Sepia Saturday = Nate Salsbury

I happened upon this vintage photo while browsing in Google Images. How funny! You just can't help but smile back, right? At first I thought it was going to be a nameless, humorous face but there is the name of Nate Salsbury there and Salsbury's Troubadour, so I thought I'd do a little investigating! The New York Times Obituary from December 24, 1902 says it better than I ever could...

*****

. DEATH OF NATE SALSBURY ... Principal "Wild West" Owner Passes Away at Long Branch..... His Varied Career as Boy Soldier, Comedian, and Manager of Amusement Enterprises.... Special to the New York Times.... LONG BRANCH, N.J., Dec. 24. --

*****

Nate Salsbury, principal owner of Buffalo Bill's "Wild West" Show, died at his home in Liberty Street, this place, to-night from stomach trouble, from which he had long suffered. He had long been prominently identified with this town, and two years ago spent $200,000 in erecting upon the sandy waste near North Long Branch, the group of handsome cottages known as the Reservation. He was President of the Long Branch Property Holders Association.

*****

. Mr. Salsbury had been failing gradually for a long time, but was confined to his house only a single week, prior to that time being up and attending to business. The "Wild West" is announced to open an engagement in London on Friday, and Col. Cody (Buffalo Bill) is at present in the British metropolis.

*****

. Mr. Salsbury was born at Rockport, IL, fifty seven years ago, and was therefore, about sixteen years old at the outbreak of the Civil War. He offered his services to Col. Turner of the Fifteenth Illinois, however, and was accepted. He always said that so far as he knew, he was the youngest soldier in the field from the western sections of the country. His personality soon made him known outside of the regiment, and his songs and dancing, which afterward brought him a fortune, relieved the weariness and tedium of a many long march or irksome camp. He soon was wounded and was mustered out of the service, but he re-enlisted as soon as he was able to, and fought throughout the war, being in several other regiments. Among these commands was the famous Eighty-Ninth Regiment of Illinois, which was known as the "Railroad Regiment" of the West. He was at Chickamauga and many other hot-fought battles, and went through the Texas Campaign with the Fifty ninth Regiment. His Colonel heard him singing one day and is said to have remarked to another officer, "If I had a regiment of 1000 men like Salsbury, I could lick 3000 rebels."

*****

. The war over, Salsbury left the army with $20,000 which he had accumulated from his brother soldiers because of his ability to play draw poker. He settled in Illinois where he led a rather expensive life. He started a course in a business college, studying finance and banking, but that came to a sudden end when he found his money all spent at the end of eighteen months. He had never been on the stage, but he applied to the manager at Grand Rapids, Michigan for a place in his company, and was hired at $12 a week, his employer telling him that he would be lucky if he ever collected that. He made his debut as Colorgog in a play called "Pocahontus", that required him to be on the stage eight minutes, and the play ran for only one night.

*****

. Salsbury had however, his first taste of theatrical life and kept at it, becoming a member of itinerant companies. He endured much hardship at that time, but finally obtained an engagement as a comedian at the Boston Museum, where he remained for four years. Other member at that time being James O'Neill, William H. Crane, Nellie McHenry, and William J. Florence, all of whom were subsequently to become stars. He saved his money and proposed to John Webster that they start a stock company of their own. Webster had little or no capital but Salsbury carried his interest in the enterprise, which was a success from the start. It was known as the Salsbury Troubadours and it traveled all of Europe as well as the United States.

*****

. Mr. Salsbury was still at the head of the Troubadours when he met Col. Cody and the "Wild West" show project was launched. Mr. Salsbury's son began to invest in other attractions, which turned out for the most part to be entirely successful. .

*****

Sounds like Mr. Salsbury had a very interesting life.

He was married, had 4 children and

certainly knew the value of humor. :)

*****

To see more sepia saturday, click HERE!

♥