Wild Bill Hickok
1837 – 1876

Wild Bill Hickok

American folk hero and lawman (1837–1876)

gold minerpoker playersoldierhuntergunfighter
Born
1837-05-27, Troy Grove
Died
1876-08-02
Birthplace state
Illinois

Biography

James Butler Hickok, known as Wild Bill Hickok, was born on May 27, 1837, in Troy Grove, Illinois, and died on August 2, 1876. He worked as a gold miner, poker player, soldier, hunter, gunfighter, and actor. During his lifetime, he became known for his involvement in various gunfights and gained considerable fame, though many of the stories circulated about him were fabricated or outlandish.

Occupation

Wild Bill Hickok is recorded as a gold miner, a poker player, a soldier, a hunter, a gunfighter and a actor, born in Illinois (1837–1876).

Connections to Illinois

Wild Bill Hickok was born in Troy Grove, Illinois in 1837. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Troy Grove

Wild Bill Hickok came from Troy Grove. A full Aubrey report on Troy Grove pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Troy Grove report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)
Walt Disney
Walt Disney
American animator, producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor and entrepreneur, founder of The Walt Disney Company (1901–1966)
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
American author and journalist (1899–1961)
Robin Williams
Robin Williams
American actor and comedian (1951–2014)
Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)
Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
American chess player (1943–2008)
James Watson
James Watson
American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Wild Bill Hickok

Who was Wild Bill Hickok?
Wild Bill Hickok was American folk hero and lawman (1837–1876), born in Illinois (1837 – 1876).
When and where was Wild Bill Hickok born?
Wild Bill Hickok was born on 1837-05-27 in Troy Grove.
When did Wild Bill Hickok die?
Wild died on 1876-08-02.
What was Wild Bill Hickok known for?
Wild Bill Hickok is recorded as a gold miner, a poker player, a soldier, a hunter, a gunfighter and a actor.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report