Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-10
SPENT MOST OF HIS
LIFE ON THE PLAINS
Fought in the Civil War but
Won His Fame as an In
dian Scout in the Pioneer
Days of the West-En-
gagged in Show Business in
Late Years.

Denver, Jan. 10.-Colonel
William +. Cody, buffalo
Bill), soldier, scout and
hunter, died today at his sis
ter's home here. His wife,
daughter and sister were at
his bedside.
PICTURESQUE PIONEER.
Colonel William F. Cody, Buffalo
BILL" hunter. soldier, scout and show
man was for many years known to
nearly every man, woman, boy and girl
in America through his wild west
show with which he toured this coun-
try and Europe. He was a picturesque
type of the pioneer frontiersman AMI
lived to see large cities built where he
once hunted the buffalo and fought In
dams.
Colonel William f. Cody was born in
Scott county, Iowa, Feb. 90, 1916. His
ancestral stock was Spanish, English
and Irish. His parents moved west and
took UP a claim near Leavenworth,
Kan, then a frontier Indian post when
Cody was five years old. At 10 years
Of age he found himself the head of the
family owing to the death of his faith
er who was killed in an encounter
growing out Of dispute over the negro
slave question. Young Codys first
employment was as a courier between
the freight wagon trains operated be-
tween the Missouri river and the Rocky
mountains. In turn he became wagon
master. trapper hunter, pony express
rider and stage coach driver, all giving
varied experience in a school, tho
graduation from which left the scholar
an adept in every possible line of
frontier activity.
MADE CHIEF OF SCOUTS.
An exciting experience in the Union
army as soldier and subsequently as
a confidant and scout of his command
ers in the desultory and guerilla war
fare Of the southwest left him at its
finish well known as an all around
frontiersman, competent to advise, to
guide and to lead. These qualities
soon brought him to the attention of
such distinguished commanders as
General w. 7. Sherman, Lieutenant
General Phil Sheridan and Generals
Crook, Custer. Merritt, Carr, Royal
Miles, Dodge and others and secured
his appointment as chief of scouts in
the United States army during its
numerous Indian campaigns in the
west.
His career in this line identified him
with the great fighting epoch between
the red man and the white man waged
by General Sheridan after the Civil war
that temporarily ended in 1876, but was
effectively finished in the Ghost Dance
war in the decisive battle OF Wounded
Knee in 1S90-91 campaign with the
WON HIS soBRIouET.
During the construction of the I'm
ion Pacific railroad young Cody at
tached himself to a camp Of United
States troops protecting the laborers
and won his sobriquet of Buffalo
Bill by taking a contract to supply
the entire force with fresh buffalo
meat for certain period, killing under
one contract 1880 buffaloes. On one
occasion he killed the noted Cheyenne
chief Yellow Hand in the presence of
Indians and troops.
He became known to Juvenile Amer
lea In the stories of western adventure
written by e. A. c. Judson who wrote
under the nom de plume of Ned Bunt-
line.
With the advance of civilization
finding his occupation on the western
plains gone. he went on the stage where
he remained several years playing lead
ing parts In dramas depicting life on
the frontier. Later in association with
Nate Salisbury, he organized his wild
west show with which he toured this
country for many years and on one &C.
casion visited the principal cities OF
Europe, where he was warmly received
and entertained by royalty.
He was elected to the Nebraska leg
islature in 1872.
Colonel Cody. in 1866 was married to
Miss Louisa Frederick.