The Story of Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane (Martha Jane Canary)
Calamity Jane was born Martha Jane Canary on May 1, 1852, in Princeton, Missouri. She was the eldest of six children born to Robert and Charlotte Canary. Her father died when she was nine years old, and her mother remarried three more times before leaving the family behind at 15.
At a young age, Calamity had to fend for herself and found work as a horse-riding horse wrangler in Salina, Kansas. This experience would eventually lead her to become one of the most legendary figures in early American West folklore. In 1875 she met Wild Bill Hickok while on her way to Deadwood, South Dakota, and followed him Westward until his death in 1876.
After the death of Wild Bill, Calamity decided to stay in South Dakota and become a scout for General Crook. As a scout, she fought against Native American tribes like the Lakota and Cheyenne. Despite being a woman in a traditionally male profession, her peers highly respected her, and she earned a reputation as an excellent marksman with her rifle.
Calamity Jane also had several other professions throughout her life. She worked as a stagecoach driver, nurse for the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War, cattle drover, and even found work as an entertainer in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show.
Calamity Jane was known for her fearlessness, confidence, and wildness throughout all of these different occupations. She always seemed to find trouble no matter where she went and even had several run-ins with the law for various offenses. Despite this, Calamity Jane was remembered fondly by many in the West due to her larger-than-life personality and willingness to help those less fortunate.
Calamity Jane died on August 1st, 1903, at the age of 51, from pneumonia and complications related to alcoholism. Today she is remembered as one of the most iconic figures of early American West history and continues to be venerated throughout popular culture. Her life story serves as a reminder that anyone can make something out of their life, no matter the difficult circumstances.
The true story of Calamity Jane will always remain a mystery, and her life continues to captivate people around the globe. She may have lived a wild and reckless life, but ultimately she was an American hero that should be remembered for generations.
