1) Choose your favorite character of "The West" (someone who actually lived and became famous in that region of the USA in the timeframe 1865-1890). . . your choice must be unique . . . try your second favorite if number one is already chosen.
2) Describe, in your own words, for what he/she is famous.
3) Explain why that person is your favorite.
4) Connect your choice from "The West" to someone actually living and famous from nowadays (this comparison person must also be unique) . . . explain how/why you see your two choices as similar.
5) This is a 10 point assignment, due by 2/1/12 at 11:59pm, as a comment to this post (first name, last initial, class period).
Good Luck!
37 comments:
Annie Oakley is my personal favorite American Wild West character. She was famous for being a great American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. She was also famous for her critical role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, which rocketed her forward towards becoming America's first female superstar. Annie Oakley is my favorite American-Western character because she worked hard to make a name for herself-- but in an area that most other women of the time would probably have steered away from. She didn't conform to participating in stereotypical "female-only" activities and jobs that existed during the time period for women. Annie Oakley can best be compared to the Sarah Palin of today. I feel this way because they both had/have a developed interest in guns, shooting, etc. They are both women who choose to define themselves by things many other women would fear or mock.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Oakley
http://www.jimwegryn.com/Names/Cowboys3.htm
My favorite character from "The West" is George Armstrong Custer. Custer is famous for being a failure. He was supposed to lead this awesome attack against the Indians but instead his company got destroyed because of his overconfidence. He's my favorite because he reminds me to not get to cocky about my abilities. I would compare him to Gaddafi, the ex-leader of Libya. I see the comparison because until Gaddafi lost power he kept putting out messages saying that he was strong and his government would not fall, but then the rebels took Tripoli and it turns out he fell. Gaddafi was overconfident in his abilities and it cost him his country, and eventually life (which I guess goes against the rules but it really won't affect my grade at this point).
All information came from my head, therefore I have no sources to put here. Thank you for your time Hoffman.
John Wayne... he didn't count last year. perhaps the wise Mr. H. will give him a shot this time around.
Chief Crazy Horse is notably my favorite person from the American "Wild West". He is is number one on my list Because he was a man of who had a plan and a noble reason to fight against America. As American troops headed west to move the Natives, he led his people of the Lakota tribe against the invading troops to defend their way of life and their land that was sacred to them. The Natives had a deep connection with the lad they lived on and it was something they were willing to die for. Crazy Horses struggle against the American troops was ultimately useless. The Lakota, Crow, and Shoshone peoples were officially defeated at the battle of little big horn where Crazy Horse was taken prisoner along with most of his warriors. I would compare Crazy Horse to Al-Sabah. Al-Sabah was the leader of Kuwait during the gulf wars and up untill his death in 2006. Al-Sabah defended his land and his people agains Iraq when it invaded for the oil bearing land in Kuwait, Just like the American troops seizing the land from the Indians out west and how Crazy Horse defended his Land and people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Horse
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_was_the_leader_of_Kuwait_during_the_Persian_Gulf_War
Jesse James is my favorite Wild West character, behind the legendary John Wayne though (He's not in this time period). Jesse was famous for being an American outlaw that robbed banks, trains, and was part of the James-Younger gang. Not only this, but he was a celebrity while he was alive and became known even more as a legendary cowboy/outlaw after his death in 1882. I like this person because he represented what a typical outlaw of that time should have been, one that rode horses to steal from trains and challenge people to duels. He didn't care whether or not the law enforcement were pressuring him to stop his deeds and continued on to gathering more gang members as time went by. Jesse James can be compared to Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) because no matter how much people told him how hard something was, he continued to go for it, like how Jesse didnt stop robbing when law enforcement told him to. Although Indiana didn't technically "steal" the artifacts he went after, you can compare this to how Jesse went after trains and banks to get money.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_James
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Ford
