William Frederick Cody's Biography and Chronology

Since Buffalo Bill (1944) is a biography of William Frederick Cody, some people might wonder how much the chronology of his life was changed in the typical movie way.

1846 William F. Cody born 02-26 in Iowa. The numbers of buffalo or American bison are already decreasing.

1857-58 Cody gets his first jobs. By now many old timers - to say nothing of Indians - already feel that the west that they knew has been changed beyond recognition by the march of civilization.

1860 Cody works for Pony Express.

1861 Beginning of US Civil War of 1961-65, the biggest event in 19th century USA.

1863 Cody enlists in 7th Kansas Cavalry age 17.

1865 Cody discharged from army.

1866 Cody marries Louisa Frederici (1843-1921) on 03-06.

1866 Cody begins scouting for the army.

1866 Daughter Arta Lucile Cody (1866-1904) born 12-16.

1867 Cody supplies buffalo meat to workers on Kansas Pacific Railroad, gets nickname "Buffalo Bill" - the most famous of several "Buffalo Bills". Cody reportedly kills 4,282 buffalo in 18 months in 1867-68.

1868 Cody carries army dispatches 350 miles in 58 hours through hostile territory - the last 35 miles on foot.

1868 General Sheridan appoints Cody chief scout for the 5th US Cavalry.

1869 Battle of Summit Springs, Colorado 07-11. E.A. Carr with 5th Cavalry & Pawnee scouts defeats a Cheyenne camp under Tall Bull. Tall Bull probably killed by Luther North and not by Cody.

1869 Cody starts to become a fictional hero, publicized by Ned Buntline, while remaining a real hero for several years.

1870 Son Kit Carson Cody (1870-1876) born 11-26.

1870 There are about 5,500,000 living American bison.

1870 Extermination of southern group of buffalo by commercial hide hunters from 1870-1876 begins.

1872 Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich's buffalo hunt with Buffalo Bill on 01-14.

1872 Yellowstone National Park established 03-01. About 200 wild buffalo survive in the park.

1872 Cody is in a skirmish with horse stealing hostiles on 04-26. Cody is awarded a medal of honor for bravery in this fight.

1872 Daughter Orra Maude Cody (1872-1883) born 08-13.

1872 Cody performs as himself in a stage play for the first time.

1874 Cody forms acting troupe Buffalo Bill's Combination, acts during winter, scouts for the army in the summer.

1876 Kit Carson Cody dies 04-20 in Rochester, NY.

1876 Cody serves as a scout with the 5th Cavalry. Cody kills Yellow Hair or Yellow Hand at Battle of Warbonnet Creek 07-17.

1876 Extermination of southern group of buffalo by commercial hide hunters from 1870-1876 completed.

1877 President Hays inaugurated March 4.

1880 Extermination of northern group of buffalo by commercial hide hunters from 1880-1886 begins.

1881 President Garfield inaugurated March 4, replacing Hayes

1883 Daughter Irma Louise Cody (1883-1918) born 02-06.

1883 Ora Maude Cody dies 10-24.

1883 Traveling show Buffalo Bill's Wild West founded. Exhibition of live buffalo helps keep the species alive in captivity.

1885 Sitting Bull travels with Buffalo Bill's Wild west.

1886 Extermination of northern group of buffalo by commercial hide hunters from 1880-1886 completed.

1886 Cody buys Scout's Rest Ranch in Nebraska.

1887 Buffalo Bill's Wild West makes first European tour. Queen Victoria attends a performance.

1889 William T. Hornaday in The Extermination of the American Bison, 1889, estimates that there are about 1,091 individual American Bison alive, about 550 wild bison in Canada, about 200 bison in the herd in Yellowstone, about 85 other wild bison in five different regions in the USA, and about 256 in captivity. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17748/17748-h/17748-h.htm#v_completeness_of_the_extermination

1892 Buffalo Bill's Wild West makes last European tour during lifetime of Queen Victoria.

1895 Cody helps found Cody, Wyoming.

1901 Queen Victoria dies 01-22.

1901 President McKinley dies 09-14, Teddy Roosevelt becomes president.

1904-05 Cody files for divorce from Louisa, not granted.

1909 Taft inaugurated president on March 4, replacing Teddy Roosevelt.

1910 Cody & Louisa reconcile.

1917 William F. Cody dies 01-10.

1917 A review board removes Cody from medal of honor list because he was a civilian.

1989 Cody's name is restored to medal of honor list.

2000 There are 360,000 living American bison.

Thus when you watch Buffalo Bill (1924) you should be able to see where the script writers added or omitted events and rearranged the relative order of other events.