Buck Taylor King of the Cowboys
Carte de Visite
1870s
Provenance: Jeff Hammond, St. Johns, AZ
William Levi “Buck” Taylor was born on November 15, 1857 in Texas. His grandfather was one of those killed at the Alamo. Buck was orphaned at a young age when his father died fighting in the Civil War and his mother died shortly thereafter. He and his brother, Bax, became cowhands while still in their teens, running herds of cattle throughout the West where he was regarded as the best bronco buster in the country. Buck eventually signed on to Buffalo Bill Cody’s Ranch in Nebraska.
When Buffalo Bill Cody formed his Wild West Show, Buck was asked to join. His tall size led him to be cast as General Custer in their reenactments of The Battle of Little Bighorn, also sometimes referred to as “Custer’s Last Stand”. Several dime novels were written with him as the main character. His fame became so great at the time that he was known as “The King of the Cowboys”.
In the 1890s, middle aged and retired from “show business,” Buck settled in the East and was made Superintendent of the Betzwood Stock Farm in Betzwood, PA. This was a phenomenally successful horse breeding farm owned and run by wealthy beer brewer John Betz. Rare.
Carte de Visite
1870s
Provenance: Jeff Hammond, St. Johns, AZ
William Levi “Buck” Taylor was born on November 15, 1857 in Texas. His grandfather was one of those killed at the Alamo. Buck was orphaned at a young age when his father died fighting in the Civil War and his mother died shortly thereafter. He and his brother, Bax, became cowhands while still in their teens, running herds of cattle throughout the West where he was regarded as the best bronco buster in the country. Buck eventually signed on to Buffalo Bill Cody’s Ranch in Nebraska.
When Buffalo Bill Cody formed his Wild West Show, Buck was asked to join. His tall size led him to be cast as General Custer in their reenactments of The Battle of Little Bighorn, also sometimes referred to as “Custer’s Last Stand”. Several dime novels were written with him as the main character. His fame became so great at the time that he was known as “The King of the Cowboys”.
In the 1890s, middle aged and retired from “show business,” Buck settled in the East and was made Superintendent of the Betzwood Stock Farm in Betzwood, PA. This was a phenomenally successful horse breeding farm owned and run by wealthy beer brewer John Betz. Rare.
Carte de Visite
1870s
Provenance: Jeff Hammond, St. Johns, AZ
William Levi “Buck” Taylor was born on November 15, 1857 in Texas. His grandfather was one of those killed at the Alamo. Buck was orphaned at a young age when his father died fighting in the Civil War and his mother died shortly thereafter. He and his brother, Bax, became cowhands while still in their teens, running herds of cattle throughout the West where he was regarded as the best bronco buster in the country. Buck eventually signed on to Buffalo Bill Cody’s Ranch in Nebraska.
When Buffalo Bill Cody formed his Wild West Show, Buck was asked to join. His tall size led him to be cast as General Custer in their reenactments of The Battle of Little Bighorn, also sometimes referred to as “Custer’s Last Stand”. Several dime novels were written with him as the main character. His fame became so great at the time that he was known as “The King of the Cowboys”.
In the 1890s, middle aged and retired from “show business,” Buck settled in the East and was made Superintendent of the Betzwood Stock Farm in Betzwood, PA. This was a phenomenally successful horse breeding farm owned and run by wealthy beer brewer John Betz. Rare.