My favorite western character is Sitting Bull. The Indian Chief is most famous for leading the Sioux Tribe against westward expansion, most notably in the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, where his army killed George Custer's 7th Calvary. This was one of the greatest Indian Victories in their war against white expansion, however it was short lived. He was captured by the government in 1881, and put into prison. Sitting Bull is my favorite western hero because he was responsible for the failure of Custer, exposing him as the crazy army commander that he was. Also, after he was released from jail, he worked in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show as an Indian, which I find funny. Sitting Bull is a lot like today's Arnold Schwarzenegger because he was an active political/social figure as well as an entertainer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitting_Bull#Battle_of_the_Little_Bighorn
Leland Stanford is my favorite Western character. He was a famous tycoon and was one of “The Big Four” who invested in the Central Pacific Railroad. He became president of both the Central Pacific as well as the Southern Pacific Railroads by 1868. An active member of the Republican Party, Stanford became the eighth governor of California in 1861. Leland Stanford and his wife Jane founded Stanford University in 1885 as a memorial for their only child who passed away. He served as a U.S. senator for California from 1885 to 1893. He is my favorite character from the West because he was a very determined businessman who acquired his wealth through hard work. He can be compared to New Jersey governor Chris Christie of today because, for one, they both started out as lawyers. Also, both men have been noted as being sincere speakers during their governor-related speeches.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leland_Stanford
Chief Joseph definately tops the charts with being the best real Western Character due to his great name, but also due to his contribution to the relations of Native Americans to the white people. Chief Joseph was one of the first chiefs to convert to Christianity of the Nez Perce tribe. He workes with the whites to make a reservation peacefully. His name was also oextremely cool. In his tongue he was called Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt, which meant Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain. Though he worked with the whites in his earlier years to get on a reservation, he later was pitted against the white man, and defended his people of the Wallowa Valley. I believe he can be compared and related most closely to Charlie Sheen due to the fact that he was "Winning" in his series of battles, but eventually lost his main fight because he and his people were forced onto a reservation in Oklahoma where many died of diseases.
Source: http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/chiefjoseph.htm
My favorite Western character is Buffalo Bill Cody. He joined the Pony Express at 14, and served in the Union army during the Civil War as part of the Seventh Kansas Calvary. In 1867, "Buffalo Bill" earned his famous nickname as a buffalo hunter before returning to the army and serving in 16 battles against the Plains Indians as part of the Fifth Cavalry. Buffalo Bill gained fame in the dime novels of Ned Buntline and eventually became a successful stage actor. In 1883 Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show became an international success and ensured Buffalo Bill's lasting fame. Buffalo Bill Cody is my favorite "Wild West" character, because he not only became famous for his mythical exploits, but was also a real soldier who fought in both the Civil War and the Indian Wars. Buffalo Bill was also a man of many talents. He hinted buffalo, rode on the pony express, fought as a soldier, and eventually wound up as a show business celebrity. I would compare Buffalo Bill Cody to Jesse Jackson, because Jackson was at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement before returning to Chicago and living as a quasi-celebrity social figure because of his earlier dramatic exploits.
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/buffalobill.htm
My favorite western character is Myra Maybelle Shirley, more commonly known as Belle Starr. She was born in 1848 in Carthage, MO and atttended the Carthage Female Academy. She became a talented pianist. But when the outlaws from the James and Younger families needed a place to hide out, they often hid at the Shirley house. Soon enough she was thrown into the life of crime. She joined up with the Starrs, a group of Cherokees who stole horses and eventually she married one of them, Sam Starr. When her and her husband would get caught, she would "bribe" the law with "favors" until she was shot in the back in 1889 at 41 years old. Belle Starr is my favorite Western Character because she was possibly the most famous woman criminal. Also, whenever I think of the old West, I don't think of do-gooders because its the low lifes and criminals who made the Old West intersting and exciting. Belle Starr reminds me of Casey Anthony because they are both woman who turned into criminals. And yes, I believe that Casey Anthony killed her daughter because she admitted to it, making them even more similar in criminal acts. Also, just like how Casey Anthony is hated today, I am sure that Belle Starr was hated back then for being an outlaw.
