William M. Pickett (1870 - 1932)

Born 5 Dec 1870 in Williamson, Texas, United States

Husband of Margarita (Williams) Pickett — married 2 Dec 1890 in Taylor, Williamson, Texas, United States

Died 2 Apr 1932 at age 61 in Ponca City, Kay, Oklahoma, United States

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Biography

Willie Pickett is Notable.

William M. Pickett, also known as Willie or Bill, was born in the community of Jenks-Branch, Texas on December 5,1870.^[1] . His father, Thomas Jefferson Pickett, was of African-American heritage and born in slavery.^[2] His mother, Mary Virginia Gilbert Pickett, also known as Janie, was African-American as well, according to her death certificate. William's heritage was African-American and Native American Cherokee.^[3]Upon William's death, The Cherokee Strip Cowboy Association honored him with the limestone monument at the location of his grave.

On December 2, 1890 in Taylor, Williamson County, Texas, William Pickett married Margarete 'Maggie' Williams. The couple had nine children during their marriage:^[4][5]

1. Sherman b. 1891
2. Nancy 'Nannie' Pickett Woodson b. 1892
3. Elizabeth 'Bessie' B. Pickett Phillips, b. January 10,1895, d. January 15, 1978, in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.^[6]
4. Leona S. b. 1898, married William M. Buckner July 8, 1912, at the age of nineteen years.^[7] Leona died on April 20, 1948, in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.^[8]
5. Willie E. 'Boss' b. 1899
6. Kleora Virginia Pickett Jones, b. August 11,1903, in Taylor, Williamson, Texas.^[9][10]
7. Almarie Pickett, b. February 25, 1904, in Taylor, Williamson, Texas.^[11]
8. Alberta Beatrice Pickett King, b. October 23, 1906, in Taylor, Williamson, Texas.^[12] She died on March 23, 1979, in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, at the age of 72 years.^[13]

Census Data

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFJX-FFN : 15 July 2017), Wm Pickett in household of Thos Pickett, Polling Place 1, Travis, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 121, sheet 2D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,329.
• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNB1-PVC : accessed 26 February 2020), Will Pickett, Oklahoma City Ward 2, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, United States; citing ED 139, sheet 40A, line 22, family 983, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1474; FHL microfilm 1,821,474.

The Cowboy

Willie, or Bill, appeared in two Hollywood films, 'The Crimson Skull' and 'The Bull Dogger'.^[3]

Cowboy Pickett was the original 'Bull-Dogger'.

He also invented 'Steer Wrestling'.

The Steer Wrestler

“He’d jump off his horse, grab the steer by its horns, dig his heels into the ground so the animal would be at a standstill, twist its head and bite its upper lip,” according to Cecil Johnson, who wrote the book “Guts: Legendary Black Rodeo Cowboy Bill Pickett.”^[14]

101 Wild West Shows

Bill Pickett spent most of his adult life with entertaining fans at the many Miller Brothers 101 Wild West Rodeos. Founded by Confederate veteran Colonel George Washington Miller, the 101 Ranch Wild West shows featured legends like Bill Pickett and Tom Mix among others. Their Wild West Show even went abroad to England and Germany.^[15]

Pickett passed away on April 2, 1932 at the age of 61. He got kicked in the head while "roping a stallion" and was in a coma for several days. ^[16]

Bronco Ride

William M. Pickett was laid to rest about a mile north of Marland, Oklahoma in Kay County on State Hiway 156 at a place called White Eagle Monument. His tombstone is the only one there, however, it is believed that some of his associates from his time with the 101 Ranch rodeos are buried there as well.^[17]

Virginia Pickett died on October 2, 1852.

Research Notes

• There are two birth records for William Pickett's daughter Alberta Pickett. One has the date of 1906, and the other has the date of 1905.

1. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LJJ-4LW2 : 12 March 2020), Willie Pickett in entry for Alberta Pickett, 1906.
2. "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6PS-C4V : 13 February 2020), Albirder Pickett, 1905.

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 February 2021), memorial page for Bill Pickett (5 Dec 1870–2 Apr 1932), Find A Grave: Memorial #811, citing White Eagle Monument, Marland, Noble County, Oklahoma, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave
2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Bill Pickett," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Pickett&oldid=1073621177 (accessed March 1, 2022).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} The first world famous black cowboy; by Farida Dawkins on Face2Face https://face2faceafrica.com/article/bill-dusky-demon-pickett-first-world-famous-black-cowboy Bill 'Dusky Demon' Pickett:
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M35T-VQ5 : accessed 26 February 2020), William Picket, Taylor city Ward 1-3, Williamson, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 135, sheet 9A, family 152, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,679.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLQZ-Q95 : accessed 26 February 2020), William Pickett, Ponca Ward 4, Kay, Oklahoma, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 57, sheet 10A, family 188, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1256; FHL microfilm 1,375,269.
6. ↑ "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MJ-SZ3H : 18 March 2018), Bill Pcikett in entry for Bessie B Phillips, 15 Jan 1978; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm.
7. ↑ "Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995." Database with images. FamilySearch. "Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VR3L-846 : 28 November 2020), Will Pickett in entry for William M Buckner and Leona Pickett, 08 Jul 1912; citing Oklahoma, various county courthouses, Oklahoma; FHL microfilm.
8. ↑ "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MZ-V8R7 : 18 March 2018), William Puckett in entry for Leona Buckner, 20 Apr 1948; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm.
9. ↑ "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LZJ-K8PZ : 14 February 2020), Willie Pickett in entry for Kleora Pickett, accessed 3 Feb 2021.
10. ↑ Source Citation Iowa Department of Public Health; Des Moines, Iowa; Series Title: Iowa Marriage Records, 1923–1937; Record Type: Marriage; Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Ancestry Sharing Link
11. ↑ "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F65W-C21 : 13 February 2020), Will Pickett in entry for MM9.1.1/F65W-C2B:, 1904.
12. ↑ "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LJJ-4LW2 : 12 March 2020), Willie Pickett in entry for Alberta Pickett, 1906.
13. ↑ "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MJ-8852 : 18 March 2018), Bill Pickett in entry for Alberta King, 23 Mar 1979; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm.
14. ↑ Lassoing a Legend: Cowboy Bill Pickett’s Story : History: Black rodeo star taught the trade to Tom Mix and Will Rogers, but Hollywood ignored him, probably because of his race. And when the Postal Service issued a stamp in his honor, it used a painting of his brother Ben; by Stephanie Griest; 9 Jul 1995; Washington Post; accessed 3 Feb 2021. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-09-mn-21866-story.html
15. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Miller Brothers 101 Ranch," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miller_Brothers_101_Ranch&oldid=1015005923 (accessed March 1, 2022).
16. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 February 2021), memorial page for Bill Pickett (5 Dec 1870–2 Apr 1932), Find A Grave: Memorial #811, citing White Eagle Monument, Marland, Noble County, Oklahoma, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave.
17. ↑ Pioneer Genealogical Society - Ponca City, Oklahoma; CEMETERIES, Kay County, Oklahoma; WHITE EAGLE MONUMENT http://www.kaycounty.info/pgs/Cemetery/WEgleCemt.htm

See also:

• Texas, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965
• Los Angeles Times; Article by Stephanie Griest, 1995; Washington Post