WILLIAM FREDERICK CODY (alias "Buffalo Bill")
Written and researched by Margaret Odrowaz-Sypniewsks, B.F.A.

William Frederick Cody was born on February 26, 1846, near Le Claire in Scott County, Iowa; to Isaac Cody (1811-1857) and Mary Ann Bonsell Laycock. Mary was Isaac's third wife, and she died November 22, 1863. In 1853, the Cody Family moved to Salt Creek Valley, Kansas. William married Louise Frederici (of St. Louis) on March 6, 1866. William died on January 10, 1917; at the home of his sister, May Cody Decker, in Denver, Colorado; and is buried on Lookout Mountain, near Denver, Colorado.

William had four (4) children:

• Arta Cody was born on December 16, 1866. Arta married (1) Horton Boal in 1890 (2) Dr. Charles W. Thorp.
• Kit Carson Cody was born on November 26, 1870. Kit died April 20, 1876, of scarlett fever. His death brought great pain to his father and mother.
• Orra Maude Cody was born on August 15, 1872; and she died on October 24, 1883. A second child's death was more difficult for Bill and Louise.
• Irma Louise Cody was born February 9, 1883. Irma married (1) Clarence Stott (2) Frederick H. Garlow.

William also had three (3) grandchildren:

• Clara Boal, daughter of Arta Cody.
• William Cody Boal, son of Arta Cody.
• Children of Irma Louise Cody Garlow.

More About the Cody family is at: The Cody Family

"Buffalo Bill" made the cowboy famous through his Wild West Shows. He was also said to have loved children, most likely because of the pain involved in the death of two of his own children before they reached adulthood. This page is dedicated to him.

My hubby's alter ego as Buffalo Bill

THE WILD WEST SHOW

"Buffalo Bill" Cody had done Pony Express riding, buffalo shooting, scouting, Indian fighting, some cowpunching, and a good lot of yarnin' (boasting and truth stretching).

Beginning in the 1870's, Cody embarked on a career as producer and star in Western melodramas. By 1873, he had planted the seeds of the Wild West Show that made him famous. Buffalo Bill was a showman extraordinaire. His show went to Europe and all over the USA. Bill Cody made the cowboy famous. Cody's show featured Annie Oakley and Miss Lillian Smith (sharpshooters); Johnny Baker, the Cowboy Kid; Jim Kid, champion roper; a herd of wild buffalo, Indian ponies, mountain elk, Texas steers, Mexican burros, mountain lions, coyotes, deer, antelope, mountain sheep, etc. Stars also included Mexican vaqueros, Russian Cossacks, and Native Americans (including Sitting Bull).

William F. Cody basically began the cowboy trend of the twentieth century, which will surely continue in the movies of the twenty-first century. He had many admirers and many copied his Wild West Shows. The legends of the West still are a part of our life and there are many people who keep it alive.

There were many men who tried to copy Cody's act. One even claimed to be his son. See: Frederick Samuel Cowdery, alias Samuel Cody for more about this.

For more information SEE: Modern Cowboys

Below are some facts about William Frederick Cody, better known as "Buffalo Bill."

TRIVIA ABOUT WILLIAM FREDERICK CODY:

• Buffalo Bill's favorite drink was called "A Stone Fence." The ingredients were:

  (1)A shot of vodka (2)A twist of lemon (3)Combined in a glass of cider.

• Bill's favorite song was "Tenting Tonight On the Old Campground."

• Cody had eleven horses in his career. They were named "Prince"... "Brigham"..."Powder Face"..."Buckskin Joe"..."Fall Bull" (a race horse he sold to Lt. Mason)..."Old Charlie" (buried at sea on May 17, 1888 ... he was reputed to have gotten Old Charlie from a Persian monarch)..."Knickerbrocker" and "Lancer" (they we in Washington in 1899 for the Rough Rider Show)..."Old Pap" (he survived an October 28, 1901 freight train collison)..."Isham" and "McKinley."

• William F. Cody won the Congressional Medal of Honor (1872) for bravery during his service with the US Army during the Indian Wars. This medal was then withdrawn because he was a civilian scout. On his death (18,000 people attended his funeral), in 1917. Then in 1989 (72 years after his death), his Congressional Medal of Honor was restored to him.

• Bill was guide to Grand Duke Alexis of Russia on his US buffalo hunt along with George Armstrong Custer.

• Bill was the hero of many "dime novels" written by "Ned Buntline" (Edward Z.C. Judson).

• Bill paid Sitting Bull (1831?-1890) (Tatanke Iyotake) $50.00 a week for four months and provided a $125.00 bonus for touring with his Wild West Show in 1885. The contract between William Frederick Cody and Sitting Bull is the only known document to bear Sitting Bull's signature. His contract also gave him (Sitting Bull) exclusive rights to his autographs and photographs. At $1.50 an autograph, Sitting Bull made good money (it is said that he learned to write after he found that he could sell his autograph (Indian Country Today - October 19, 1995).

• Bill portrayed himself in early Hollywood Westerns? He made five movies from 1909-1915, including an autobiography called The Life of Buffalo Bill

• Buffalo Bill had used his own burial site to bury Long Wolf and Star, daughter of Ghost Dog. Long Wolf died in 1892 at age 59, and did not wish to be buried at sea. Bill and Wolf's wife, Wants, saw to it that the wolf image was carved into the headstone cross that marked his grave in London, England.

  Recently, in 1995, Long Wolf's family contacted William C. Garlow (Bill's grandson) in Cody, Wyoming. Queen Elizabeth was contacted about permits needed to exhume Long Wolf's remains. Long Wolf was reburied at Wolf Creek, east of Pine Ridge, at the cost of $12,000 (received through contributions). (Indian County Today March 23, 1995, B4).

LINKS RELATED TO WILLIAM F. CODY

Cody, Wyoming ... Buffalo Bill Historical Center ... Buffalo Bill Gift Shop (BBHM) ... "Buffalo Bill" Cody ... Buffalo Bill ... Buffalo Bill Museum ... THE WEST-William F. Cody ... "Buffalo Bill" Cody and the Bison

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