The Life of Hon. William F. Cody Known as Buffalo Bill The Famous Hunter, Scout and Guide

Iowa. My parents, Isaac and Mary Ann Cody, who were numbered among the pioneers of Iowa, gave to me the name of William Frederick. I was the fourth child in the family.

father moved the family to the little town of LeClair, located on the bank of the Mississippi, fifteen miles above the city of Davenport. Even at that early age my adventurous spirit led me into all sorts of

us ashore. We had stolen the boat, and our trouble did not end until we had each received a merited whipping, which impressed the incident vividly upon my mind. I recollect several occasions when I was nearly eaten up by a large and savage dog, which acted as custodian of an orchard and also of a melon patch, which I frequently visited. Once, as

his back up and hoisted me into the air, I fell violently to the ground, striking upon my side in such a way as to severely wrench and strain my arm, from the effects of which I did not recover fo

plains-which were then and for years afterwards called the American Desert-to the Pacific coast. He got ready a complete outfit and started with quite a party. After proceeding a few miles, all but my father,

n: YOUTHFUL

, and in devising traps to take them in. I was most successful with the common figure "4" trap which I could build myself. Thus I think it was that I acquired my love for hunting. I visited the quail traps twice a day, morning and evening, and as

not recall without a feeling of sadness. It was the death of my

d been a member of the Iowa legislature, was a Justice of the Peace, and had held other offices. He was an excellent stump speaker and was often called upon to canvass the country

were passing the school house just as the children were being dismissed, when Samuel undertook to give an exhibition of his horsemanship, he being a good rider for a boy. T

ed immediately. When I arrived at Mr. Burns' house, where my brother was, I found my father, mother and sisters there, all weeping bitte

om upon the whole neighborhood. It was a great blow to all of the family

ire, and he determined to emigrate. Accordingly, early in the spring of 1852, he disposed of his farm, and late in March we took our departure for Kansas, which was then an uns

: SAMUEL'S FA

father determined to visit him, and thither our journey was directed. Our route lay across Iowa and Missouri, and the trip proved of interest to all of us, and espec

for another. He said the horse had been captured wild in California; that he was a runner and a racer; that h

al, and as we were going to Kansas where there would be plenty of room for the horse to run as far as he pleas

a small gray, we nam

ich lay on our route, where the farmers from the surrounding country were congregated for the purpose of having a holiday-the principal

ng crowd. They wore their pantaloons in their boots; their hair was long, bushy and untrimmed; their faces had evidently never made the acquaintance of

ther, being unaccustomed to the ways of such rough people, acted very cautiously; and as they were all very anxious to

owd, "what kind o' critter have you got anyhow,

agin the emergrant's

a hundred that the gray nag gits left behind. Do I hear any man w

scare him out of his boots," said a man who evi

, and would not venture more than fif

resting. I have never seen Little Gray run, and therefore don't know what he can do;" at the same time

nd the money was deposited in the hands of a stake-holder. The race was to be a sing

f a mile; at the half-mile, however, he began to weaken. The Missourians shouted themselves hoarse in urging their horse, bu

father, who soon found the Missourians to be at heart very clever men-thus showing that outside appearances are sometimes very deceptive; the

ld win it. I was among entire strangers, and therefore I only bet a small amount. I was afraid that you wo

to bet the five hundred dollars to one hundred, "for tha

d continued to try to purchase Little Gray. My father, howev

ouses along the road, and could not get anything to eat in the shape of bread, except corn bread, of which all had become heartily tired.

at name, who is now living in Leavenworth. She was a wealthy lady, and gave us to understand in a pleasant way, that s

equently visits us, and we visit

her of mine,"

ain here all night. Have your family come into the

r night. As father had predicted, we found plenty of white

ut the premises, as I had scarcely ever seen any colored people, the few,

on a prospecting tour. He visited the Kickapoo agency-five miles above Weston-on the Kansas side of the Missouri river. He became acquainted with the agent, and made arrangements to establish himself there as an Indian trader. He then returned to Weston and located the f

had been very anxious to go there with him, and the fact that I was now the owner of two ponies made me feel very proud. That night I could not sleep a wink. In the morning I was up long before the