Lulu Bell Parr (November 14, 1876 – January 17, 1955), was a Wild West performer known for her

sharpshooting A sharpshooter is one who is highly proficient at firing firearms or other projectile weapons accurately. Military units composed of sharpshooters were important factors in 19th-century combat. Along with "marksman" and "expert", "sharpshooter" i ...

trick riding Trick riding refers to the act of performing stunts while horseback riding, such as the rider standing upright on the back of a galloping horse, using a specially designed saddle with a reinforced steel horn, and specialized kossak loops for h ...

bronc riding Bronc riding, either bareback bronc or saddle bronc competition, is a rodeo event that involves a rodeo participant riding a bucking horse (sometimes called a ''bronc'' or ''bronco'') that attempts to throw or buck off the rider. Originally ba ...

, and buffalo riding. During her career she was titled the "Champion Lady Bucking Horse Rider of the World." In 2005, she was inducted into the

Cowgirl Hall of Fame The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is located in Fort Worth, Texas, US. Established in 1975, it is dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneering fortitude. The museum is an educ ...

Background

Lulu Bell Parr was born in November, 14, 1876, in

Fort Wayne, Indiana Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...

. She was fostered to her Uncle at the age of three when her parents died suddenly. The only immediate family left was a seven year old brother who she lived with at their Uncle and Aunt's farm in

. On March 31, 1896 Parr married in

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, to a George Barrett. They divorced in 1902, and she relocated alone to

Steubenville, Ohio Steubenville is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, Ohio, United States. Located along the Ohio River 33 miles west of Pittsburgh, it had a population of 18,161 at the 2020 census. The city's name is derived from Fort Steuben, a 1 ...

Wild West shows

In 1903 she traveled to

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having joined the Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Brighton Tour. There, she met several royals including England’s King Edward. By 1911 Parr joined Pawnee Bill's Wild West program that was associated with

Buffalo Bill William Frederick Cody (February 26, 1846January 10, 1917), known as "Buffalo Bill", was an American soldier, Bison hunting, bison hunter, and showman. He was born in Le Claire, Iowa, Le Claire, Iowa Territory (now the U.S. state of Iowa), but ...

’s. Cody was charmed by her performance of daring: “Bronco busting isn’t a game for the timid and weak,” he said to a newspaper about Parr in January 1912. "Death lurks close every time a rider mounts up." Cody awarded Parr with a

Colt Colt(s) or COLT may refer to: *Colt (horse), an intact (uncastrated) male horse under four years of age People * Colt (given name) *Colt (surname) Places *Colt, Arkansas, United States *Colt, Louisiana, an unincorporated community, United States ...

single-action revolver made with an ivory handle that was engraved "Buffalo Bill Cody to Lulu Parr – 1911." Parr left Buffalo Bill's Wild West show in 1913 and began working for the 101 Ranch Wild West program that traveled to

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President Jose Figueroa Alcorta was in attendance and showered her with flowers and gifts.

Retirement

In 1916, Parr was back in Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Show and was given top-bill. Unfortunately the times were slowing for the Wild West shows and subsequently she toured one Wild West show after another with very little financial reward. By 1929, she was penniless and decided to leave the business behind. She spent her last days in

Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater Day ...

, with her brother who was taking care of his invalid wife in a dire home. She found some pleasure in entertaining neighboring children of her daring feats.

Death

Parr died on January 17, 1955, in

Medway, Ohio Medway is an unincorporated community in Bethel Township, Clark County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Near are the adjoining communities of Crystal Lakes and Park Layne. The populati ...

. After her death the newspapers wrote about her packed bedroom of souvenirs and the many flamboyant costumes she handmade, photos, and the Colt revolver Buffalo Bill had given her.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parr, Lulu Bell 1876 births 1955 deaths American female equestrians Saddle bronc riders Sharpshooters Trick riding Wild West show performers Women stunt performers Cowgirl Hall of Fame inductees People from Fort Wayne, Indiana