GREENVILLE DAILY ADVOCATE
Thursday, November 4, 1926

ANNIE OAKLEY DIES HERE LAST EVENING
WAS CHAMPION LADY SHOT OF UNITED STATES
DIED AT HOME OF MISSES BRODERICK AND ZEMER,
EAST THIRD STREET, THIS CITY

"End Came After Illness of Eight Weeks-
She Was Champion Woman Rifle and Pistol Shot of the World-
Born in Darke County and Gained World-Wide
Fame in her Profession-
Traveled with Buffalo Bill Show for Many Years-
Body to be Cremated at Cincinnati.

Annie Oakley (Mrs. Frank Butler), one of the noted women of America, and a native of Darke county, died at the home of the Misses Broderick and Zemer, 237 East Third street at eleven o'clock Wednesday night, where she had been ill for the last eight weeks. Her death was due to pernicious anemia.

The hand of death thus brought to a close the life of a remarkable woman. She was for long years the champion rifle and pistol shot among the women of the world, and her fame is world wide. For many years she traveled in the various countries of Europe, the Americas and the Orient, and gave exhibitions of her skill with firearms before the crowned heads of all the countries of the world, and she was the largest attraction that many of the leading shows of the world carried for a number of years.

"Annie Oakley" was born in the northeastern part of Darke county, then known as "the wilds", early in the 60's. Her parents were named Mozee and, they came from the hills of Pennsylvania some time during the early 50's. Her father was a hunter and sportsman, while her mother had a natural talent for art, a few of her crude drawings being treasured among her neighbors for many years. But...the parents knew mostly hard work among the brush and swampy land, and they were very poor.

The ability of Annie to handle a gun seems to have come with her birth. At the age of six years she would secretly follow her brother when he went hunting, and when discovered would plead to be permitted to go along.

When about eight years of age she had her first experience with a rifle. Seeing a squirrel at play on a rail fence one day when alone, she got down her father's old nuzzle loader, and resting the gun across the limb, cut the squirrel's throat with a bullet.

After that she was permitted to shoot the rifle occasionally, and when twelve years old, was given a rifle and shotgun of her own, and her skill with these guns was to be a great help to the family in a short time.

During her career, Annie Oakley established many records with a rifle, among her best being the breaking of 945 tossed balls out of a 1000; 96 small clay pigeons out of 100, 50 straight double clays and 49 live birds out of 50. It is also recorded that she broke 4,772 glass balls out of 5,000 in one days shooting. She has shot wild deer in America, wild bear in Germany, and roebuck in Austria.

Annie Oakley was slight in build, a little below the average in height. She had clear, keen, blue-gray eyes, and black flowing hair, that turned white in one night while in a train wreck. She possessed a rare modesty for a person that had followed the life she did, and was unaffected and sincere, and of charming personality.

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR ANNIE OAKLEY

Funeral Services for Annie Oakley will be simple and brief. They will be absolutely private, in accordance with her wish, being attended by her very near relatives, including her brother, John Mozee, who will arrive here from Oklahoma tonight.

This service will be held Friday morning, with the Rev. Wessel officiating. Following this the body will be taken to Cincinnati, where it will be cremated, and later the ashes will be brought to Greenville, and will be buried in the grave prepared for them in the little cemetery at Brock.

Thursday , November 4, 1926

Click HERE to view a few rare photos of the Wild West Show