http://listverse.com/2009/04/09/10-gunslinging-outlaws-of-the-american-wild-west/
My favorite wild west character is James B. "Killer" Miller. Miller was a professional assassin who openly told people about how he killed for money. He charged around $150-$2000 depending on the person. The first person he killed was his brother-in-law, John Coop. To kill people, he would wear a long black coat within which he concealed a shotgun and a metal plate to cover his torso in case things got out of hand. He is known to have killed at least 14 people, but has been implicated in around 50. Miller is my favorite because of the way he died. He was arrested in Oklahoma and sentenced to death by hanging. Miller made sure that his ring would be given to his wife and right before he was jumped to his death he shouted "let er rip!" I like how different he was from a lot of the other killers who actually feared death themselves. Miller is very similar to OJ Simpson. Both have killed people...we all know he did it. And both were very good at what they specialized in: Miller in killing and Simpson in football.
http://listverse.com/2009/04/09/10-gunslinging-outlaws-of-the-american-wild-west/
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5893
To me, a notable but often disregarded person of the Wild West is “Chief” Geronimo of the Bedonkohe Apache. He was reportedly given the name Geronimo by Mexican soldiers as a sign of intense bravery and courage. As leader of the Apaches in Sonora, he performed such daring military actions that the Mexican army greatly respected him. He was a skilled raider and it was rumored that he was aided by supernatural beings and was reputed to be invincible to all bullets. Geronimo was the leader of the last American Indian force formally to capitulate to the United States. Because he fought against such daunting odds and held out the longest, he will be forever known as a chief of great mental and physical strength, and embodies the very essence of Apache ideals, aggressiveness, determination, and courage in the face of difficulty. As a descendent of the Apache people, I have great honor and respect for this man and his abilities to fight for his rights and his people in a time of confusion, pain, and blood for many Native Americans.
http://www.jessiestreasures.com/native_american/Geronimo.html
Calamity Jane is my favorite American Wild West character. Jane was famous for being a close friend of Wild Bill Hickok's, but also for fighting American Indians. Calamity Jane is my favorite American Wild West character because she was not like other women in her day- she was known as being a woman who could handle a man and shoot like a cowboy. I also admire her, because she tried everything that she had the opportunity to; she had been a nurse, a dishwasher, a waitress, a cook and an ox-team driver. Calamity Jane can best be compared to Danica Patrick. Like Jane, Danica is not like many other women, she is in a "man's world". They are both women who don't fit to society, but have gained fame from their strong willed nature.
Sources:
http://www.thewildwest.org/cowboys/wildwestlegendarywomen/199-calamityjane.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamity_Jane
My favorite western character is Robert LeRoy Parker, or better known as Butch Cassidy. Butch Cassidy is best known as a thief and no one really knows when and where he died. At one point two thieves, believed to be Cassidy and Longabaugh, stole a mule and money from the Aramayo Mine in southern Bolivia. The man in charge of the inn they stopped at sent for help. A shooting match took place between the thieves and three soldiers, the police chief, the local mayor and some of his officials. At 2 a.m. a scream came from the inn and was followed by a gunshot. A little while later there was another one. In the morning they found two bodies that they never got a positive I.D. on. Some believe that Cassidy was one of the men but others say that he returned home to his sister. I like Cassidy because there’s that mystery around him and because I’ve always found outlaws fascinating. Someone who is similar nowadays is Jason Derek Brown, one of FBI’s top 10 wanted, because he is wanted for armed robbery and murder.
