Darke County, Ohio, 1866. The Moses family maintains their farm with Quaker pride and strength. More than anything in the world, young Phoebe Ann Moses longs to hunt and trap, but is denied because of her parent’s strict rules against violence.

When Jacob—her beloved father—dies, her mother tries her best to carry on and manage the farm, six girls, and one boy—but she becomes poverty-stricken and can’t bear such burdens on her own, especially when Phoebe's oldest sister passes away.

Phoebe’s life is sent into a tailspin as she and her sister, Sara, are sent to the Infirmary to live, work, and study. Once again deprived of her beloved “hunts” in the woods, Phoebe must survive the taunts and bullying of the other children at the Infirmary and life away from her family. Phoebe leaps at the chance to reside with the Wolf family in the woods and help them take care of their infant, where she is promised she will have the opportunity to hunt and trap.

This turns out to be a tragic decision. The "Wolves" are physically, emotionally, and sexually abusive to the young girl. After two years of imprisonment, Phoebe steals a rifle and makes a harrowing escape—only to find that Mr. Wolf has tracked her down to the Infirmary, where the two square off in a life and death shootout…

This could have been the story of any one of a number of young children living in the Midwest in the 19th century—yet it is, in fact, inspired by the real-life rise of the greatest sharpshooter America has ever known: Annie Oakley.

Annie's little-known story is remarkably poignant, gripping, and relevant today. It is a testament to the strength and guile of the 19th century female human spirit. 

Little Miss of Darke County is the little-known “origins” story of one of America’s greatest heroes.