@jamesjordan-39885

My favorite historical character is Buckskin Joe (E.J. Hoyt). He was part of the real old west, not what is presented in movies or TV.

I perform his character and enjoy historical performances. His life shows just how complex history really is. He was a good guy most of the time, but had no qualms about being the bad guy when necessary.

He fought in the Civil War to get some land and u.s. citizenship.

He came to Kansas after the war and helped start a town.

He was part businessman, part conman, and like most people of that era, he did what he had to do. He also became very wealthy by going to Colorado and selling claims to gold mines - that is where the conman was operating.

He was also a musician, could play 17 instruments and taught music. He was a circus performer, and won a lot of money walking a tightrope across main street in various towns.

There are photos of this feat.

He failed as a farmer and as a store owner.

He also failed at starting a business where people could relax in a steam room, which he thoght was healthy but no one beleived him.

He shrugged off businesses that failed and tried something new.

Gold mines and musical performances was where he made most of his money. He did have a knack for finding gold, and used divining rods and other mystical means for doing so.

in 1900 he retired a wealthy man and moved to california. People thought he was a little crazy because of his obsession wiht phsical fitness, belief in exercise, steam rooms and such, but he lived well into his 90s.

Second question.

No we should not judge history by today's standards. That is popular in our culture and I think it is a mistake.

It should be the other way around. We can better understand ourselves today by looking at history honestly.

History is complex, and as it is said, the winners of war get to write history.

I think undertanding history is important. Our current culture wants to make everythign black and white .. good or bad, with no room for nuance. I thought we learned in junior high that the world is not that simple.

Historical people lived in a different world.

We need to try to understand that world, and not read our own world into that.