Sources: http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butch_Cassidy
Red Cloud is my favorite western character from the "Wild West". He may not be the most well-known character, but he was none-the-less very crucial in the late 1800s. He was the chief of the Lakota from 1868-1909. He was a key figure in aiding the Lakota transitioning into reservation life, and was recognized for his skills in battle and as a leader. He was one of three Lakota who went to Washington D.C. on a peace-keeping mission. He demanded that miners stop trespassing and that General Custer would stay off of sacred burial sites. This failed, and thus Custer trampled on sacred ground. A short time later, he would have his last stand at the Battle of Little-Bighorn. Although he did not take part in the Sioux (Lakota) War, he tried to prevent violence as much as possible. He is my favorite character because, unlike most of the other Western brutes, he tried to avoid violence without simply giving up his culture. I believe that this makes him a great character because he is one of the few who favored peace over pointless death. I think that Red Cloud is similar to Henry Kissinger because he went on diplomatic peace-keeping missions instead of engaging possible enemies on sight.
To me, a notable but often disregarded person of the Wild West is “Chief” Geronimo of the Bedonkohe Apache. He was reportedly given the name Geronimo by Mexican soldiers as a sign of intense bravery and courage. As leader of the Apaches in Sonora, he performed such daring military actions that the Mexican army greatly respected him. He was a skilled raider and it was rumored that he was aided by supernatural beings and was reputed to be invincible to all bullets. Geronimo was the leader of the last American Indian force formally to capitulate to the United States. Because he fought against such daunting odds and held out the longest, he will be forever known as a chief of great mental and physical strength, and embodies the very essence of Apache ideals, aggressiveness, determination, and courage in the face of difficulty. To me, he is similar to President Obama because of the calm mentality and intese bravery through tough circumstances. As a descendent of the Apache people, I have great honor and respect for this man and his abilities to fight for his rights and his people in a time of confusion, pain, and blood for many Native Americans.
http://www.jessiestreasures.com/native_american/Geronimo
Wyatt Earp is my favorite western character. He was an American investor and law enforcement officer who served in several western frontier towns. He is mostly well known for the gun fight at OK corral. That 30 second gun fight defined the rest of his life. Earp's modern-day reputation is that of Old West's toughest and deadliest gunman of his day. He was the mayor of Dodge City KA. Dodge City was a famous city in the west. Earp was a very famous gun slinger of the west. He is portrayed in many western films. He was couragous and an expert in his leadership and marksmenship. He is my favorite western character becuase he is the most infamous leader in the West. I think that he is related to seal team 6. Seal team 6 is the most elite team of special forces in the US military. The similarties of leadership and markmenship connect the two as famous military marksmen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyatt_Earp
Truth is, all my favorite Wild West characters were taken by the time that I started this assignment. So I found a new Wild West character that I had never heard of! Chief American Horse of the Sioux tribe was a chief during the Lakota Wars of the late 1800s. He was elected to be one of the four "Shirt Bearers" (war leader) along with other famous Indian chiefs He-Dog, Crazy Horse, and Young Man Afriad of His Horses. He fought in the famous Battle of Little Bighorn for the Northern Cheyenne, against the 7th cavalry. After the great battle, he tried to help with Native American and US relations by signing a treaty cutting the Sioux land in the Dakota Territory by half. He managed to quell an uprising because of this treaty, and keep his people under control. He was a great leader of his people, making strong decisions and having his people back him. He died peacefully on Pine Ridge Reservation in 1908. He is often confused with another older Chief American Horse who fought and died at the Battle of Little Bighorn.
http://www.snowwowl.com/nativeleaders/americanhorse.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Horse
My favorite Western character is by far William H. Booney aka Billy the Kid. Billy was thrust into fame after the events of the Lincoln County War in New Mexico. He would travel the frontier for a few years with a price on his head gambling, fighting, drinking, and killing men in gunfights outside of saloons. In one story, a man said he would kill "Billy the Kid" not aware that he was right next to him. Billy asked to see his gun and without the man noticing turned the revolver barrel until the one empty barrel was under the hammer (people always kept one barrel empty to avoid accidental discharge). He handed his gun back and told him who he was. The man attempted to fire his gun unsuccessfully and Billy shot him dead. Billy was also famous for escaping jail by killing two guards and breaking his iron chains with a pickax. Legend says that by the time he was finaly killed, he had murdered 21 men. This is my favorite Wild West character beacuse he was smart, cunning, and represented the adventure one could find on the frontier. He can be compared to James Bond even though he is a fictional character because they both killed a lot of people and were very witty and classy.
