Both lucky and extremely talented, Annie Oakley used her astonishing marksmanship to escape a poor childhood in Ohio and become the first female superstar in what had been a male-dominated profession.

As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we’re taking time to highlight figures throughout our history that epitomize the American spirit.

Born Phoebe Ann Moses in Darke County, Ohio, on August 13, 1860, Annie Oakley was not exactly a product of the Wild West. Bettmann / Corbis “Famous Woman Crack Shot. . . Steals to Secure Cocaine.” It ...