Overview
Henry Inman (July 30, 1837 – November 13, 1899) was an American soldier, frontiersman, and author. He served the military during the Indian campaigns and the American Civil War, having earned distinction for gallantry on the battlefield. He was commissioned lieutenant general during the Indian wars. He settled in Kansas and worked as a journalist and author of short stories and books of the plains and western frontier. He was a friend and associate of Buffalo Bill and served under General Custer.
Early life
Inman was born in New York City on July 30, 1837. His parents were Henry Inman, an artist and president of the National Academy of Design, His brother, John O'Brien Inman, was also an artist. Henry Inman was educated in public schools in Brooklyn, New York. His father died when he was a child and he was raised by his mother in Hempstead on Long Island for about five years before going away to the Athenian Academy in Rathway, New Jersey. He also received college preparation from tutors.
Frontier
, and Buffalo Jones. Inman had Old Santa Fe Trail published and The Great Salt Lake Trail co-authored with Buffalo Bill. Buffalo Jones was the subject and co-author of the book Buffalo Jones. As a young man, Inman traveled west and met Buffalo Bill Cody. He scouted with Cody, fought with him on the frontier, and often rode with him during the parades of Cody's Wild West shows.
Military service
Inman joined the army in 1857 and served during the Indian campaign in the 9th Infantry Regiment in Oregon and California.
Journalist and author
In 1878, he began working as a journalist for the Larned Enterprise, He wrote of his adventures on the plains. One of his books was written with Buffalo Bill, The Great Salt Lake Trail. Buffalo Bill was named as co-author because Inman used a number of quotes from Cody's autobiographical book, Story of the Wild West. Inman's book, The Old Santa Fe Trail is also said to contain content from Buffalo Bill's autobiography. He also wrote A Pioneer from Kentucky, The Delahoydes, Tales of the Trail, The Ranch on the Ox-hide, and Buffalo Jones. At the time of his death, three books were being published, The Cruise of the Prairie Schooner, Muriel, the Colonel's Daughter, and Pick Smith, the Scout.
Personal life
He married Eunice Churchill Dyer (1842–1922), the daughter of a shipbuilder, in Portland, Maine on October 22, 1862. They had a son and two daughters. He was the father of Brigadier General Robert Todd Inman. Lake Inman and the nearby town of Inman, Kansas, were named for him. He was on the board of directors of the Kansas Historical Society.