JACKSON, Wyo. — Uncle Jack Davis, the only confirmed prospector in Jackson Hole history, remains a mysterious figure who Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) writes is little more than a name except to those who knew him, but someone who deserves to be remembered.
According to GTNP’s published history, Davis was “a blue-eyed, full-bearded giant…of herculean strength.” He first appeared in records 1887 as one of many miners drawn to Virginia City, Montana, for gold. In a saloon there, Davis ended up murdering another man in a fight when he struck him too hard, perhaps a testament to his strength. Afraid of being hanged, Davis fled Virginia City for Jackson Hole.
GTNP confirms Davis took out a claim on the south side of the Snake River near a tributary known as Bailey Creek, where he built himself a log cabin with no windows. He became “a recluse for life,” panning for gold and rarely going to the store at Menor’s Ferry in what is now Moose, Wyoming. Al Austin, a forest ranger in the area, became one of Davis’ only friends.
Despite being a hermit, stories circulated about Davis’ strength. GTNP history alleges in one tall tale, Davis lifted 900 pounds by a single loop of rope over his shoulders.
Strangely, despite his great strength and history of murder, Davis had a Snow White-like relationship to local wildlife.
“Such was his love for birds and animals that he would go hungry rather than shoot them,” GTNP published history recounts.
Davis was apparently a vegetarian who substituted human companionship with a doe named Lucy, her fawn named Buster, two cats named Pitchfork Tillman (a prominent politician at the time) and Nick Wilson (a well-known pioneer at the time), a horse named Dan, a burro named Calamity Jane and a number of tame squirrels and bluebirds.
“Dropping in at mealtime for a friendly call, Austin would find Uncle Jack in his cabin surrounded by his pets,” GTNP history recounts.
Davis spent 24 years at his windowless cabin on the Snake River. When he died, Austin built Davis a coffin from one of Davis’ sluice boxes, which was used in a stream to separate the water from valuable minerals like gold. According to GTNP, Davis was buried at Sulphur Springs south of town.
