Legend "Texas Jack" Died Today in 1880

LEADVILLE, CO — Today marks the anniversary of the death of John Burwell Omohundro Jr., famously known as Texas Jack. Born on July 26, 1846, in Virginia, Texas Jack's life was an extraordinary journey that left an indelible mark on American frontier history and popular culture.

As a teenager, Omohundro made his way to Texas, where he quickly became a skilled cowboy. His early adventures were temporarily halted by the Civil War, during which he served as a scout and spy under Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. Following the war, Texas Jack resumed his life as a cowboy and participated in several cattle drives, earning his enduring nickname during a drive from Texas through Arkansas to Tennessee in 1866.

In 1869, Texas Jack moved to Cottonwood Springs, Nebraska, where he forged a legendary partnership with William F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody. Together, they engaged in buffalo hunts and Indian skirmishes, including the notable royal hunt of 1872 with Russian grand duke Alexis. Their exploits on the plains transitioned to the stage in 1872 with the debut of The Scouts of the Prairie in Chicago, one of the original Wild West shows. Texas Jack was praised for his charisma and is credited with introducing roping acts to American audiences.

Throughout the 1870s, Texas Jack balanced his time between acting on the Eastern stage and guiding hunting expeditions on the Great Plains, catering to European nobility and other prominent figures. His hunting stories were published in popular magazines, further cementing his fame.

On August 31, 1873, Texas Jack married Giuseppina Morlacchi, a dancer-actress from Milan who had starred alongside him in the Wild West shows. Despite his success and widespread acclaim, Texas Jack's life was cut short when he succumbed to pneumonia on June 28, 1880, in Leadville, Colorado. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Leadville.

The legend of Texas Jack lived on through numerous "dime novels" and fictional accounts, keeping his memory alive well into the early 20th century. Today, Texas Jack is but a name and no one knows who he really was. But because of his exploits, Texas Jack is also an enduring symbol of the old Wild West.

For more about Texas Jack, historian Matthew Kerns published a tell-all book about him in 2021. It has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon.