The character of Buster Brown was loosely based on Granville Hamilton Fisher, a son of Charles and Anna Fisher of Flushing, New York. Fisher\'s physical appearance, including the characteristic pageboy haircut, was copied by Outcault and given to Buster Brown. The name "Buster" came directly or indirectly from the popularity of Buster Keaton, then a child actor in vaudeville. Another boy, Roger Cushman Clark (1899-1995) of Deadwood, South Dakota, was also described as the "original model" for the Buster Brown character.\n', '

The character of Mary Jane was also drawn from real life, as she was also Outcault\'s daughter of the same name. In Outcault\'s own words—and his daughter\'s—she was the only character drawn from life in the Buster Brown strip, although "Mrs. Brown" did resemble Outcault\'s wife.[citation needed]\n', '

The comic strip began in the New York Herald on May 4, 1902. Outcault left for William Randolph Hearst\'s employ in 1906, and after a court battle, Outcault continued his strip, now nameless, in Hearst papers, while the Herald continued their own version of Buster Brown with other artists. The latter lasted until 1911 or so, and Outcault\'s version until at least 1921.\n', '

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