My favorite Westerner of 1865-1890 is Chief Crazy Horse, but since he's taken I'll tell you about Looking Glass. I have come to seriously respect him because along with Chief Joseph, he led Nez Percé retreat to Montana and Canada in 1877. Initially, he did not want to fight with the United States and agreed to live on a reservation. But, when he was to be arrested for no reason he fled and joined Chief Joseph in fighting for the Nez Percé. He did, unfortunately, lose some prestige at a major loss at the Battle of the Big Hole. Eventually, when they were caught, he refused to surrender and was killed fleeing to Canada to go help Sitting Bull.
Someone who I would compare Looking Glass to would be Ralph Nader because they both don't give up after evident failure. Looking Glass lost to the Americans and Nader lost 5 presidential elections in which he ran. Both of these statements, however, were not complete failures in that they carried on a profound message of perseverance.
My favorite Western character would have to be the little known Apache warrior, Lozen. She was a great fighter and strategist, and also a prophet to the Apache people. She was in a marauding band of warriors that fought Americans that were encroaching on their land. When her people were being chased by American forces, she helped the women and children cross the Rio Grande to safety before going back to fight with the men. She also left the band to help a woman and a newborn baby to cross the desert to the safety of a reservation. After her band of warriors was captured and killed, she joined Geronimo's fighters and fought with them until they surrendered. She is my favorite person from the West because she abandoned the traditional women's role in order to protect her people and proved that women could be just as capable as men. In fact, she was the main strategist for the Apache band. She brought hope to her people, and was a protective force for the Apache women. I believe that she is most like Betty Williams, a Nobel laureate who works for women rights and against the involvement of children in war. Though it may seem a bit odd at first, because Luzen was a warrior and therefore quite violent, both of them were outraged at the treatment of women and children, and both did what they could in their respective times to right the wrongs that they saw in their society.
Daniel Freeman was easily one of my favorite Wild West Characters, mainly because he claimed the west while it was at it's wildest. As a soldier in the civil war and a physician, the man was fairly nomadic about the northern United States. However, when the Homestead Act was passed, he set out into the frontier. What distinguishes him from all the other settlers, you ask? Well, He was the FIRST. Complete unclaimed territory, and he had no prior knowledge like many of his historical counterparts; he truly had astounding courage and skill to live out west.
Source:
http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0500/stories/0501_0201.html
My favorite western individual from 1860 to 1890 is Frank Eaton. As a young boy in rural Kansas, Eaton experienced the violence and in-justices of the frontier first hand when the regulators murdered his father in cold blood. From that point on, Eaton dedicated his life to justice and avenging the horrible death of his father. Given his first pistol at age 8, Eaton drilled and trained becoming an impeccable marksman to the point that he outgunned every member of the 6th Calvary at Fort Gibson and was awarded a marksmanship badge (it was said he could even outgun Buffalo Bill). Consequence to his strong marksman skills (presumably), Eaton was commissioned at age 17 as the Deputy U.S. Marshal in the Southern Kansas to Northern Texas region under the command of Judge Isaac C. Parker, becoming one of the youngest, if not THE youngest Deputy U.S. Marshals ever. At that point, Eaton successfully found the men who murdered his father and killed five out of six of them (the sixth was killed by someone else). Eaton is my personal favorite Western individual because he was dedicated to the law and service starting at a young age and did what was right throughout his entire life while being a faithful servant of the people. I would compare Eaton to Garry McCarthy, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, because both of them are greatly dedicated to law enforcement and to ensuring criminals are punished for the actions.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Eaton
http://www.jcs-group.com/oldwest/saints/eaton.html
http://www.library.okstate.edu/scua/collect/eaton/index.htm
My Favorite person western person during this time period would have to be The Sundance Kid (Henry Longabaugh). He got the nickname Sundance, because he was caught stealing a horse in Sundance, Wyoming. The Sundance kid paired up with Butch Cassidy and the two of them became famous for the longest string of train and bank robberies in American history. I will compare The Sundance kid to Dennis Rodman. He is like Dennis because he made some bad choices, stealing the horse, and Denis made some bad choices with his hair style and overall appearance. But, Dennis helped the Bulls become very successful, just like The Sundance kid helped his gang the Wild Bunch become very successful.
