"Little Sure Shot"

Annie Oakley, a great American markswoman, was known for her spectacular trick shots with pistol, rifle, and shotgun. Born Phoebe Anne Oakley Mozee in Patterson Township, Darke Co., Ohio, she was the sixth of 8 children. At age 9 she began to shoot small game and became so accurate a shot that, before she was 16, profits from selling the game in Cincinnati had paid off most of the mortgage on the family farm.

In about 1876 she challenged Frank E. Butler, a vaudeville-stage marksman, to a contest and beat him by a single point. Annie later married Butler and joined his act, and shortly after became the star herself. In 1885 the Butlers joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, where Annie achieved her greatest fame touring in America and Europe for 17 years. From 30 paces she would shoot in half a playing card held on its edge, hit a dime thrown into the air, or cut a cigarette from her husband' s lips. She once performed the cigarette trick in Europe with Wilhelm the crown prince of Germany holding the target.

Her career was hampered after injuries from a train wreck in 1901 left her partially paralyzed; although she never recovered completely, she continued to tour for another 20 years. Annie Oakley died at Greenville, Ohio, on Nov. 3, 1926. Her life was the subject of the play Annie Get Your Gun by Herbert and Dorothy Fields with a musical score by Irving Berlin. We have two Annie Oakley's for your entertainment needs.

Click here for more pictures of Ms. Oakley in action