John F. Yancey
Encyclopedia
John F. Yancey also known as Uncle John Yancey (born 1826 Barren County, Kentucky
, died May 7, 1903) was a Yellowstone National Park
concessionaire who operated Yancey's Pleasant Valley hotel near Tower Junction in Yellowstone from 1882 until his death in 1903.
, an Alabama politician and secessionist. Yancey was sixth of ten children and his parents moved to Missouri while he was a young boy where he grew to manhood. He participated in the American Civil War
on the side of the Confederacy
, but to what extent is unknown. In 1870s, shortly after the creation of Yellowstone National Park, he turned up as a prospector in the area of the Crevice Creek gold strike on the northern boundary of the park. He apparently made enough money from prospecting to establish a way station on the Gardiner to Cooke City road inside the park in 1882. Owen Wister
, who met Yancey during a visit in 1896, described him as a: goat-bearded, shrewd-eyed, lank, Uncle Sam type.
is located just north of the Tower-Roosevelt junction on the Yellowstone River Trail 44°55′46"N 110°25′17"W. The valley lies adjacent to the Yellowstone River
near the site of Barronett's Bridge and the confluence of the Lamar River
. The valley was named by Philetus Norris
, the second superintendent of the park (1877–82).
In 1882, then park superintendent, Patrick Conger gave John Yancey verbal permission to establish a cabin in Pleasant Valley to enable him to provide accommodations and provisions to the stage traveling to and from Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City, Montana. The mining camps in Cooke City were well established and the route through Pleasant Valley was to only way in and out of Cooke City in Winter. In April 1884, the Department of the Interior granted Yancey a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) lease in Pleasant Valley to establish a hotel. Soon thereafter, Yancey constructed a five room hotel he named: Yancey's Pleasant Valley Hotel. Rooms were $2/day and $10/week with meals . A guest of the hotel in 1901 described it thus:
to witness the dedication of the Roosevelt Arch
by President Theodore Roosevelt
on April 24, 1903. Although Yancey witnessed the dedication and apparently met President Roosevelt during the dedication ceremony, he caught a cold and died in Gardiner of pneumonia on May 7, 1903. He is buried in Tinker's Cemetery in Gardiner. (Tinker's Cemetery is actually located within the national park boundaries, approximately 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) northwest of Gardiner on the old Yellowstone Trail road.)
Yancey's obituary in the Livingson Post contained the following:
Barren County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,033 people, 15,346 households, and 10,941 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 17,095 housing units at an average density of...
, died May 7, 1903) was a Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
concessionaire who operated Yancey's Pleasant Valley hotel near Tower Junction in Yellowstone from 1882 until his death in 1903.
Early life
Very little is known about John Yancey's early life in Kentucky, although it is believed he was related in some way to William Lowndes YanceyWilliam Lowndes Yancey
William Lowndes Yancey was a journalist, politician, orator, diplomat and an American leader of the Southern secession movement. A member of the group known as the Fire-Eaters, Yancey was one of the most effective agitators for secession and rhetorical defenders of slavery. An early critic of...
, an Alabama politician and secessionist. Yancey was sixth of ten children and his parents moved to Missouri while he was a young boy where he grew to manhood. He participated in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
on the side of the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, but to what extent is unknown. In 1870s, shortly after the creation of Yellowstone National Park, he turned up as a prospector in the area of the Crevice Creek gold strike on the northern boundary of the park. He apparently made enough money from prospecting to establish a way station on the Gardiner to Cooke City road inside the park in 1882. Owen Wister
Owen Wister
Owen Wister was an American writer and "father" of western fiction.-Early life:Owen Wister was born on July 14, 1860, in Germantown, a well-known neighborhood in the northwestern part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Owen Jones Wister, was a wealthy physician, one of a long line of...
, who met Yancey during a visit in 1896, described him as a: goat-bearded, shrewd-eyed, lank, Uncle Sam type.
Pleasant Valley Hotel
Pleasant ValleyYanceys, Wyoming
Yanceys is a location in Yellowstone National Park in Park County, Wyoming, United States. In 1882, "Uncle" John Yancey, established a remote mail station and hotel in this area for the benefit of tourists traveling in the northern part of the park. John F. Yancey died in 1903 and his heirs ran...
is located just north of the Tower-Roosevelt junction on the Yellowstone River Trail 44°55′46"N 110°25′17"W. The valley lies adjacent to the Yellowstone River
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long, in the western United States. Considered the principal tributary of the upper Missouri, the river and its tributaries drain a wide area stretching from the Rocky Mountains in the vicinity of the Yellowstone National...
near the site of Barronett's Bridge and the confluence of the Lamar River
Lamar River
The Lamar River is a tributary of the Yellowstone River, approximately 40 miles long, in northwestern Wyoming in the United States. The river is located entirely within Yellowstone National Park.-History:...
. The valley was named by Philetus Norris
Philetus Norris
Philetus W. Norris was the second superintendent of Yellowstone National Park and was the first person to be paid for that position.- Early life :...
, the second superintendent of the park (1877–82).
In 1882, then park superintendent, Patrick Conger gave John Yancey verbal permission to establish a cabin in Pleasant Valley to enable him to provide accommodations and provisions to the stage traveling to and from Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City, Montana. The mining camps in Cooke City were well established and the route through Pleasant Valley was to only way in and out of Cooke City in Winter. In April 1884, the Department of the Interior granted Yancey a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) lease in Pleasant Valley to establish a hotel. Soon thereafter, Yancey constructed a five room hotel he named: Yancey's Pleasant Valley Hotel. Rooms were $2/day and $10/week with meals . A guest of the hotel in 1901 described it thus:
Death
John F. Yancey was 77 years old in April 1903 when he traveled to Gardiner, MontanaGardiner, Montana
Gardiner is a census-designated place in Park County, Montana, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 851 at the 2000 census....
to witness the dedication of the Roosevelt Arch
Roosevelt Arch
The Roosevelt Arch is the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana. The arch's cornerstone was laid down by President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt in 1903...
by President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
on April 24, 1903. Although Yancey witnessed the dedication and apparently met President Roosevelt during the dedication ceremony, he caught a cold and died in Gardiner of pneumonia on May 7, 1903. He is buried in Tinker's Cemetery in Gardiner. (Tinker's Cemetery is actually located within the national park boundaries, approximately 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) northwest of Gardiner on the old Yellowstone Trail road.)
Yancey's obituary in the Livingson Post contained the following: