In the fall of 1874, Bill met Mrs. Lake, the widow of William Lake,
proprietor of Lake’s circus, who was killed by Jack Keenan at Granby,
Missouri, in 1873. The meeting was purely accidental, but the
consequences were matrimonial. A courtship followed, and in the early
part of 1875 the two were married by a justice of the peace in Kansas
City. Within a few months after the marriage Bill became afflicted
with sore eyes, from which he suffered intensely, and for the period
of nine months was unable to distinguish daylight from darkness.
Dr. Thorne, previously noticed as one of Bill’s confidants, was his
physician, and succeeded in restoring his sight, but his eyes never
regained their former strength, and the vision remained impaired. In
the winter of 1875-76, a separation occurred between Bill and his wife,
the causes of which we deem it improper to relate in this epitome of
his life. Suffice it to say that those best qualified to decide, claim
that no blame attaches to Bill for the termination of his marital
relation. No divorce, we believe, was ever applied for by either party,
but they never met after the spring of 1876. The writer has tried for
two years to learn the address and whereabouts of Mrs. Hickok, _nee_
Mrs. Lake, but his efforts have been without avail. The last heard of
her she was living in Cincinnati.