In March 1884 she met the legendary Indian Chief, Sitting Bull. Sitting Bull grew fond or Annie and gave her the nickname “Little Sure Shot” due to her marksmanship skills.

Annie Oakley is remembered for her astonishing sharpshooting with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show (BBWWS). She was born on 8/13/1860 in Darke County, Ohio.  Her given name was Phoebe Ann Moses. When she was 15 yrs old, she beat Frank E. Butler in a shooting competition.  They later married on August 23, 1876.  As she became more popular, she changed her last name to Oakley and went by her middle name, Annie Oakley. 

Annie was so sure of the skill level her ladies possessed that in 1898 Annie wrote President McKinley to offer “to place a company of fifty lady sharpshooters at your disposal. Every one of them will be an American and as they will furnish their own arms and ammunition will be little, if any expense to the government”.  The US Government dismissed her offer.

When Annie preformed, she dressed respectfully.  She did not get all dolled up in ruffles that would take the attention away from her skills. She was feminine and charming, but it was her remarkable skill that made her a role model for the females. Annie was able to amaze her audiences’ by shooting the flames off candles, hitting hand held dimes and shooting the center out of the hearts of playing cards that her husband held, plus many other stunts.

Annie did not have an easy childhood.  Her father died when she was only 6.  Her mother remarried, however her second husband died shortly afterwards. At the age of 8 yrs old, it was necessary for Annie to take up hunting. She sold the game to local restaurants get money to help support for her family.

In 1915 Annie and her husband, Frank Butler, joined the staff of the elite Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst, NC.  During the summer they would head north and teach at the Wentworth Hotel in Wentworth NH.  During the 1916 – 1917 season, Annie taught 3500 ladies to shoot.   The most amazing thing about Annie was that she did not except compensation from the well-to-do guest.  When asked why, she replied “I have been teaching women to shoot for many years at Wentworth in summer and Pinehurst in winter, without compensation because I had an ideal for my sex. I have wanted them to be capable of protecting their homes.” Annie passed away on November 3, 1926.