Elijah Davidson

Elijah Davidson, when he was a younger man

What Compels a Man to Enter the Hidden Passageways Underground?

Is it sheer drive, determination, fear, bravery, or perhaps recklessness? Elijah Davidson, the first known man to enter Oregon Caves National Monument, ventured into the cave in late November 1874 for a simple reason: he was chasing his loyal dog, Bruno, and a bear. This powerful bond between man and animal led Davidson into the dark, unknown cave, ultimately altering the course of history in the Illinois Valley. As he followed them deep into the cave, Davidson’s last match went out, leaving him in complete darkness. A small man in stature—standing only 5 feet 5 inches—Davidson was known for wrestling bears, a testament to his extraordinary courage and grit.

The Hunter from Williams, Oregon

Elijah Davidson was born on June 22, 1849, in Schuyler County, Illinois, but his family relocated to Williams, Oregon, when he was a young boy. While his father helped establish a university, Davidson pursued more rugged endeavors, learning to hunt, farm, and mine for gold. By the time he married Minerva Adelaide Farris on July 4, 1870, Davidson had transitioned from gold mining to hunting and trapping animals such as bobcats, bears, deer, and mountain lions to support his family.

Revisiting the Caves with His Brother

The caves remained unexplored until May 1877, when Elijah’s younger brother Carter convinced him to return with better lighting and supplies. Along with friends William Fidler, James Nail, Ira Sparlin, and David Johns, the group ventured deeper into the cave. After hours of exploration, they reached what seemed to be a solid wall, believing they had reached the cave’s end. However, this exploration piqued the curiosity of young gold miner Walter Burch, whose imagination was ignited by Davidson’s story of the caves. Davidson’s next adventure, however, would take him far from Oregon.

The Move to Nome, Alaska

In 1906, Elijah Davidson, his wife Minerva, and their youngest daughter Vesta Pearle set off on a new journey, boarding a ship in Bandon, Oregon, and heading to Nome, Alaska, in search of gold once again. Although Davidson tried his hand at mining, it was his hunting skills that provided for his family. Using a homemade refrigerator lined with sawdust, he stored enough meat from weekend hunts to sustain them. Life in Alaska was harsh, especially for Minerva, whose health deteriorated in the cold and damp conditions. In 1909, the family returned to Oregon just as the caves were officially designated a National Monument.

Recounting the Cave Discovery

Despite his rugged reputation—his family recalled stories of him wrestling bears—Elijah Davidson struggled with public speaking. When asked to recount his discovery of Oregon Caves, he often showed a vulnerability not seen in his earlier exploits. Frustrated with inaccuracies in the published accounts of his discovery, Davidson wrote his own version, which was published in 1922 in the Oregon History Quarterly, 48 years after the event.

Elijah Davidson

Following his wife’s death in 1913, Elijah moved to Williams Creek, where he lived until his death on September 9, 1927. A granddaughter recalled that Davidson never owned a car; instead, when family came to visit, he would meet them in a buckboard and ford the stream bordering his farm. Though quiet in his later years, Davidson’s story and his discovery of the Oregon Caves live on at the Monument, inspiring future generations of adventurers.