Character Analysis in The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

The character of Simon Wheeler may be based in part on one of Twain’s friends at Angel’s Camp, Jim Gillis. Twain wrote in his journals that Gillis would often regale him and other listeners with stories he made up in the moment, fulling recognizing the ridiculousness of the tales he told.

Describing Jim Smiley as “infamous” indicates that he is famous for some negative reason or disreputable personal trait. Referring to him as Simon Wheeler’s Jim Smiley suggests that Wheeler has talked about Smiley many times.

The verb "button-holed" refers to the action of taking a listener by his coat-lapel so that he can't get away. Use of the term here suggests that Wheeler is a non-stop talker and also a terrible bore.