Call NumberNS-117Date1887SummaryJohn Y. Nelson, a member of the cast of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, poses for a group portrait with his Sioux wife and their five children. The group is gathered in front of a teepee. Nelson has a full gray beard and long hair. Nelson guided Brigham Young to Utah in 1847 and was a scout with William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody at Fort McPherson in 1869. He acted as interpreter in some of the Wild West Shows and also served as a stagecoach driver and cowboy in some of the acts. Nelson also played the settler in the "Attack on a Settler's Cabin" act in which the settlers are saved by Cody. Nelson and his Sioux family were presented to Queen Victoria while the show toured in England in 1887.Physical Description1 photoprint : black and white ; on mat 11 x 17 cm (4 1/4 x 6 1/2 in.)Born-Digital or AnalogAnalogSubjectNelson, John Young, 1826-1903--FamilyWild west showsBuffalo Bill, 1846-1917Nelson, John Young, 1826-1903Buffalo Bill's Wild West ShowCollectionPhotographs - Western HistoryRelated MaterialImage File: ZZR700105117Type of MaterialGroup portraitsPhotographic printsOriginal Material Found in CollectionSalsbury collection, Buffalo Bill's Wild West ShowNotesBuffalo Bill's Wild West at Philadelphia, John Nelson and his family in 1887, Given by the family of Nate Salsbury from his collection in 1938 handwritten on back of print. Title from inventory prepared in Western History Department, Denver Public Library. Vintage photographic print. R7001051177
John Nelson with his family (1887). Denver Public Library Digital Collections, accessed 10/05/2026, https://digital.denverlibrary.org/nodes/view/1124522
