Phoebe Anne Mosey “Annie Oakley”

1860 – 1926

Phoebe Anne Mosey was born August 13, 1860 in Darke County, Ohio. Mosey learned to shoot at the age of eight. In the fall of 1875,
she was invited to take part in a shooting contest in Cincinnati against Frank Butler, a professional vaudeville stage shooter. When she won, Butler convinced her to travel with him across the country, demonstrating her skills. In June of 1876, they were married and travelled across the country together. In 1886, the couple joined “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s Wild West Show; where she became known to the public as “Miss Annie Oakley”. The Broadway musical, Annie Get Your Gun, was based on her life. She taught more than 15,000 women how to use a gun, believing it to be essential for women to learn to defend themselves. In December 1924, Annie and Frank moved to Dayton, Ohio. In 1925, Annie set a record at the Vandalia, Ohio Trapshoot, hitting 97 out of 100. She was visited by famed
cowboy and humorist Will Rogers who wrote glowing tributes to her in his Sunday newspaper column. The Annie Oakley Center at the Garst Museum in Greenville, Ohio, features exhibits dedicated to her personal and professional life.