# Mr. William Russell — The Life of Buffalo Bill character guide

> Mr. William Russell in The Life of Buffalo Bill by William F. Cody.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Russell, Billy, Russell, Mr. Willis, Willis

**First appearance:** 0007-v-in-business

## Who they are

A freighting outfit boss who hires the teenage Cody onto the bull trains, trading hard plains labor for the boy's first real taste of frontier independence.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Simpson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se/characters/mr_simpson)

_professional_

Mr. Simpson and Mr. William Russell were business associates, likely involved in freighting or trading ventures.

### [Mr. Simpson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se/characters/mr_simpson)

_professional_

Mr. Simpson and Mr. William Russell were business associates, likely involved in freighting or trading ventures.

### [Mr. Simpson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se/characters/mr_simpson)

_professional_

Mr. Simpson and Mr. William Russell were business associates, likely involved in freighting or trading ventures.

## In the story

### [Early Influences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se/chapters/ii-early-influences)

Mentioned as part of Majors & Russell, the great government freighters whose wagon trains are seen in the valley.

### [Boy Days in Kansas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se/chapters/iii-boy-days-in-kansas)

A freighting businessman who takes an interest in young Bill, teaches him about handling cattle and mules, and later offers him employment.

### [Youthful Experiences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se/chapters/iv-youthful-experiences)

Partner in Russell, Majors & Waddell, the freight company that employs Cody.

### [In Business](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se/chapters/v-in-business)

Partner in Russell, Majors & Waddell; reassures Cody's mother about Simpson's reliability.

### [Hard Times](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se/chapters/vi-hard-times)

One of the owners of Russell, Majors & Waddell; his employees are wintering at Fort Bridger.

### [Adventures on the Overland Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se/chapters/viii-adventures-on-the-overland-road)

Proprietor of the Overland Stage Company; gives Cody a letter of introduction to Slade.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se/characters/mr_william_russell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_life_of_buffalo_bill_se/characters