Salsbury, Nathan, 1846-1902

Born Freeport, Illinois 1846. Served in 89th and 59th Illinois regiments in the Army of the Cumberland during Civil War. After discharge became an actor. Wrote several plays. In 1884 joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

Nathan "Nate" Salsbury (1846-1902) was producer and manager of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, a highly successful show business enterprise that toured the United States, Europe, and elsewhere from the 1880s well into the 20th century, and featured William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody. Born in Illinois in 1846, Nathan Salsbury entered the U. S. Army while still in his teens, first as a drummer boy and eventually as a soldier with the 89th Illinois Regiment of Infantry, fighting in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. After the war, he became an actor in various stock companies, appeared for a time with his own troupe, Salsbury's Troubadours, then retired from performing in 1887. Meanwhile, in 1883, Salsbury had been a key figure in the launch of Buffalo Bill's Wild West, an outdoor extravaganza that dramatized frontier life, built around the personality of onetime soldier, scout and hunter William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846-1917). The show, which also starred sharpshooter Annie Oakley and, for one season, Chief Sitting Bull, was a worldwide success for many years, outlasting its producer and manager Nate Salsbury, who died on Christmas Eve of 1902, at the age of 56. His daughter Rebecca Salsbury James (1891-1968) was an artist who lived for most of her life in Taos, New Mexico.

Civil War soldier, playwright, actor, and showman; originator and manager of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

Nathan Salsbury (1846-1962), actor and theatrical manager, was co-owner of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show.

Nathan "Nate" Salsbury (1846-1902) was producer and manager of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, a highly successful show business enterprise that toured the United States, Europe, and elsewhere from the 1880s well into the 20th century, and featured William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody.

Born in Illinois in 1846, Nathan Salsbury entered the U. S. Army while still in his teens, first as a drummer boy and eventually as a soldier with the 89th Illinois Regiment of Infantry, fighting in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. After the war, he became an actor in various stock companies, appeared for a time with his own troupe, Salsbury's Troubadours, then retired from performing in 1887. Meanwhile, in 1883, Salsbury had been a key figure in the launch of Buffalo Bill's Wild West, an outdoor extravaganza that dramatized frontier life, built around the personality of onetime soldier, scout and hunter William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846-1917). The show, which also starred sharpshooter Annie Oakley and, for one season, Chief Sitting Bull, was a worldwide success for many years, outlasting its producer and manager Nate Salsbury, who died on Christmas Eve of 1902, at the age of 56. His daughter Rebecca Salsbury James (1891-1968) was an artist who lived for most of her life in Taos, New Mexico.

Nathan Salsbury, son of Nathan and Rebecca Welch Salsbury, was born in Freeport, Illinois. Left an orphan, he lived with his stepfather, Jedutha Fuller. On the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the ranks of the Union Army. He served in the 89th and 59th Illinois regiments in the Army of the Cumberland and was wounded three times. After discharge Salsbury became an actor and wrote several plays, including "Patchwork" and "On the Trail, or, Money and Misery." In 1875 he organized Salsbury's Troubadours, a successful acting company, and in 1884 joined Buffalo Bill as co-owner of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Eleven years later he established "Black America," an acting, singing, and tumbling extravaganza with a cast of 600 blacks.

Salsbury married Rachel Samuels, a young actress, in 1887. The couple had four children, one of whom was Rebecca Salsbury James. Nate Salsbury died on December 24, 1902 in Long Branch, New Jersey.

For additional biographical information, see The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. VIII, page 166, and his "Reminiscences" (Box 2, folders 62-63). SALSBURY FAMILY Nathan Salsbury (1780- ) m. Lemira Clark (1788-

Nathan Salsbury ( -1847?) m. Rebecca Welch* ( -1854?)

Nathan Salsbury (1846-1902) m. 1887 Rachel Samuels (c. 1856-

Nathan Salsbury (1888-1963)

Milton S. Salsbury (1890-

Rachel Salsbury (1891- ) m. William H. Schloss

Rebecca Salsbury (1891-1968) m. 1 Paul Strand (1890-1976)

m. 2 William H. James (1899-1962)

Martha Salsbury m. Jedutha Fuller (1812?-

Washington C. Salsbury m. Celestina Rawson

Nathan Rawson Salsbury

Mattie Salsbury m. Akeley

Lemira Salsbury m. 1847 Jessie C. Wells Note: The first Nathan Salsbury had four other children. *Rebecca Welch later married Jedutha Fuller and after her death Fuller married Martha Salsbury.