http://listverse.com/2009/04/09/10-gunslinging-outlaws-of-the-american-wild-west/
My favorite character from the West during this time period was the well known man Charles Bowles, often known as Black Bart. He was famous as a highway stagecoach robber, especially due to his politeness while he was stealing money. In all of his 28 robberies, he never shot a bullet, and he was known for occasionally leaving behind hand-written poems. He was shot in the hand during his final robbery, and detectives eventually caught him after he dropped several personal belongings to escape. He was rather famous upon being released from prison, but soon decided to disappear after pledging an end to his crimes. Black Bart was never seen again.
I think he is a very interesting western villain, because of his style and unwillingness to kill anyone. He reminds me of Clint Eastwood, because old Spaghetti Westerns are set around this time. Clint Eastwood, as the man with no name, often plays a criminal in his movies, but is still a classy good guy, just like Black Bart.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Boles
Since almost everyone has been taken, I shall pick the founder of the Pony Express! That's right, William Hepburn Russel (1812–1872)! (But I still find the Pony Express to be interesting, so I haven't lost anything by being last!) Actually, he wasn't the only founder; he co-founded along with Alexander Majors and William B. Waddell. They were also the owners of the PE. Russell lived his greater life on the frontier, but always enjoyed the upper class east cost life. On December 28, 1854, he teamed up with Majors and Waddell to create the Pony Express. Russell acted as the representative of the corporation and lobbied for contracts with the War Department. His partnership later formed the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company on November 19, 1859, and hoped of receiving a mail contract. The Pony Express began on April 3, 1860, but proved to be a complete failure rather quickly; it was losing $1,000 a day and was out of business by October 1861 due to telegraph lines being installed.
Russell soon met his doom. He got involved with a scandal involving Secretary of War John Buchanan Floyd and the clerk for the Department of Interior, Godard Bailey. After requesting and being denied funding for the company from Floyd in 1858, Russell requested aid from Bailey. Through many illegal transactions, the money was obtained from the Indian Trust Fund. However, on December 1, 1860, Bailey confessed to Floyd and was arrested and brought to trial along with Russell. Although the verdict was largely covered up by the start of the American Civil War, Russell and the Company were already on the losing side.
Later in his life when he was deep in debt, he went to Colorado on a gold mining venture, but even this resulted in failure. In April 1865, his assets were sold off to pay off creditors. He then went to a brokerage partnership in New York that also failed. He returned to his family in Missourri and died in 1872.
Long story short, Russell may best be known for a long list of failures. His story intrigued me because it kept getting more comical as it kept getting worse, but it was also sad.
