At that time the Mormon and California Trails ran through the valley, and was a popular camping place. They built a house in the Salt Creek Valley about three miles from Fort Leavenworth, which later became known as Kickapoo Township. Cody loved every moment of that adventure and said that there was something new around every turn of the road. In the spring of 1852 the family departed for Kansas, which was unsettled territory at the time. Much of his time was spent trapping quails, which were very plentiful. They all three got a whipping, which was not soon forgotten.Ĭody also wrote that he was sent to school, more for the purpose of being kept out of mischief than to learn anything. They had stolen the boat, so their trouble didn’t end there. They became frightened when they lost their oars and Bill let out a pitiful scream, which attracted the attention of a neighbor who came to their rescue in a canoe. But, at least I never stole a boat like young Buffalo Bill Cody did.Ĭody can recall doing such along with two other boys and striking out across the Mississippi. I did get away, but I had to deal with my grandmother for losing my britches. As I clung for dear life to the top of the fence, the dog tore the pants right off of my body. I remember one time when I nearly got eaten alive by a large savage dog, which caught me by the seat of the britches as I was quickly scaling the neighbor’ fence. When I reflect back on those days I often wonder how come I didn’t drown while swimming or wading in the river, or break my neck while climbing the neighbor’s apple trees stealing their forbidden fruit. My adventurous spirit as a child led me into all sorts of mischief and danger. His early childhood reminds me a whole lot of my own childhood growing up on the farm along the bluffs of the Missouri River. When young Bill Cody was only 7 his folks moved to a small town along the banks of the Mississippi a few miles above Davenport, Iowa.