“Trapper Jake” had quite the life, and it’s impossible to capture 99 years of adventures on one webpage. However, an excellent brief overview of his life was printed in American Trapper when he decided to retire. Please click HERE for the article. He was a true modern day mountain man and was the seventh person to be inducted into the National Trappers Association Hall of Fame. Jake was quite the humorous man, and never passed up an opportunity to tell stories or play his harmonica. You can listen to a recording of him talking about his life and firing up his mouth harp by clicking HERE.

Jake and Martha (Gradwohl) Korell were married for 60 years before she passed in 1996. She was an important part of his adventures and could be found right by his side through outfitting, hunting camps, horse adventures, raising livestock, and toiling in the fields. They had three children, Lee, Gerald, and Jane. The story of their life together was captured so eloquently by Jane for their 50th Anniversary in the poem, “Fifty Golden Years: The Story of Jake and Martha Korell.” Please click HERE to read the poem.

A book was written about Jake’s shenanigans, called The Last of the Breed: The Story of Trapper Jake Korell. Proceeds help benefit the Wind River Heritage Center. It may be purchased in the museum’s gift shop or online through Amazon.