Dates

• Existence: 1846 - 1917

Biography

Buffalo Bill (1846-1917) was an American frontiersman, scout, and entertainer.

Buffalo Bill was born William Cody on February 26, 1846, in Le Claire, Iowa Territory (present-day Iowa) to Mary Ann Bonsell Laycock and Issac Cody. The family relocated to Kansas around 1853. After the death of his father when Buffalo Bill was 11, his father was killed and he began working for a freight carrier to suppor the family financially. He later joined Johnston's Army as a scout assigned to guide the United States Army to quell the rumored Mormon rebellion in Utah. On his way to California in 1860 with "gold fever," Buffalo Bill instead signed up with the Pony Express. He served as a teamster in the Union from 1863-1865 during the American Civil War. In 1866, he enlisted as a civilian scout for the United States Army during the American Indian Wars. Buffalo became a Chief of Scouts for the 5th Cavalry Regiment and the Third Cavalry. He received the Medal of Honor in 1872, which was rescinded in 1917, but restored in 1989. Buffalo Bill recieved the nickname after the American Civil War as he was contracted to bring buffalo meat to the Kansas Pacific Railroad. Buffalo Bill was an active freemason after his initiation in North Platte, Nebraska on March 5, 1870. He would become a Knight Templar in 1889 and recieved his 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in 1894. After taking to the stage in 1872, Buffalo Bill began acting and founded his Buffalo Bill's Wild West in 1883 which toured the United States and Europe starting in 1887. With his earnings, Buffalo Bill purchased the Scout's Rest Ranch in North Platte, Nebraska in 1886. Buffalo Bill helped found the town of Cody, Wyoming in 1895. The city officially incorporated in 1901. He opened hotels, inns, a dude ranch, and founded the local newspaper in Cody, Wyoming. Buffalo Bill married Louisa Frederici on March 6, 1866 and would later file for divorce in 1904 after the couple was estranged. The divorce was denied and the couple reconciled in 1910 after which Frederici would travel with Buffalo Bill until his death. Buffalo Bill died on January 10, 1917, in Denver, Colorado.

Citation:

Wikipedia, January 9, 2025 (b. February 26, 1846 in Le Claire, Iowa to Mary Ann Bonsell Laycock and Issac Cody; d. January 10, 1917, in Denver, Colorado; the family relocated to Kansas around 1853; began working for a frieght carrier at age eleven after his father was killed; later joined Johnston's Army as a scout assigned to guide the United States Army to quell the rumored Mormon rebellion in Utah; on his way to California in 1860 with "gold fever," he instead signed up with the Pony Express; served in the Union from 1863-1865 during the American Civil War; married Louisa Frederici on March 6, 1866; filed for divorce in 1904 but it was denied; reconciled in 1910 and Frederici would travel with Buffalo Bill until his death; civilian scout for the United States Army during the American Indian Wars; became a Chief of Scouts for the 5th Cavalry Regiment and the Third Cavalry; received the Medal of Honor in 1872, which was rescinded in 1917, but restored in 1989; recieved the nickname of "Buffalo Bill" after the American Civil War as he was contracted to bring buffalo meat to the Kansas Pacific Railroad; founded Buffalo Bill's Wild West in 1883; toured the United States and Europe starting in 1887; purchased the Scout's Rest Ranch in North Platte, Nebraska in 1886; helped found the town of Cody, Wyoming in 1895; officially incorporated in 1901; opened hotels, inns, a dude ranch, and founded the local newspaper in Cody, Wyoming; active freemason after his initiation in North Platte, Nebraska on March 5, 1870; a Knight Templar in 1889 and recieved his 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in 1894)

FamilySearch, January 10, 2025 (William Frederick Cody; b. February 26, 1846 in Le Claire, Iowa to Mary Ann Bonsell Laycock and Issac Cody; d. January 10, 1917, in Denver, Colorado; married Louisa Frederici on March 6, 1866; signed up with the Pony Express; father died when eleven; founded Buffalo Bill's Wild West in 1883; scout in the US Army)

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