prowess was so remarkable that by the age of 15, she had earned enough money to pay off the $200 mortgage on her mother's house.
Annie's father taught her his sharpshooting abilities, and she launched her performing career in 1875 at just 11 years old. By 1880, she had made her way to New York, where she crossed paths with Buffalo Bill Cody.
Starting in 1882, Oakley joined the Chicago-based Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, where audiences knew her as "The Peerless Lady Wing Shot." She went on to marry fellow performer Frank E. Butler four years later.
Together, Oakley and Butler kept traveling and performing with what eventually became known as Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World. At the height of her career, Oakley commanded an impressive $1,000 a week. The show made its way across Europe and England during 1887 and 1888.
One of her most legendary feats came in 1893, when Oakley shot a cigarette straight from her husband's mouth as he sat atop a horse.