I would connect Russel with Bill Gates, because Gates also didn't start out a success. It was his later work that gave him the successful company called Microsoft. Even though both these men had different endings, they both have shown the strenght to keep moving on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hepburn_Russell
http://www.onlinecollege.org/2010/02/16/50-famously-successful-people-who-failed-at-first/
John Wesley Hardin who lived from 1853-1895 is my favorite western character. He was famous for being a villain and ruthless killer at a young age. For example, when Hardin was only 15, he got into a wrestling match with a former slave, which he won. The next day, the former slave attacked him and in self-defense, Hardin shot him 5 times, killing him. Because much of the police force consisted of ex-slaves, Hardin was forced to hide in order to run from prosecution and arrest. Eventually, the polio found him, but Hardin killed all three men sent to arrest him. Because of his such young age and heartlessness, he became a very famous outlaw. However, the reason I like him is because when he finally was caught and arrested and sent to prison for 17 years, he finished a law degree. When released, he started a law practice and was quite successful. I like how he exemplifies the point that prison and rehab can actually change people. Because of his success story, I relate John Wesley Hardin to Robert Downey Jr. Robert spent 3-5 years in either jail or rehab because of illegal drug use. Because of his determination, he was successful at staying sober for 8 years and counting and has had a booming career with hits such as Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Hardin
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2009/09/04/celebrity-rehab-success-stories/
My favorite Wild West character of the time period was without a doubt John Wesley Hardin. This kid was tough as nails, through and through. He was the son of a Methodist preacher and named after the founder of the Methodist Faith. When he was just 14 years old, he stabbed a kid for taunting him. How b.a. is that? (And totally wrong and immoral). John Wesley Hardin also killed an ex-slave after the guy, named Mage, wouldn't back off after three warning shots, although they were supposedly just playfully wrestling. Thist started John's long run as a fugitive of the law. When the police found where he was, they came after him, but he stayed and fought, killing three policemen. John eventually made it to Aibilene, Kansas, where he befriended Wild Bill Hickok.
Sources
http://listverse.com/2009/04/09/10-gunslinging-outlaws-of-the-american-wild-west/
Parker got it just before I did. Darn. My new favorite person of the Wild West is Sam Bass. Sam started life honestly and ran away from his abusive uncle to a sawmill in Texas. What Bass decided he really wanted to do was to be a Cowboy. After trying being a Cowboy, he realized he did not like the life, and so did not pursue that much longer. Although he and one Joel Collins did drive a herd of longhorns to the north and kept the $8000 profit instead of taking it back to the farmer. This kicked off his life of ner-do-welling. The men then went and started robbing stagecoaches, with limited monetary success. Bass turned towards the Union Pacific and train robbing. Bass and his gang robbed the Union Pacific gold train from San Francisco of $60,000. This sum is the largest robbery ever to be committed against the Union Pacific. He died on his 27th birthday two days after being shot by Texas Rangers. This rugged character, Sam Bass, is most like Rod Blagojevich because he essentially stole large amounts of money dishonestly, as did Bass.
http://listverse.com/2009/04/09/10-gunslinging-outlaws-of-the-american-wild-west/
If I had to choose a favorite character from the Old West,it would have to be Big Nose Kate. She was originally born in Hungary and was one of the many immigrants who came to the United States in search of a better life. Once she got here, she moved to Arizona.Her original name was Mary Katherine Horony Cummings but she became known as Big Nose Kate because of her prominent nose. She is mostly famous for her relationship with Wyatt Earp. The other less than favorable thing that she is famous for is the robbery and murder of a stagecoach driver by the name of Eli 'Bud' Philpot and a passenger of his. After that, her and her accomplice, Doc Holiday fled where they were chased down by a police sheriff. Big Nose Kate is my favorite because she is stereotypically what people think of when they think of cowboys. Her and an accomplice getting caught up in something they should not have and were caught by the sheriff after they ran from the law- this is the basic premise of most cowboy movies. Plus, her and I have the same name so I couldn't resist choosing her as my favorite. A connection between her and someone prominent in our world today would be Michelle Obama because Michelle Obama is married to the leader of the free world but she herself is well-known for her own work. This is similar to Big Nose Kate because although Big Nose Kate was in fact famous in relation to Wyatt Earp, history remembers her for something that she did as well.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Nose_Kate#Gunfight_at_the_O.K._Corral
