University of Wyoming
Davis was born in Ireland and came to the U.S. in 1871 and began working for the trading company of J.W. Hugus & Company at Fort Fred Steele in Carbon County, Wyoming. In 1879 Davis accompanied Major Thomas T. Thornburg to assist at the White River Indian Agency in Colorado. Davis was wounded in the foot when the expedition was ambushed by Ute Indians near Milk Creek in what is now Moffatt County, Colorado. Davis later became an executive with J.W. Hugus & Company, which expanded into merchandising and banking in Wyoming and Colorado.
Collection consists of a 4 page letter sent to Davis' wife Ella M. Davis describing the Thornburg Massacre; a powder horn and a bullet which was removed from Davis' foot following the attack; a 1908 souvenir booklet for J.W. Hugus & Company; 2 photographs of Davis; an 1874 certificate of appointment as postmaster in Carbon County, Wyoming; newsclippings on Davis and the Thornburg Massacre (1880-1924); and 6 letters, newsclippings and miscellaneous other materials relating to Davis' involvement in the Thornburg Massacre and John C. Davis' son, Roblin H. Davis' involvement in marking the Overland Trail in Carbon County, Wyoming (1922-1942).
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
There are no known other archival collections created by the John Charles Davis family at the date of processing.
Finding aid available in repository.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.