Salsbury, Nathan, 1846-1902

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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.

From the description of Papers, 1865-1905. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 20348103

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.

From the guide to the Reminiscences of Nate Salsbury, 1899-1943, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

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

From the description of Nate Salsbury essays, [ca. 1890-1965]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79825410

From the description of Nate Salsbury essays, [ca. 1890-1965]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702150580

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

From the description of Nathan Salsbury papers, 1860-1965 (bulk 1866-1903). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702131652

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.

From the description of Reminiscences of Nate Salsbury, 1899-1943. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122626047

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.

From the guide to the Nathan Salsbury papers, 1860-1965, 1866-1903, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Salsbury, Nathan, 1846-1902,. Autograph letter signed from N. Salsbury, Chicago, to Augustin Daly [manuscript], 1875 April 2. Folger Shakespeare Library
creatorOf Salsbury, Nathan, 1846-1902. Nate Salsbury essays, [ca. 1890-1965]. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Buffalo Bill, 1846-1917. William Frederick Cody / Buffalo Bill papers, 1870-1992. Denver Public Library, Central Library
creatorOf Salsbury, Nathan, 1846-1902. Nate Salsbury essays, [ca. 1890-1965]. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Nathan Salsbury papers, 1860-1965, 1866-1903 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Salsbury, Nathan, 1846-1902. Reminiscences of Nate Salsbury, 1899-1943. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Reminiscences of Nate Salsbury, 1899-1943 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Salsbury, Nathan, 1846-1902. Papers, 1865-1905. Denver Public Library, Central Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Boucicault, Dion, 1820-1890. person
associatedWith Buffalo Bill, 1846-1917. person
associatedWith Buffalo Bill's Wild West Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. corporateBody
associatedWith Burrell, David James, 1844-1926. person
correspondedWith Daly, Augustin, 1838-1899 person
associatedWith Fuller, Hattie C. person
associatedWith Fuller, Hattie C. person
associatedWith James, Rebecca Salsbury, 1891-1968. person
associatedWith Salisbury family. family
associatedWith Salisbury family. family
associatedWith Salsbury, Louise person
associatedWith Salsbury, Rachel Samuels. person
associatedWith Salsbury, Rachel Samuels. person
associatedWith Salsbury's Troubadours corporateBody
associatedWith Salsbury's Troubadours. corporateBody
associatedWith Salsbury's Troubadours. corporateBody
associatedWith Salsbury's Troubadours. corporateBody
associatedWith Salsbury's Troubadours. corporateBody
associatedWith Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891. person
associatedWith Tarleton, Harry. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
United States
Subject
Theater
Theater
United States
Actors
Actors
African American entertainers
Musical revue, comedy, etc.
Musicals
Performing arts
Performing arts
Playwriting
Revues
Theatrical managers
Wild west shows
Wild west shows
Occupation
Actors
Theatrical managers
Activity

Person

Birth 1846-02-28

Death 1902-12-24

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