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We think that Pecos Bill originated when a couple of cowhands needed to pass some time out in the pasture. One thing that cowhands did was tell stories. This is how Pecos Bill and other old western legends probably were created.
Pecos Bill was a legendary Cowboy Folk Hero. Legend says he was raised by coyotes after he fell from his parents wagon. Since living with coyotes he befriended animals more often.
His befriending animals lead to many strange occurrences. One being riding a mountain lion rather than a horse. When he did change mounts though he chose to ride on a horse. He also rode every thing he could sit on. He is said to have ridden on everything from a mountain lion to a cyclone. The horse that he chose to ride he named Widow Maker.
He did not use a whip of braided raw hide but a live rattle snake for a whip.
There was only one woman that Pecos Bell fancied. Her name was Slue-Foot Sue. He met her as she rode done the river on a catfish the size of a whale down the Rio Grande River.
Pecos Bill's first appearance was in a book written by Edward O'Reilly and was titled "Saga of Pecos Bill". The book was written in the early 1920's. After the original story many more stories of Pecos Bill's amazing feats have been created.
Pecos Bill has also premiered on the silver screen in a movie called "Tall Tale". Also in this movie are Paul Bunyun and John Henry, other legends of Bill's time.
The movie features a 12 year old boy who gets help from Pecos Bill and the other legends to save his farm from evil villains.
The National Post Office has also made 4 stamps that depict Pecos Bill in different western scenes.
Pecos Bill's death is a great controversy. Some say that he died laughing at dudes that thought that they were cowboys.
This information courtesy of http://www.millville.org/Workshops_f/Dich_FOLKLORE/WACKED/stompfeature25.html, http://www.drlamay.com/pecos_bill.htm
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