The legendary Doc Holliday is by far the coolest and classiest gunman of the wild west. Doc earned his degree in dentistry in Georgia, but was soon diagnosed with tuberculosis. Because he was only given a few months to live, he moved out West in hope that the pleasant climate would prolong his life. This is when Doc took up the hobby of gambling, which caused Doc to participate in several duels and gunfights throughout his life. Doc went from having a promising career as a dentist to a feared gunman and outlaw. As Doc continued living out West, he began a life or crime. He looted several stage coaches and broke out of jail several times. He is most famous for his involvement in the legendary O.K. Corrall gunfight. Doc is my favorite figure of the Wild West because he started off as a DOCTOR and ended up a cold blooded CRIMINAL. Not many people can practice dentistry, hang out with friends (Wyatt Earp), and kill some people on the side. Doc is comparable to Tom Hanks when he played Captain John H. Miller in the movie Saving Private Ryan (1998). The two are comparable because both lived almost a split life with two very opposite professions. Doc was a dentist and an outlaw, Miller was a school teacher and a soldier.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Holliday
Kit Carson is my favorite Wild West character. At age 16 he left home to be a frontier man. He explored the Rocky Mountains. What I found most interesting is that he integrated and married into the Arapaho Cheyenne Tribe. Kit Carson is a popular character in many novels and stories of the Wild West because he took part in many American historical events and lead a very adventerous life. Many said that he was an "outstandingly honorable man". With that in mind I will compare him to Oprah Winfrey. Both have gotten a lot of popularity for being key figures in the United States and for being thought of as good people. Oprah, also like Kit Carson finds interest in other cultures, like she did in Africa.
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/carson.htm
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My favorite character out of the "Wild West" has to be Thomas Coleman "Cole" Younger. He is most famous for his activity in the game led by Jesse James. He played a major role in this gang along with his brothers who were also apart of it. After he fought in the civil war for the Confederacy he led a life of crime which consisted of bank and train robberies. His gang also gained much support from Southern Democrats and most of the Confederacy while being hated by the North and the Republicans. So him and his brothers were infamous in the North and famous in the South. He can be compared to Eric Staal, a professional hockey player. Like Cole who was in a gang with three of his other brothers, Eric Staal has three younger brothers who are all in the professional hockey league which makes them have something in common. Although it has nothing to do with their personalities it is a very similar situation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cole_Younger
My favorite wild wild west person is definitely Chief Big Foot. big Foot is known for being the leader of the Miniconjou who were the same Indians killed at the massacre at wounded knee creek. Chief Big Foot is my favorite person really only because i really like his name. Big Foot can easily relate to the myth Big Foot that is very popular today, not only because their names are the same but also because they both were and are running away from people trying to kill them. Current day Big Foot is running away from hunters and people trying to capture him just as Chief Big Foot was running from the white soldiers . Also just as Chief Big Foot was eventually caught i believe that the current day Big Foot's eventual slaying is inevitable.
My favorite famous westerner was Allan Pinkerton, famous for being one of the first people to try and stop criminal activity in the west. He was determined, hardworking, and loyal to his nation, qualities that earn him the spot as my favorite westerner. His exploits in the west are analogous to those of modern day innovator Bill Gates, in that they both created systems that many other establishments emulated (the techniques Bill Gates are used by many software companies today, and Pinkerton created a criminal identification system later used by the FBI).
My favorite westerner would have to be Perry owens. Not only was this man a heroic cop responsible for ridding his town of Andy Cooper, but he was also the first man to start a gun show. His hands were so skilled with pistols that people would come from miles around to watch him shoot off some tricks. He is my favoriter mainly because of the gun shows. I always had this view of a western gun show, but just like the cowboy, I thought it was a warped thing that had been created to fit our western image. I had no idea it actually existed. If I had to compare him to someone today, it would be Chris Angel mind Freak, because his skill with guns and how he managed to perform mind boggling tricks with them was similar to the mind boggling effect that Chris has on an audience.
In addition to my initial claims of Daniel Freeman, I would also like to point out his similarities to a modern hero of uncharted territory; the man named Steve Jobs. He paved the way for the modern Personal Computer after he took the often scoffed-at idea of a pointer controlled computer interface and turned it into a success. Without this man, we would be stuck in the type-up world of MS-DOS. This is similar due to the fact that these two men were pioneers of uncharted territory. One out in the west, the other in the digital universe.
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