Agnes Lake Hickok; queen of the circus, wife of a legend.

9780806139838

Agnes Lake Hickok; queen of the circus, wife of a legend.

Fisher, Linda A. and Carrie Bowers.

U. of Oklahoma Press

2009

385 pages

$29.95

Hardcover

CT275

Defying and disappointing her Midwestern business family's expectations, Agnes Mersmen (1826-1907) married traveling entertainer Bill Lake, became a circus performer herself, and eventually owned and operated the circus, traveling to every state and even some of the territories out west for over 30 years. Then she married the legendary Wild Bill Hickok, bringing her even more public attention, though he was killed only five months later. Fisher (1947-2006) was a public health physician and researcher, who happened across Agnes' brother's diaries, and decided that the sister he admired so much was indeed worth knowing more and writing about. Historian Bowers was her research assistant, and completed the project.

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