"Wild Bill" Hickman

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William Adams Hickman, also known as "Wild Bill" Hickman (April 16, 1815 - August 21, 1883), was a frontiersman. He also served as a representative to the Utah Territorial Legislature.

Hickman was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839 by John D. Lee. He later served as a personal bodyguard for Joseph Smith, Jr. and Brigham Young. Hickman was reputedly a member of the Danites.

In 1854 Hickman was elected to the Utah Territorial Legislature. He was an important figure in the Utah War. He torched Fort Bridger and numerous supply trains of the Federal Army.

Hickman was excommunicated from the Mormon Church in 1868. Shortly thereafter, 8 of his 9 wives left him. Feeling slighted, he wrote an autobiography, Brigham's Destroying Angel, an exaggerated account of his misdeeds, which he claimed were mostly performed under orders from Brigham Young.

He died in Wyoming in 1883.

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