Annie Oakley Biography

Annie Oakley was born in 1860 in Darke County, Ohio. Her real name was Phoebe Ann Mosey. When she was six years old, her father died of pneumonia. After her dad died her family became very poor and she did not attend school. When she was nine years old, Annie went to live with another family on a farm where she there learned to shoot so well.

One of Annie Oakley’s accomplishments was being a professional sharpshooter. Oakley learned to become a professional sharpshooter when she got her first gun in 1868. Once she got her first gun she became very good at shooting. She got so good at shooting that she was offered by a local hotel owner to have a contest between Frank Butler and Annie Oakley. Once she said yes to this contest they made arraignments to have the contest on Thanksgiving Day.

Frank Butler was surprised to learn his opponent was a five-foot-tall, 15-year-old girl who beat him after he missed on his 25th shot. Another accomplishment that Oakley had was that she won the Buffalo Bill of the Wild West award. That award was an award that mostly men got but Oakley was the first girl to win this award. She got this award because she could shoot an apple off the top of a dogs head and not hit the dog. Also she got this award because when she went up against in a contest with Frank Butler she was the first girl to go into a competition with him and to win the competition.

Oakley inspires me because the Buffalo Bill of the Wild West award is always something that I have wanted to earn. Also I have always wanted to meet and shoot against a professional sharpshooter and win a round against a professional sharpshooter. Also Oakley’s famous quote is “Aim at a high mark and you'll hit it. No, not the first time, nor the second time. Maybe not the third. But keep on aiming and keep on shooting for only practice will make you perfect.” Annie Oakley and Frank Butler married 3 years after the competition and went on together and both tried for the Buffalo Bill of the Wild West award, but only Annie Oakley won the award because Butler missed his 24th and 25th shot which led to Annie Oakley to win the award.