Bill Markley
Bill Markley, a member of Western Writers of America, has written ten books including Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody: Plainsmen of the Legendary West, which won a 2023 Gold Will Rogers Medallion Award in Biography. He lives in Pierre, South Dakota.
Latest from Bill Markley
The American West: Bear Butte, The Cheyenne And Lakota Sacred Place
The Cheyenne who have lived in the Northern Plains for hundreds of years, call Bear Butte, Noahvose, or Where the Cheyenne Are Taught. The Lakota call the mountain Mato Paha meaning Bear Butte. The mountain is a sentinel guarding the approaches to the Black Hills.
Bill MarkleyJanuary 04, 2025
The American West: The United States’ First Christmas Present
If the Americans had not crossed the Delaware and if Trenton had not fallen to those rebels, the United States may not have come into existence. The man who saved the day was George Washington – truly the Father of Our Country.
Bill MarkleyDecember 21, 2024
The American West: Kenneth McKenzie, King Of The Upper Missouri
Kenneth McKenzie ruled an economic empire in the Upper Missouri River Basin during the mid-nineteenth century that was larger than most European countries. His base of operations was Fort Union on the Upper Missouri River.
Bill MarkleyDecember 13, 2024
The American West: Custer’s 1874 Black Hills Expedition
Custer’s expedition had sparked a gold rush and news was spreading nationwide. “GOLD!” proclaimed the Bismarck Tribune. The newspaper predicted the Black Hills would “become the El Dorado of America.”
Bill MarkleyNovember 30, 2024
The American West: Calamity Jane – Wild Woman of the West
Calamity Jane drank hard and could tell a good tale with the best of them. People who knew her well said she had a heart of gold. When Deadwood was struck with a smallpox outbreak, Calamity said she was immune and took care of the sick.
Bill MarkleyNovember 14, 2024
The American West: The 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty
After several years of sporadic warfare with the Lakota and other tribes, the federal government desired to make peace and sent messengers to inform the tribes of a peace council to be held at Fort Laramie in June 1866.
Bill MarkleyOctober 18, 2024
The American West: Debunking Three Deadwood Wild Bill Hickok Legends
Warning: You may not want to read any further if you don’t like the idea of a legend being debunked. Many legends swirl around Wild Bill Hickok. Three of these are associated with his stay in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, in 1876.
Bill MarkleySeptember 07, 2024
The American West: The Pony Express And Buffalo Bill Cody
Some people are skeptical of Buffalo Bill Cody’s claims of being a Pony Express rider as he was only 14 at the time. However, he likely did ride for the Pony Express, but expanded and embellished what really happened.
Bill MarkleySeptember 01, 2024