Buffalo Bill's Grave

Nickname and work life
William Frederick ("Buffalo Bill") Cody got his nickname after he undertook a contract[1] to supply Kansas Pacific Railroad workers with bison meat . The nickname originally referred to Bill Comstock. Cody earned the nickname by killing 4,280 buffaloes[2] in eighteen months (1867-68)[3].


Performer in Buffalo Bill's Wild West, seen at Buffalo Bill Museum at Lookout Mountain near Golden, Colorado.In addition to his documented service as a soldier during the Civil War and as Chief of Scouts for the Third Cavalry during the Plains Wars, Cody claimed to have worked many jobs, including as a trapper, bullwhacker, "Fifty-Niner" in Colorado, a Pony Express rider in 1860, wagonmaster, stagecoach driver, and even a hotel manager, but it's unclear which claims were factual and which were fabricated for purposes of publicity. He became world famous for his Wild West show.

Early years
William Frederick Cody was born at his family's farmhouse in Scott County, Iowa, on February 26, 1846, to Isaac Cody and wife Mary Ann Bonsell Laycock, daughter of Samuel Laycock and wife Hannah Taylor. When Cody was 7, his older brother, Samuel, was killed by a fall from a horse. His death so affected Mary Cody's health that a change of scene was advised and the family relocated to Kansas, moving into a large log cabin on land that they had staked there.

Cody's father believed that Kansas should be a free state, but many of the other settlers in the area were pro-slavery (see Bleeding Kansas). While giving an anti-slavery speech at the local trading post, he so inflamed the supporters of slavery in the audience that they formed a mob and one of them stabbed him. Cody helped to drag his father to safety, although he never fully recovered from his injuries. The family was constantly persecuted by the supporters of slavery, forcing Isaac Cody to spend much of his time away from home. His enemies learned of a planned visit to his family and plotted to kill him on the way. Cody, despite his youth and the fact that he was ill, rode 30 miles (48 km) to warn his father. Cody's father died in 1857 from complications from his stabbing.

After his father's death, the Cody family suffered financial difficulties, and Cody, aged 11, took a job with freight carrier as a "boy extra," riding up and down the length of a wagon train, delivering messages. From here, he joined Johnston's Army as an unofficial member of the scouts assigned to guide the Army to Utah to put down a falsely-reported rebellion by the Mormon population of Salt Lake City. According to Cody's account in Buffalo Bill's Own Story, the Utah War was where he first began his career as an "Indian fighter".

Presently the moon rose, dead ahead of me; and painted boldly across its face was the figure of an Indian. He wore the war-bonnet of the Sioux, at his shoulder was a rifle pointed at someone in the river-bottom 30 feet (9 m) below; in another second he would drop one of my friends. I raised my old muzzle-loader and fired. The figure collapsed, tumbled down the bank and landed with a splash in the water. 'What is it?' called McCarthy, as he hurried back. 'It's over there in the water,' I answered. McCarthy ran over to the dark figure. 'Hi!' he cried. 'Little Billy's killed an Indian all by himself!' So began my career as an Indian fighter.

At the age of 14, Cody was struck by gold fever, but on his way to the gold fields, he met an agent for the Pony Express. He signed with them and after building several way stations and corrals was given a job as rider, which he kept until he was called home to his sick mother's bedside.

His mother recovered, and Cody, who wished to enlist as a soldier, but was refused for his age, began working with a United States freight caravan which delivered supplies to Fort Laramie.


[edit] Civil War soldier and marriage

William Cody at age 19Shortly after the death of his mother in 1863, Cody enlisted in the 7th Kansas Cavalry Regiment and fought with them on the Union side for the rest of the Civil War.

While stationed at military camp in St. Louis, Bill met Louisa Frederici (1843-1921). He returned after his discharge and they married on March 6, 1866. Their marriage was not a happy one, and Bill unsuccessfully attempted to divorce Louisa. They had four children, two of whom died young: his beloved son, Kit died of scarlet fever in April, 1876, and his daughter Orra died in 1880.




Colorado

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[rororogers]

@1Lonesomesoldier4u Buffalo Bill Cody died of kidney failure in 1917. I think you are thinking of "Wild Bill" Hickok who was shot in the back in 1876 while playing poker. He was the gunfighter. Buffalo Bill was a showman that tended to exagerate his exploits. dont confuse the two.

[1Lonesomesoldier4u]

Buffalo bill shot buffalo while they stood there what sport do you call that .Killed Indians men women and kids unarmed Dont call this piece of crap a hero ,he got what was coming to him. The same thing he gave others shot from behined.

[NYCFreed1]

Always, you see him lurking in the hallways,

Carcasses of caucasian females in his crawl space.

How the hell did he fit them all into such a small place?

Don't get confused with the fictional character from Silence of the Lambs, Jame Gumb aka Bufallo Bill.

[jrfreak56]

this is my ansestors so watch ya mouth

[TheMadMoravian]

Buffalo Bill never killed a single buffalo

[MrRezz0]

@abbazabbajuice u should proud.

[WolfySnackrib666]

He's a murderer!!!

[FireThunderTV]

I was there just yesterday! Beautiful view! I love Golden, CO! I saw a herd of deer hanging out in someone's front yard. Just laying down and hanging out - it was sooo funny! I got out of my car to take pictures, and they didn't even run away. They just looked at me. I think they are very used to people. I'd love to have a house with mountains and deer in my back/front yard - that would be so cool!

[Prinjer]

i have been here, it was a wonderful view. ah colorado... i miss goin' to colorado; i visit gool ole' golden once every year. this year im goin' to colorado for 6 weeks.

[abbazabbajuice]

my ancestor!!