John Omohundro was born July 27, 1846 at Palmyra, Fluvanna County, Virginia. When he was 17, he enlisted in Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, and served under Major General J.E.B. Stuart’s 5th Cavalry Corps. After the war, John went to Texas and spent the next three years becoming an experienced cowboy. It was in 1866 that he acquired his sobriquet of “Texas Jack” on a cattle drive to Tennessee. The name stuck for the remainder of his life.
In 1869, Omohundro was at Fort Hays, Kansas, where he met Wild Bill Hickok, then the acting sheriff of Ellis County. Later, Jack would meet Buffalo Bill Cody who was scouting for the 5th U.S. Cavalry at Fort McPherson, Nebraska. Cody was instrumental in getting Jack hired on as a “trail agent and scout” for the 5th. They would become the best of friends for many years thereafter.
By 1869, Omohundro had crossed paths with Wild Bill Hickok, then acting sheriff of Ellis County, at Fort Hays, Kansas, and soon after with Buffalo Bill Cody, who was scouting for the 5th U.S. Cavalry at Fort McPherson, Nebraska. Cody helped secure Jack’s position as a ‘trail agent and scout’.
Sadly, just one month short of his 34th birthday, Texas Jack Omohundro unexpectedly contracted pneumonia and died on June 28, 1880 in Leadville, Colorado.
Texas Jack, Jr. 1860-1905
During his frontier years, Omohundro encountered two small girls and a five-year-old boy who had been orphaned by a Native American attack. After escorting the children to safety and ensuring their care, the boy began calling himself Texas Jack Jr.—though they were not related.
While Omohundro’s life was cut short, his namesake, Texas Jack Jr., carried the legend into the next generation.
Texas Jack was a sharpshooter and trick rider in shows around the world, especially South Africa. He helped Will Rogers get a start as an entertainer by offering him a part in his traveling show in 1902.
A Work Progressing 
Texas Jacks
CDI 2025
John Omohundro was born July 27, 1846 at Palmyra, Fluvanna County, Virginia. When he was 17, he enlisted in Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, and served under Major General J.E.B. Stuart’s 5th Cavalry Corps. After the war, John went to Texas and spent the next three years becoming an experienced cowboy. It was in 1866 that he acquired his sobriquet of “Texas Jack” on a cattle drive to Tennessee. The name stuck for the remainder of his life.
In 1869, Omohundro was at Fort Hays, Kansas, where he met Wild Bill Hickok, then the acting sheriff of Ellis County. Later, Jack would meet Buffalo Bill Cody who was scouting for the 5th U.S. Cavalry at Fort McPherson, Nebraska. Cody was instrumental in getting Jack hired on as a “trail agent and scout” for the 5th. They would become the best of friends for many years thereafter.
By 1869, Omohundro had crossed paths with Wild Bill Hickok, then acting sheriff of Ellis County, at Fort Hays, Kansas, and soon after with Buffalo Bill Cody, who was scouting for the 5th U.S. Cavalry at Fort McPherson, Nebraska. Cody helped secure Jack’s position as a ‘trail agent and scout’.
Sadly, just one month short of his 34th birthday, Texas Jack Omohundro unexpectedly contracted pneumonia and died on June 28, 1880 in Leadville, Colorado.
Texas Jack, Jr. 1860-1905
During his frontier years, Omohundro encountered two small girls and a five-year-old boy who had been orphaned by a Native American attack. After escorting the children to safety and ensuring their care, the boy began calling himself Texas Jack Jr.—though they were not related.
While Omohundro’s life was cut short, his namesake, Texas Jack Jr., carried the legend into the next generation.
Texas Jack was a sharpshooter and trick rider in shows around the world, especially South Africa. He helped Will Rogers get a start as an entertainer by offering him a part in his traveling show in 1902.
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