By western author Nick Brumby

“The cowboy has been called America’s folk hero.” — Charles W. Harris

John Wayne may have been ‘The Duke’, but the first ‘King of the Cowboys’ was a six foot four tall cowpuncher out of Texas who ended up performing before England’s Queen Victoria.

William Levi ‘Buck’ Taylor was a real Texas cowboy. He roped and drove cattle, was a star of Buffalo Bill Cody’s show, and would eat 24 biscuits in one sitting. His grandfather was one of those killed at the Alamo and his father, a Texas Confederate cavalryman, died fighting in the Civil War.

Buck and his brother Bax became cowhands, running herds of cattle across the West where he was regarded as one of the best bronco busters in the country. Their sister, Mary, was a good hand too. She had a reputation as being able to “ride the worst broncho, or rope the most refracting old cow in the county.”

Buck eventually signed on to Buffalo Bill Cody’s ranch in Nebraska. When Cody organized his Wild West show he realized something important was missing—the American cowboy. At the time the term “cowboy” was derogatory and associated with outlaws or the less-than-glamorous task of cleaning screwworms out of some injured cow or dragging her out of a bog hole.

Cody chose Buck for the job of ‘King of the Cowboys’, and he was an instant hit. Buck was a “brave orphan boy from Texas” who grew up with great hardships. He was incorruptible and was always fighting on the side of good; a giant of a man, yet good to his mother, humble and he liked kids.

In the show he was what is known as a “pick-up” rider. He rode a small horse so that he could reach down and pick up a handkerchief and a coin off the ground.

In 1887, a dime novel, “Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys” appeared and Buck became a national hero. And the cowboy became America’s icon.

Buck broke his leg during a performance in London in 1887 and Cody kept him on while he recovered. Later, he bought a ranch in the Sweetwater valley of Wyoming. He spent his last years in Pennsylvania and died at Downingtown in 1924. He is buried in the cemetery behind the Valley Forge Chapel.

About Nick Brumby

I like a good story. And of all stories, I love westerns the most.

As a kid, I spent far too many afternoons re-watching Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns, picking up ‘Shane’ for just one more read, or saddling up beside Ben Cartwright when ‘Bonanza’ was on TV each afternoon.

I’m a former journalist and I love horses, dogs, and the occasional bourbon whiskey. I live with my wife, daughter and our ever-slumbering hound in a 1800’s-era gold mining town – our house is right on top of the last working gold mine in the area. There may not be much gold left, but there’s history wherever you look.

I hope you enjoy my westerns as much as I enjoyed writing them!

Happy trails,

Nick