Thomas Gallagher

In the aftermath of the Civil War, Americans desperately needed a distraction from their post-war society’s lingering pain. They turned to Western dime novels, which were gaining popularity, allowing them an escape from their struggles to the American West and an exploration of the frontier.

One of the most popular stories was written by Ned Buntline in 1869. It recounted the adventures of William Frederick Cody, a U.S. Army scout, fifty-niner, pony express rider, and any other title that would get him a free drink, known by his nickname, Buffalo Bill.

Bill would eventually capitalize on the fame Buntline’s subsequent, embellished novels brought him, and a play adapting one of those stories inspired the iconic circus-like stage performance Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. The show featured feats of skill, races, and sideshows, but arguably, the most memorable attraction was that of famed sharpshooter Annie Oakley and her husband, Frank Butler. 

Unlike Bill’s stories, their story is as real as it gets.

In fact, their first date deserves a place in the annals of the most badass romantic stories. 

Annie was a trapper before she turned seven and a hunter by eight, taking to the gun like an old friend. After her father’s death, she supported her mother and siblings with her shooting skills, which she developed out of necessity. By selling game to restaurants and hotels, talk of her skills traveled, and she eventually developed a local reputation for herself. 

Some odd years later, in walks, traveling show marksman Frank E. Butler to a Cincinnati hotel. In an attempt to sell tickets and hustle for some cash, Frank announced that he would challenge any local sharpshooter in a bird hunting competition. Frank threw $100 (the equivalent of $2,300 in today’s currency) on the table and waited for takers. Jack Frost, the hotel owner, accepted his challenge with a smile; he had an exceptionally skilled young lady in mind who would often sell him rabbits.

On Thanksgiving Day in 1875, the match was arranged, and the pair took turns shooting, with one miss resulting in a loss. Spectators watched on as birds rained down from the sky. Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen… The piles of dead birds and shell casings grew at the same rate. After a few more shots, Annie pulled the trigger once again. Twenty-five. Another perfect shot. Frank Butler couldn’t believe his eyes. The crowd hushed as he loaded one in the chamber. He followed the bird as he had done the last twenty-four times, pulled the trigger, and missed his twenty-fifth shot.

Although Frank lost the bet to a woman, devastating his show’s publicity, he was enamored with the girl who beat him. Her talent and beauty led him to begin courting her, and the pair wed only a year later. 

Soon, the couple would begin performing together after Annie stood in for Frank’s sick partner. A few successful years passed, and in 1885 they joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. In getting to know her before inviting her to the show, Buffalo Bill tested Annie’s skills in a similar fashion to her competition against Frank. In its aftermath, he remarked, “Shooting at single pigeons she has twice killed 49 out of 50; at clay pigeons her best record is 96 out of 100, and at double clay pigeons she broke 50 straight away, a feat which has never been eclipsed.”

Frank’s steadfast trust in Annie’s abilities was birthed in their competition. It grew over the years and eventually led them to perform incredible feats as part of their act, with Annie regularly shooting a cigarette out of Frank’s mouth. Somehow, this still wasn’t enough to make him quit. The pair even performed it before Queen Victoria, among many other world leaders.

Once Annie became the show’s main draw, Frank took a backseat from the act to become her manager and support her success by managing her finances. After Annie’s run, they comfortably retired and passed away only 18 days apart.

It’s a shame the pair never had any children because they would have told one hell of a “how we met” story.