The White Wolf of Johnson County

In the 1850s game was abundant in Johnson County. Record books list deer as being seen in many locations across the county. Other animals listed include the American panther or cougar, lynx or wildcat, the common wolf (timber and prairie), red fox, weasels, badgers, mink, otter, bear, raccoons, and many more! A grizzly bear was even reported on Old Mans Creek not far from the site of Hills Elementary School.

The wolves seemed to be abundant and were quite a problem. They seemed fearless and would raid farmers’ livestock and carry off animals regularly. They were doing so much damage that by 1841 Johnson County officials put a bounty in place for wolf scalps. It started out at one dollar per scalp but was raised to three dollars by 1850.

There were many hunters in those days…many hunters, and each with many stories of their adventures in the woods and fields around Johnson County. One was J.M. Douglass who was a crack shot and well known for bringing home a lot of food for the dinner table. It is said that one time he killed 5 prairie chicken with one shot. Even better known was his friend J.J. Shephardson.

J.J. was said to be the greatest hunter in Johnson County. It is said that he killed forty deer and forty-two wild turkeys in one year. One evening, on the way home from a successful hunt for wild turkey, a pack of wolves began to follow him. He had to move quickly to escape them. Fortunately, when he was near his home his dogs came out to greet him and chased the wild pack off. He had similar experiences with wolves on other occasions and barely escaped more than once.

After many close calls he became a wolf hunter and collected many bounties. So it is no surprise that Shephardson and Douglas were very interested when they began to hear many stories about the "White Wolf" that was wreaking havoc in many parts of the county.

It was known far and wide as the "big white wolf" and made his first appearance in the county around 1850. He was seen from time to time for many years in several parts of the county. Many people saw him and many more wished to see this incredible creature.

He was a wolf like no other in the country. Such was his strength that he could carry off a full-grown sheep with ease and handled numerous dogs as if were but terriers.

Many attempts were made to kill or capture but the beast was wary and few got within gunshot of him. Once he was caught in a trap but carried the trap for many miles before breaking free of it and losing a toe, as was discovered by looking at his tracks the next time he appeared in the area.

Several times massive amounts of poison was laid out for him but it seemed to have no effect on him. He seemed invincible!

Douglas and Shephardson saw it as a great challenge and decided to go after the white wolf. They tried every manner of method to trap or kill him to no avail. He always stayed out of shooting range, seemed unfazed by the poisons that were put out for him, and never allowed himself to be in range of a gun.

Douglas and Shephardson decided that the only way to get the white wolf was with a trap. The white wolf had slipped out of many traps over the years and because he lost that toe he was wary of them, too. Traps in those days were generally staked to the ground. The white wolf had pulled many or those stakes out and shaken off the trap without much trouble.

Douglas and Shephardson came up with a plan. They would use two traps and fasten them together with a heavy log chain attached to a blacksmith’s sledge. They figured when the wolf got one leg in the trap he would stumble around and get a leg in the other trap. The sledge was so heavy he would never be able to drag it off.

Days went by as the watched the traps from a distant location. They took out fresh meat from time to time hoping to draw the big wolf in. Days turned to weeks and weeks months. Finally, when they were just about to give up it happened.

Late, one night they heard a tremendous commotion out towards the traps. Horrendous growls and howling filled the night air. They knew they must have him! They turned their four big hounds lose and they headed across the field to the trap spot, but to their surprise when they got there the wolf, traps, and sledge were gone!

They could see that the big white wolf had drug everything off. The dogs set off in the dark night after him. The two men followed along struggling to find there way through the night. They could only imagine how strong this beast must be?

Around sunrise they caught up with the dogs that had now cornered the big wolf near Clear Creek. He had slipped out of one trap and was dragging it and the log chain with the sledge still attached. The dogs attacked him several times, but he fought them off seriously injuring two of them. As the men approached the wolf headed across the creek pulling everything along with him. The two remaining dogs were in hot pursuit. The creek only had a few inches of water that time of year but pulling the extra load was difficult and the old wolf stopped in the middle of the creek and turned on the remaining dogs. The dogs tried to bring the big beast down to no avail and the men couldn't get a shot for fear of hitting one of them.

Finally, Shephardson when down into the creek to try to help the dogs out. About that time the wolf made a huge surge and pulled out of the last trap. Thinking he was going to get away, Shephardson grabbed the animal by the trail. It pulled him across the creek and about half-way up the bank on the other side. There Shepardson was able to pull out his knife and kill the beast before he, himself, was killed.

The white Wolf was said to have legs as big as a man's arm and stood four-feet three inches tall. Its hair was white tipped with steel gray roots.