by Sam Tish, E.H.P.

Every school child has heard the stories about William Frederick Cody as an American soldier, buffalo hunter, and colorful character of the Old West. He was well known as a trader, fur trapper, gold miner, rider for the Pony Express, and a frontiersman. (He gained his nickname "Buffalo Bill," primarily as a hunter). Bill Cody began show business in Chicago in 1872. He later gained international fame and was best known as the man who gave the "Wild West" its name. Many Broadway shows including the musical Annie Get your Gun. (Annie Oakley) was credited to him. Buffalo Bill Cody and "Wild Bill" Hickok were old friends.

Few knew Buffalo Bill had earned his Master Mason’s degree and apron in 1878 in North Platte, Nebraska; and subsequently received the Royal Arch Degree in Nebraska. You would guess, rightly so, that his York Rite "mark" was that of a "Buffalo Head." William Fredrick Cody was born 26 FEB 1846 in LeClaire, Iowa (Iowa Territory) and died 10 JAN 1917 (a month short of his 72nd birthday). One day before he died, Bill Cody was baptized a Roman Catholic. His funeral was held at the Elks Lodge in Denver, CO. He was buried on Lookout Mountain in Golden, CO (west of Denver). It was Buffalo Bill who founded Cody, Wyoming in 1896 (home of Buffalo Bill Historical Center)–located 50 miles from Yellowstone National Park. Bill Cody was known to be an advocate of women’s right to vote as well as being a staunch supporter of Indian rights. He treated Indians with great respect and dignity.

In 1863 at the young age of 17, Cody enlisted in the Army and served until the end of the Civil War. While later employed by the U.S. Army (1872) as a civilian Army Scout with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, William F. Cody was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for "gallantry in action." In 1917, the Medal of Honor was revoked because he was a civilian at the time of the award. Seventy-two years later (1989), the Medal of Honor was restored to him by the U.S. Army.

Sam Tish, EHP