Was there a real outlaw named Josie Wells?

Yes, there was a real outlaw named Josie Wales, but she is often conflated with the fictional character from the 1976 film "The Outlaw Josey Wales," directed by Clint Eastwood. The film is loosely based on the novel "Gone to Texas" by Forrest Carter, which tells the story of a Missouri farmer who becomes an outlaw during the Civil War. While there are historical figures with similar names, Josie Wales as depicted in the film is largely a fictional creation.