Louisa Frederici facts for kids
Louisa Frederici (1844–1921) was the wife of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, a famous American showman. They were married on March 6, 1866, at her family farm in Arnold, Missouri. Their marriage lasted for 51 years until Cody's death in 1917.
Louisa and William met in St. Louis in 1865. At the time, Cody was serving in the Union Army during the end of the American Civil War. He took a break from his duties as a scout and horse driver to marry Louisa. Cody often called Louisa "Lulu." She was a strong woman who did not easily agree to a divorce when Cody asked for one in 1904. This led to a court trial in 1905. The judge decided that "incompatibility" (meaning they didn't get along) was not a reason for divorce. So, the case was decided in Louisa's favor.
Family Life
Louisa and Cody had four children together:
- Arta Lucille (1866–1904)
- Kit Carson (1870–1876)
- Orra Maude (1872–1883)
- Irma Louise (1883–1918)
Louisa outlived all of her children. Arta passed away shortly before the divorce trial began. Louisa and the children often lived separately from Cody because he traveled a lot for his work. Louisa stayed in North Platte, Nebraska. She bought most of the family's property in her own name. She did this to protect their money. Cody often had financial troubles, and Louisa wanted to make sure they would always have some savings.
Louisa wrote a book called Memories of Buffalo Bill (published around 1923). This book showed how much she cared for her husband.
Louisa's Character
Louisa was known for being very practical. She loved to sew and made clothes for her husband and children. She learned to sew when she was young, during her training at a convent.
People who knew Louisa often talked about her sensible nature. Lottie Kocken, who was part of the Buffalo Bill Excursion in 1878, remembered Louisa being upset. Cody had sent her a large bouquet of flowers. Louisa felt that "she needed the money more than flowers." Jessie Blackenburg Renyolds also remembered Louisa. She said that "Willie just couldn't hold onto money, for he was a grand spender." Louisa had to make sure he could not lose everything they owned.
Divorce Proceedings
Cody filed for divorce twice. The first time was after their son, Kit Carson, died in 1876. This divorce filing was later withdrawn when their daughter, Orra Cody, died in 1883.
The second divorce trial took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1905. This trial was a big news story. While the divorce case was happening, Louisa continued to manage their home and care for her living children. She refused to put the case on hold even to attend Arta's funeral. Louisa insisted on remaining married and wanted the lawsuit to be dropped.
On March 23, 1905, the district court in Sheridan did not grant Cody his divorce. After this, Louisa paid her property taxes in Lincoln County, Nebraska. She paid taxes on 1,200 acres of land and many houses listed under her name. She also paid taxes on 700 acres that had been in Cody's name. The total was more than $600, which made her one of the largest taxpayers in the county.
Later Life and Legacy
Louisa and Cody became friends again in 1910. She often went to his Wild West shows until he passed away in 1917. Louisa died in 1921. She was buried with her husband on Lookout Mountain.
