storey of theAmerican Westhave been romanticise throughout chronicle . You only have to look to the big covert to see how the Western became a define American artform , with larger - than - life actors , like John Wayne in " The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance , " Clint Eastwood in " The Good , The Bad and The Ugly " and even Hailee Steinfeld in " reliable Grit . "
But these were just actors starring in moving-picture show roles . In the realwild W , there were characters so coolheaded ( or dusty , depending on how you calculate at it ) , their stories read like they were write for film . Except they were n’t . These savage west women , malefactor and cowboy were n’t fictional — they were 100 percent actual . Here are some of their good characters from the American Mae West .
The Outlaws
The wild west might not have been so wild if it was n’t for the gritty outlaws that ruled the townspeople . We ’re babble out about gunslingers whose names you probably know : Jesse James , Wyatt EarpandDoc Holliday .
But they ’re not the only bad Guy who made name for themselves . There also wasJohnny Ringo . He was an infamous outlaw Bos taurus rancher whose life take a fateful twist when he crossed paths with O.K. Corral veterans Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp in Tombstone , Arizona . His story is memorialize in the film " Tombstone , " where he take on his demise by a gun - wielding Holliday , though some western historians think Ringo likely committed suicide instead . Check outmore wild west outlawshere .
The Ladies of the West
Of of course , not all the shady persona of the wild western United States were military personnel . There were plenty of women who were as audacious as their male counterparts . TakeCalamity Jane , for instance . She was known to be one of the most adventurous and foul - mouthed women on horseback . She ran with Wild Bill Hickock and was a sharpshooter , like another famous female , Annie Oakley .
Then there were the Petticoat Rulers . In 1920 , just after the 19th Amendment , these five women were voted to power in Jackson , Wyoming , and reestablished order to the western town . This was an historical win , not just because they were women , but also because they dominate their virile opponents by a gross profit margin of 2 - to-1 . Readmore about the Petticoat Rulershere .
The Illustrious Cowboy
Finally , there ’s just no way to talk about the wild Rebecca West without tell thestory of the cowboy . Who was he ? How did become so engrained in the story of the American Cicily Isabel Fairfield ?
For one thing , there were tons of real cowman in story — and many of them were smuggled . There was Isom Dart , a former enslaved man who turned cavalry - thieving malefactor ; and Bill Pickett who is credited with creating the popular rodeo event of tip wrestling .
And then there’sBass Reeves . Reeves was the first pitch-dark gentleman to become a U.S. lieutenant marshal west of the Mississippi . He also was the inspiration for the Lone Ranger . Yes . ThatLone Ranger . Find out more about theAmerican cattleman , includingBlack cowboys , at these golf links .
