Moccasin Bill Perkins facts for kids
William Henry Perkins (born December 24, 1825 – died November 13, 1904) was a brave frontiersman, scout, and hunter. Most people knew him as "Moccasin Bill" Perkins. He was born in Indiana and learned to trap and hunt when he was just a child. He loved the wild outdoors. As he grew up, he kept moving west. He lived in Missouri, Kansas, and then different parts of Colorado. During the American Civil War, he worked as a scout for the government. He was even hurt by Native American arrows. Moccasin Bill was especially famous for being a great bear hunter. He was also a friend of the well-known Buffalo Bill.
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Early Adventures
William Henry Perkins was born on December 24, 1825, near Princeton, Indiana. He started trapping animals in the nearby forests when he was very young. He even made his own traps! People in Indiana called him the "boy trapper."
When he was seven, he was allowed to carry a gun. This was to protect himself from wild animals. One day, he caught a turkey and was walking near the Wabash and White Rivers. A large panther started following him. He threw the turkey down, and the panther quickly ate it. Perkins quickly got into his boat and rowed away. The panther even swam after him! He traveled ten miles home, and the panther eventually gave up. The next morning, he and another trapper found the panther. Perkins killed it with one shot. This panther was known as the "Terror of the Wabash."
As William grew up, more settlers moved into the forests. When he was nineteen, he left Indiana for western Missouri. This area was still very wild.
Family Life
Perkins married Mary Ann Hart in Missouri around 1858. She was about 19 years old. They lived in Bourbon County, Kansas with their first four daughters in 1875. Later, in 1880, Perkins was a rancher living in Texas Creek and Ula, Colorado. By 1885, he was living in Costilla, Colorado.
William and Mary Ann had many children. Their daughters included Elenora, Rosa, Mary, Martha, and Maggie. They also had sons, including twins named Willie and Almeda. In total, they had six daughters and four sons. William was also known for playing the fiddle at local dances in Colorado.
Frontiersman and Miner
Perkins was a very tall and strong man, standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds. After leaving Indiana, he settled in western Missouri. He built a cabin and started a family. He hunted deer, trapped animals, and also farmed the land.
Later, he moved to Fort Scott in western Kansas. There, he built a house for his family and continued farming. Around 1860, he began working as a government scout. He traveled west into what is now Fremont County, Colorado. His job was to watch the movements of Native American groups. He was one of the first Anglo-Americans to live in that area. During the American Civil War, he continued to be a government scout from Fort Scott. He was hurt many times by arrows during fights with Plains Native Americans. He used to say he was so big that he was an easy target!
In 1865, he started mining near Cripple Creek, close to Pikes Peak. He dug many test holes looking for valuable minerals. In 1868, he went to Rosita, Colorado to mine and hunt. One time, he and his friends were mining high in the mountains. They ran out of food. His friends left to get supplies but never came back. Perkins ran out of food and had to travel through a bad snowstorm to reach Rosita. He was wearing thin moccasins, which froze to his feet. He couldn't take them off without hurting his frostbitten feet. So, he put larger moccasins over them and waited for his feet to heal. This is how he earned his famous nickname, "Moccasin Bill."
His family later joined him in Rosita, and then they moved to Leadville, Colorado. He was one of the first people to arrive at this mining camp. He even built the second house in Leadville! In 1880, Perkins lived on his ranch near Silver Cliff, in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. He was also said to have lived in the Hardscrabble area.
A Great Bear Hunter
Moccasin Bill Perkins lived on the western slope of Colorado. He was known for hunting large animals, especially bears. He often went on hunting trips by himself. Sometimes, his daughter Ella and his burro would join him. He was incredibly skilled and killed 149 or more bears during his life!
The Big Muddy Cattle Company even hired him to kill bears and mountain lions. These animals were a threat to their livestock. Over five years, he killed 40 bears for the company. In 1902, he killed a huge bear near Montrose that weighed over 1,100 pounds! The bear's hide was later shown in St. Louis as part of a Colorado exhibit.
Perkins was also famous for his amazing shooting skills. He proved this at shooting contests held at the Delta, Mesa, and Montrose County Fairs. Throughout his life, he hunted, fished, and trapped with his friend, Buffalo Bill.
Later Years and Passing
In his later years, William Henry Perkins lived near Crawford, Colorado. He passed away on November 13, 1904, at his ranch. His funeral was held at Fort Crawford. He was buried at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Crawford.
