If the Beehive State’s Wild West history fascinates you, then you probably know all about Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch, and the time they spent hiding out in Southern Utah. Cassidy is an infamous outlaw, but you might not know about the two sisters who were involved with him and his cohorts for years. Have you heard of Ann and Josie Bassett?

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch were famous. The notorious band of outlaws were particularly prolific at robbing trains, and they made headlines all over the world.
From the studio of John Schwartz., Public Domain/Wikimedia
The gang famously hid out in Southern Utah. Very few people outside the gang were allowed to visit Robbers Roost, but two sisters from Utah were intimately involved with several of the men in the gang, and are believed to have been two of the five women ever allowed to know its location.
Josie and Ann Bassett grew up in Utah. Their father was a cattle rancher who did business with several Wild West outlaws, including Cassidy and his gang.
Public Domain/Wikimedia
Ann (pictured above) had the nickname "Queen Ann Bassett," and she was a fiercely independent frontierswoman. Ann's older sister Josie, was also a feisty woman who held her own with outlaws and lawmen alike.
Ann Bassett became Butch Cassidy's girlfriend at age 15, and she would remain involved with him and other members of the Wild Bunch for many years.
Public Domain/Wikimedia

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Josie Bassett was involved with Wild Bunch member Elzy Lay, and also dated several others.
daveynin/flickr
Shown is Josie's cabin, where she lived as an independent woman for decades.
When local cattlemen began harassing the sisters to sell their ranch, they refused. The cowboys began rustling their cattle, but the sisters' relationships with the Wild Bunch came in handy.
Jackson Hole Traveler/flickr
It's rumored that Kid Curry, one of the most notorious Wild Bunch criminals, paid some of the cattlemen a visit to "encourage" them to leave the sisters alone. It worked.
Josie also dated Butch Cassidy for awhile, and claims that he visited her at her cabin in 1930.
Ivankish/GettyImages
Josie married five times and divorced four. It's rumored that she may have poisoned her fifth husband, who died unexpectedly. Later in life, Josie was known to local law enforcement as a poacher and bootlegger, but was never convicted of those crimes. She lived alone for decades until she broke her hip after falling off a horse at age 89. She died just a few months later.
Ann maintained a relationship with Cassidy and a few others in the gang until 1903.
gordonplant/flickr
During the time that she associated with the gang, she supplied the men with horses and beef. At one point, she was arrested for cattle rustling, but was acquitted. Ann was married twice, and lived a law-abiding life after she married. She raised two sons and lived until she was 77.

The Bassett Sisters were some of just a few people outside the Wild Bunch who really knew these men. Have you heard their stories before?

You can hike a trail that takes you through the territory where the Wild Bunch once roamed. Check out the Grand Wash trail.

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