Buffalo Bill Cody was born William Frederick Cody in February of 1846 in Iowa. The family moved west in 1853.
The Cody family was against slavery, a belief that made them enemies of slave owners back east. Bill Cody's father often spoke of the evils of slavery, and on one occasion, he was stabbed and nearly killed. 11 year old Bill Cody dragged his father to safety, but, the injury eventually killed his father. After his father's death, Buffalo Bill Cody went to work to support his family.
At 19, Buffalo Bill Cody joined the Army as a scout. His assignment was to go to Utah to quell a rumored uprising by the Mormons in Salt Lake City. Although Buffalo Bill Cody never ended up tangling with the Mormons, he did make a name for himself as an Indian Fighter. Cody then decided to make his fortune in the gold rush. On his way to Colorado he signed on with the Pony Express. Needless to say he never made it to the gold mines.
In 1863 Buffalo Bill Cody enlisted with the 7th Kansas Cavalry and served for 2 years.
In 1866, Buffalo Bill Cody married Louisa Frederici with whom he had 4 children. Only 2 survived to adulthood.
In 1868 he once again served as a Scout for the US Army until 1872. During this period, Buffalo Bill Cody spent time scouting for Indians, but he also scouted the bison of the plains, shooting 4,280 animals for food for the workers of the Kansas Pacific Railroad. Earning him the name, Buffalo Bill Cody.
In December of 1872 Buffalo Bill Cody started his "entertainment" career in Chicago in one of the first Wild West shows. In 1873, "Wild Bill" Hickok joined the show. They toured together for 10 years.
In 1883, Buffalo Bill Cody started "Buffalo Bill's Wild West" in North Platte, Nebraska. It was a show, that romanticized the American Old West, and was an immediate hit. 
Buffalo Bill Cody toured and traveled throughout Europe and the United States performing at venues such as Madison Square Garden. Many other western personalities traveled and performed with him, one being the famous Annie Oakley.
With the money made from his show, in 1886, Buffalo Bill Cody purchased a 4,000 acre ranch near North Platte, Nebraska, naming it Scout's Rest Ranch. He eventually doubled his land holdings and building an 18 room mansion for his family.
Buffalo Bill Cody founded the town of Cody, Wyoming in the 1890's. The town was incorporated in 1901, and in 1902, Buffalo Bill Cody opened the Irma Hotel, named after his daughter.
Buffalo Bill Cody died of kidney failure on January 10, 1917 at his sister's home in Denver. He was 70 years old. He is buried on Lookout Mountain in Golden, Colorado.
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