Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-05-24
Buffalo Bill.
His Strange and Varied Career.

This celebrated scout, so well known
by his famous exploits, was born in Scott
county, Iowa, in 1889, and received the
Christian name of William f. Cody. At
ten years of age he removed with his
father, Isaac Cody, to Kansas. The
elder Cody was elected member of the
first Kansas Legislature, which met at
Lecompton, and was one of the most
active settlers in the struggle that made
"bleeding Kansas" free State. He
was killed in 1856.
William, in order to support his sis
ters and widowed mother, although only
Is years old, entered the. service of
Russell, Major & Waddell as freighter
across the plains, and continued in their
employment until the establishment of
the pony express, in which he was the
first rider that started on the route. He
left this business when the telegraph
superseded it and entered the army as a
scout under General Blunt, and served
in the noted company known as the
Red-legged Scouts. Although not out
of his teens, his reputation as a dare
devil scout, who feared neither hostile
Indian nor treacherous white man, was
widespread. He served during the war
as a scout in the army of the West.
At the close of the war he was en-
ployed as a hunter for the Kansas Pa
citic railroad at salary of $500 month
and found, and during his eighteen
months service killed 4,200 buffalo, as
recorded on the books of the company
which earned for him his Sou5ri6uet,
and which has placed him among the
favored list at the Imperial Court of st.
Petersburg.
subsequently he challenged any man
in the world to kill that description of
cattle with him, which was accepted by
man named Comstock. Arrangements
were accordingly made, and the match
took place on Kansas plains, and was
witnessed by nearly one thousand per-
SONS, who hied thither from all parts
The contest was $500 side, lasted an
entire day, and when the slain cattle
were counted at night it was found that
sixty nine had met death at the hands
of Bill, while his antagonists score was
fifty-four
At the breaking out of the Indian war of
1867 he became Gen. Sheridan scoutand
guard. During the winter of 1868 he
was attached to General Carr's COM
mand, and since that time, until within
about three months, has served as a
scout to General Sheridan. As marks
man, as a hunter, as a scout, as horse
man, Buffalo Bill may be said to be the
King of the Prairies.
About six feet in height, straight as
an arrow, perfectly proportioned, with
fine, waving hair falling down upon has
shoulders, large, clear, brown eyes that
look calmly upon the most frightful
scenes, he is one to win the admiration
of the fair sex, or lead his fellows in the
fercest conflict. Naturally enough, in
all his conflicts he has not passed un-
scathed, and many a scar and wound
bears silent witness of his bravery, one
of which, in his leg, still troubles him
severely.
He was married at st. Louis in 1866,
and to-day is the father of three child
ren-two girls and boy. His son, the
eldest, is named Elmer Judson Cody,
and is famous among his playmates as
exit Carson, as his father is among
his friends as "Buffalo Bill"
Mr.. Cody was a favorite guide for
Sheridan and Custar, and won the firm
personal friendship, not only of those
distinguished military men, but all with
whom he was associated. When the
Grand Duke Alexis was afforded an op-
portunity to hunt buffalo upon the
prairies, Mr.. Cody was detailed as his
especial guide, and received from the
Imperial visitor substantial tokens of
his regard.
At the last State election he was
chosen member of the Nebraska Leg
islature, but his tastes not being in that
direction he resigned to go into the
show business.