▁of ▁the ▁war ▁in ▁ 1 8 6 5 . ▁Later ▁he ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁civil ian ▁sc out ▁for ▁the ▁US ▁Army ▁during ▁the ▁Indian ▁Wars , ▁receiving ▁the ▁Medal ▁of ▁Honor ▁in ▁ 1 8 7 2 . ▁ ▁One ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁famous ▁and ▁well - known ▁figures ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁Old ▁West , ▁Buff alo ▁Bill ' s ▁legend ▁began ▁to ▁spread ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁only ▁ 2 3 . ▁ ▁Short ly ▁there after ▁he ▁started ▁performing ▁in ▁shows ▁that ▁displayed ▁cow boy ▁them es ▁and ▁episodes ▁from ▁the ▁front ier ▁and ▁Indian ▁Wars . ▁He ▁founded ▁Buff alo ▁Bill ' s ▁Wild ▁West ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 3 , ▁taking ▁his ▁large ▁company ▁on ▁t ours ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁and , ▁beginning ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 7 , ▁in ▁Great ▁Britain ▁and ▁contin ental ▁Europe . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education ▁ ▁C ody ▁was ▁born ▁on ▁February ▁ 2 6 , ▁ 1 8 4 6 , ▁on ▁a ▁farm ▁just ▁outside ▁Le ▁Cla ire , ▁Iowa . ▁His ▁father , ▁Isaac ▁C ody , ▁was ▁born ▁on ▁September ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 8 1 1 , ▁in ▁Toronto ▁Township , ▁Upper ▁Canada , ▁now ▁part ▁of ▁Mississ aug a , ▁Ontario , ▁directly ▁west ▁of ▁Toronto . ▁Mary ▁Ann ▁B ons ell ▁L ay cock , ▁Bill ' s ▁mother , ▁was ▁born ▁about ▁ 1 8 1 7 ▁in ▁Tr ent on , ▁New ▁Jersey . ▁She ▁moved ▁to ▁C